Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa performed a pooja at a temple in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. However, the ritual is performed to ward off evil from marital life. Is it a sign of things to come?

Pleasing Rahu, for Shobha?

Chief Ministeru00a0Bu00a0S Yeddyurappa performed a pooja at a temple in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. However, the ritual is performed to ward off evil from marital life. Is it a sign of things to come?

For, Yeddyurappa performed a rare Rahu pooja in Tamil Nadu to keep their friendship intact. But, at the same time, temple priests say that he may have risked his chair because he was in a hurry to complete the same ritual.

The Rahu temple in Tirunageswaram near Kumbhakonam is famous for the rituals performed to ward off evils dogging married life. It is believed that a ksherabhisheka (washing the idol with milk) done to Rahu, an evil planet, at Rahu kala, an hour in a day ruled by the planet, will solve marital problems.

"Yeddyurappa gives utmost importance to the friendship (with Shobha), and is also very religious," said a source close to him. "So he chose to seek divine intervention for their relationship, since his other attempts are failing."

However, a priest mentioned that the ritual was not advisable for a person in power, because there was a risk of losing power if it is not done properly. As an instance, he mentioned then Chief Minister SM Krishna's case, who performed this ritual before his party (Congress) lost the assembly polls, in 2004.

"We have ensured everything was in place when the ritual was done," said the priest. "But Yeddyurappa was in a hurry at the thick of the pooja, and had to leave before we did the customary ending procedures. That is worrying me a little," he added.

Yeddyurappa visited several temples on Saturday in Tamil Nadu, from dawn to dusk. He was at the temple between 9 am and 10.30 am and witnessed milk turning blue after it was poured on the idol.

u00a0"The temple is famous because the milk turns blue after it is poured on the idol which symbolises the removal of poisonous effects of the planet from the individual," said a priest in the temple. "Normally the ritual is done to improve stressed relationships between married couples or solve infertility," he added.

It is now a known secret that Shobha is not so happy with the chief minister failing to convince the BJP high command on a cabinet expansion about her re-entry.

Shobha had to resign as minister when the Reddy brothers, who spearheaded dissidence against the CM, last year, urged for her ouster. Since then, Yeddyurappa is not leaving any stone unturned to include her.

Yeddyurappa also visited the Shani temple in Tirunellar in Karaikal district to offer pooja to Saturn, and Surya temple in Kumbhakonam, where he did Navagraha Shanti, a ritual to please all the nine planets.

He also fed crows, believed to be Saturn's vehicle, and peeked into an oil pond to look at his reflection, as is the custom.

While his camp was a little jittery about the astrological predictions, both Yeddyurappa and Shobha remained unavailable for their comments.
u00a0
With inputs from Ramesh Kantirava, Chennai

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels