Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Meets Head of Ayyavazhi in Swamithope, Kanyakumari

 Kanyakumari/Amritsar, September 11,Nazrana Times Beuro 

 The officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, visited the headquarters of the Ayyavazhi community in Swamithope, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, to express solidarity with the community residing in the southern part of the country and to gain knowledge and understanding about them. He met with the Ayyavazhi head, Bala Prajapathi Adikalar. On this occasion, Bala Prajapathi honoured Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj with a traditional local garland. The Jathedar also toured the Ayyavazhi Ashram and visited the original house of Ayya Vaikundar, the founder of Ayyavazhi. He also viewed ancient palm-leaf manuscripts written in Tamil preserved there. Jathedar Gargajj visited the community well and drank its water. He also had the traditional South Indian meal.

 Speaking to the media, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that he had come to the principal seat of the Ayyavazhi in Swamithope, Kanyakumari, and met the present head, Bala Prajapathi Adikalar. He remarked that he noted several important aspects of this community. Bala Prajapathi belongs to the sixth generation of ancestors who raised their voice against casteism, untouchability, discrimination, and neglect at a time when the situation here was extremely oppressive, cynical and exploitative. “Women of this community were once forced to keep their chests uncovered and pay a tax based on the size of their breasts. It was only when a woman named Nangeli resisted that this oppression was ended,” he said. The Jathedar further noted that he saw a well where all members of this community, regardless of their background, bathe without discrimination. He said the community was denied the right to build raised platforms or windows in their homes, so they do not sit together and hold social discussions, and were forced to remain on the ground. He said this community was suppressed to such an extent that orders even prohibited them from being seen by others. 

 Jathedar Gargajj further said that the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, had raised his voice against untouchability, neglect, and caste-based discrimination nearly five centuries ago. “The Sikh Gurus recorded the condition of society during their times in their sacred verses. The Gurus uplifted the so-called lower classes and gave them Sardari (dignity and leadership). I felt that our community shares many similarities with this one — they wear turbans, do not cut their hair, bathe in the well without discrimination, reject caste, color, or class divisions, and embrace all with love. Here, I experienced the teachings of the Sikh Gurus,” he said. He added that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji also traveled to this southern region during his Udasis, passing through Thoothukudi to Sri Lanka, and also visiting Rameshwaram. “These people learned, understood, and adopted the Gurus’ teachings,” he added. The Jathedar said that he has invited the respected Bala Prajapathi to visit Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar, where further discussions on our communities, teachings, and principles would take place. He pointed out that around 1.5 million followers of this community live across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and nearby areas,

 rising above caste, color, untouchability, or class distinctions, and harbouring no hatred towards anyone. The leaders of Ayyavazhi guided their community out of oppression. Reflecting on his visit, Jathedar Gargajj said that he also realized the significance of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, which was established by the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, even higher than the throne of Delhi, while people here were not allowed to even build raised platforms outside their homes. He said that Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji strengthened the Sikhs both spiritually and politically. On this occasion, Tamil Sikh and Supreme Court lawyer Jeevan Singh, Barjinder Singh Hussainpur, VGR Naragoni from Hyderabad, Selva Singh, Jaskaran Singh, and local community members were present.