Neighbours for years, Kanchi Peetham and Jumma Masjid say their prayers simultaneously
KANCHEEPURAM: Every day at 6am, the seers at the world-famous Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Kancheepuram are up and about, getting ready for their gaja puja prayers for the elephants housed on the premises. Around the same time, the muzzein at the Sunnath Jamaath Jumma Masjid next door can be heard calling to the faithful for the morning namaz.
While the preists at the Peetham go about chanting their slokas, the prayers go on at the mosque next door simultaneously.
One does not stop for the other nor disturb the other. The prayers continue in unison. The prayers begin with clockwork precision every day and is a celebration of the harmonious coexistence of two religions.
"It's been this way since I took over as the Shankaracharya in 1984," says Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th pontiff of the Peetham. "I think it is most beautiful and unique to hear both the namaz calls and the suprabhatham at the same time," says the 76-year-old.
In nine years, Rukmini Raman, 70, has almost never missed a day of bhajan singing at the Peetham. She is at the mandapam at the crack of dawn, ready to sing as the main pontiff goes about his morning pujas. "While singing I can hear the muzzein's call and for me it's beautiful," she says.
It is not just in the mornings that the pujas and prayers coincide. It happens in the afternoon, then again at 4.30pm, and finally at 6.30pm. "We share four of the five prayer timings," says the pontiff with a smile.
Every day, around 500 people pass through the gates of the Peetham. The mosque has around the same number of visitors too, except on Fridays when the crowds to both places treble as Friday is a holy day for Muslims, while the Peetham has two special pujas.
Crowds or no, it has never been a problem coexisting next to each other, says Mullah Rizwan Sahib of the mosque. "We never get in each other's way. We do not disturb the other's proceedings and it is wonderful to carry on side by side like this."
Each religion, says Jayendra Saraswathi, has its own beauty and charm and it is good to understand them. "You will find this harmony only here in Kancheepuram," he adds, perhaps alluding to the verdict on the Ayodhya issue which is due soon.
kamini.mathai@timesgroup.com