‘Depict him as Buddhist monk’
Kannada writer K.S. Bhagavan on Wednesday called for replacing Mahishasura’s demonic statue atop Chamundi Hills with one depicting him as a Buddhist monk. At a press conference here in connection with Mahisha Dasara Habba scheduled for October 7, Mr. Bhagavan called for pulling down the statue of Mahishasura portraying him as a demon holding a sword in one hand and a snake in the other. In its place, a statue depicting the “great ruler” Mahishasura as a Buddhist monk should be constructed, he said. He regretted that the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysuru had constructed the statue of Mahishasura as a demon under the influence of the priestly class. Arguing that Mahishasura was a follower of the Buddha and he had been wrongly portrayed as a demon, Mr. Bhagavan said Mahishasura, according to historical accounts, was a benevolent ruler who stood for humanism and welfare of all sections of society. “If he were to be a demon, why would Mysuru be named after him?” he said. During the press conference organised by Mahisha Dasara Organising Committee, Urilinga Peddi Mutt seer Jnanaprakash Swami said a rally would be taken out from B.R. Ambedkar statue in front of Town Hall to the statue of Mahishasura atop Chamundi Hills on October 7.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/bhagavan-wants-mahishasura-to-be-depicted-as-buddhist-monk/article25117266.ece
