Date:31/08/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/08/31/stories/2002083101010801.htm

National

An endangered animal and a ritual in doubt?

By A.D. Rangarajan

TIRUPATI Aug. 30. "Any puja or ritual conducted without using the aromatic substances javvadi, kasturi and punugu bears no fruit," says a verse in an ancient scripture on the mode of conducting rituals in Vaishnavite temples.

The three aromatic substances are used at the Tirumala temple from time immemorial, but the continued use of the substances may be in doubt in the distant future, if not now.

Leaving aside `kasturi' and `javvadi', take the case of `punugu' (civet), which gives a long-lasting and refreshing fragrance. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is rearing the animal `civet' (also called `civet cat' as it has striking feline features) in its Sri Venkateswara Dairy Farm to obtain the gel secreted from one of its glands to be used in the temple rituals. Nine such animals are being taken care of in the dairy.

The nocturnal animal, that lives normally in bushy woods, has found a new environment in the dairy farm's cages, with fans to cool it and meat to feast on. The nine animals put together secrete 10 gm. of civet a week, that will be purified by the dairy staff before the offering.

At the temple, the civet is smeared on the divine idol before performing `abhishekam' on Fridays.

The TTD has also instituted a seva called `punugu ginne seva' as per which a person will be allowed to have darshan of the idol during this ritual on payment of Rs. 300.

Zoologically, the animal belongs to the `viverridae' family and six of the 15 varieties are found in India. Of them, the Small Indian Civet (vivericula indica) and Common Palm Civet or Toddy Civet/Malabar Civet (parabouxus hermaphroditus) are the two varieties found south of the Vindhyas.

Prof. Nandakumar of the Sri Venkateswara University, who has done extensive research on the fauna of the Seshachalam hills, confirms the presence of the Small Indian Civet in the Tirumala hill ranges while the Malabar civet is seen predominantly in the coastal districts of Kerala.

A problem in the long run to the TTD is about the availability of the animal. At present, it is dependent on tribals or the native inhabitants of the jungle for procuring it. They capture new-borns and hand them over to the dairy, apparently for a price.

The dairy's director, P. Konda Reddy, says the animal has to be obtained from the woods as it shows a disinclination to mate in cages and, at times, fights and kills the partner. This has firmly closed the door on captive breeding and leaves the only option of "purchase from outside".

As the TTD has been using the animal for the civet, it naturally has every responsibility to ensure its survival.