Tripura Debates Maneka’s Plea Against Animal Sacrifice

Udaipur (Tripura), Mar 14 : Following a request from animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi to stop animal sacrifice in the famous Tripureswari temple, one of the 51 'shakti peethas', the South Tripura district administration has decided to gather opinion from various quarters.

I have received a letter from Maneka Gandhi last week requesting the deputy collector, who is the principal 'sebait' of Mata Tripureswari, to stop animal sacrifice. Now the opinion of the government, royal family priests and common people would be gathered before taking a final decision," District Magistrate Swapan Saha told reporters today.

Once a princely state, Tripura merged with India in 1949 following signing of a merger of agreement and one of the conditions was that the state government would worship Mata Tripureswari in traditional system. The temple was built by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 1501 A.D.

When contacted, Pradyot Kishor Devburman, the decendent of the Tripura's Manikya King said, "I am personally against animal sacrifice, but there is no need of any kind of advice from Maneka Gandhi. There can be an internal debate within the state whether this 'parampara' should be stopped".

According to mythology, Lord Vishnu had cut off the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces by the Sudarshana Chakra and the pieces fell at various places throughout the country. These places are known as 'shakti peethas'. It is said the 'right foot' of Mata Sati fell at Matabari.