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60. He said that he has no caste or creed and
was common to every body. He also told
the King that he would leave the jail only
when he desires to do so.
61. This news spread all over
Thiruvananthapuram. People came before
him in large groups with fruits, flowers etc.,
His followers from different parts of south
Tamil nadu reached Singarathoppu jail.
62. On the 19th day of Tamil month Masi (March
3, 1839) Ayya Vaikundar decided to go back
to Swamithoppu.
63. With all glories, his followers carried him
back to Swamithoppu overnight and reached
there on 20th day of Masi. This day is very
auspicious to all his devotees and now every
year this day is celebrated as Masi
procession.
64. Nowadays this procession starts from
Thiruchendur and Thiruvananthapuram. It
ends with grand functions and is currently a
declared public holiday for the districts in
South Tamil nadu.
65. During that period , Nanchi nadu was the
storehouse of the paddy in Travancore.
These paddy fields were taxed heavily. At
the same time the land cultivators had to
pay two types of taxes. One for land and
other for trees. The majority of the land
owners were high caste people. Even then
Ayya Vaikundar entered in this issue. He told
that the tax can be given to land only and
organized hundreds of farmers of Nanchi
nadu and proceeded to
Thiruvananthapuarm. Addressing the
farmers agitation at Thiruvananthapuram ,
Ayya Vaikundar asked the King to stop treetax
which was an additional one. He also
pointed out that only if the farmer toil in the
mud , the King can eat in the golden plate.
This event may be the first agitation of
farmers against a Kingdom in the history of
India.
66. This part of the 19 th century witnessed
cruelty against women . They were not
allowed to cover their breasts and below the
knee in Travancore.
67. If any woman brought married from
Thirunelveli ,they were also bounded to obey
this rule.The high caste men used to tore
the blouses (rowkka) of the ladies who cover
their breast.
68. An young Nadar lady came to market by
wearing a blouse at the place called
Kottaram near Kanya kumari.
69. The high caste chieftains tore her blouse and
captured her wedding chain with thaali. From
this incident onwards , this market is known as Thaali Aruthaan Chanthai.
70. The men of Nadar community protested
against this. The agitation spread over to
different places. Several social workers
intervened in this issue. The London
Missionary Rev.Charles Mead went to the
Court against this anti-human activity.
71. Straight fights between low caste and high
caste men became common. The Govt.
authorities stood on the side of high caste
men.
72. They were not ready to consider the Court
Verdict.So the Nadar men finally decided to
break the hands of those who tear the blouses
of their ladies. Strong fights went on.
73. Observing this severity of the agitation, the
Govt. decided to permit Nadar women to wear
the blouse.
74. But they were not permitted to put a shawl
over the blouse. Ayya Vaikundar strongly
opposed this and lead the agitation which was
known as Mel Mundu Samaram.
75. As he foretold earlier Ayya Vaikundar attained
Nirvaana on a Monday mid-noon 2nd of June
1851.
76. After the period of Ayya, many of his
prophecies came to reality. Thousands of
people became his followers.
77. His spiritual thoughts turned into a new way
of life – Ayya Vazhi.The people who criticized
him while he was alive, had recognized his
way of thought-that is Ayya Vazhi.
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