Religion and politics often intertwine, with politicians turning to religious rituals to help them win elections. This is especially true in India, where the use of religious practices to gain political power has become commonplace. While some politicians may not believe that their work alone will see them through, many have been chanting the ‘RRR’ (religious rituals for results) mantra this election season, undergoing rituals ranging from simple homas to esoteric tantric rituals.
Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S), for example, recently completed a ‘Shatha Chandika Yaga’, a massive ritual involving 100 priests praying non-stop for nine days. They chanted 700 ‘Sapthashathi’ mantras hundred times and offered oblation through 100 sacrificial fire pits to propitiate goddess Durga. The ritual was for the health and wellbeing of his father, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, but another ritual, ‘Lakshminarayana Hrudaya’, aimed at acquiring resources to fight elections and to ensure victory for JD(S), was performed simultaneously.
Kumaraswamy revealed that his family turns to such rituals in battle-like situations, saying, “Our family realizes the only strength we can rely on is divine power and God’s grace, especially given our experience of surviving repeated challenges and reaching positions to govern the state even with small numbers.” His family performed ‘Shatha Chandika Yaga’ before the 2018 assembly elections, after which JD(S) formed a coalition government with Congress and Kumaraswamy became CM for the second time.
Other politicians in India have also turned to religious rituals to help them gain power. Congress state president DK Shivakumar, a strong CM contender, appears to have taken a cue from the Gowdas. While he regularly visits shrines like Mahakaleshwar in Madhya Pradesh to perform various yagas, he recently visited Shani temple in Tamil Nadu’s Karaikal to ward off evil. Meanwhile, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa is known for his staunch belief in astrology and his regime between 2008 and 2011 was awash with news about it.
Despite the skepticism of some, politicians continue to put their faith in such practices because of the uncertainties of politics. Noted astrologer Daivagna KN Somayaji believes that politicians tend to surrender to astrology and rituals because they find solace and gain confidence to go forward with challenges. While the use of religious rituals in politics is highly controversial, there’s no denying that it plays a significant role in the election season in India.
