Author:
Publication: Hindu Voice
Date: July 2005
Frail, unhealthy and short in stature
Leo Panakal (74) returned to Hinduism on 19th May 2005. In a simple ceremony
at Pavakulam Siva temple, Kaloor, Kochi he became Sivakumar. The paravarthanam'
was without any fanfare. The temple priest chanted mantras, sprinkled holy
water (theertham) on him and then performed Namakaranam. On his ear the
changed name Sivakumar was called thrice and thereafter he was given instructions
to light a lamp everyday both times in his home and also chant Panchaksharam
(Namassivaya) or Narayana. Some theertham was given to sprinkle in his
house. Sivakumar signed the Register and thereafter the President of Vishva
Hindu Parishad, Shri Madanan gave the certificates. The temple is managed
by VHP.
On 17th May, his son Titus also
returned to Hinduism taking the name as Karthik. He did this without consulting
his parents and relatives.
Sivakumar is a social worker, teacher
and a journalist. He was with Reuters in Delhi and Mumbai. From his childhood
he was attracted towards Hinduism. He preserves lot of date on various
areas of Hindu philosophy particularly on Vedas and Upanishads.
Editor's Note: I had the pleasure
of meeting Shri Leo Panakal, now Sivakumar, in Kochi in September 2004,
along with a wellwisher, Shri K. U. Ramachandran. In spite of his poor
health, he spent about 3 hours with us, and provided us lunch too.
Sivakumar was born in 1931 in Cochin
(Kochi), Kerala. From the age of 19, he has engaged himself as a foreign
correspondent of religious news in the subcontinent. Upon graduation he
moved to Delhi. He served there for the major part of 1960s as staff correspondent
of Reuters news agency, when he used to attend PM Nehrus press conference.
He also undertook his own research on religious consciousness. From these
studies, Sivakumar discovered the true identity of Jesus. This was published
in 1990 in his journal Insight titled "Jesus=Lucifer--The Devil". A fallout
of his research has been his findings about the origin of terrorism in
Kerala.
The Kerala TV channel KAIRALI interviewed
him in June 2004, at his residence. The 20-minute episode was telecast
repeatedly. Several viewers called on Sivakumar, then Leo Panakal, to voice
their appreciation.
To a question "Are you anti-Christ?",
Sivakumar replied: "Certainly yes. But it should be corrected as anti-Lucifer.
Christ is not a proper name. It is a misnomer added by the Pope. Christ
is a dictionary word of the Greek language. It is not a personal name.
His name is Jesus. And Jesus is the same as Lucifer So anti-Christ is anti-Lucifer".
To another question, he answered:
"Since Christianity regards women as the source of all sin and evil, it
is impossible for it to keep up a loving family image".
It is gratifying to know that such
a scholar has returned to Hinduism. Hindu Voice warmly welcomes his and
his family's homecoming. (His contact telephone is: 0484-2216178).- P.
Deivamuthu
