Ilaiyaraaja’s Take on Jesus’ Resurrection Sparks Row

Ilayiraaja

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Noted music composer Ilaiyaraaja has kicked up a storm with his comments citing a documentary that dismissed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thirty-five members of the Sirupanmai Makkal Nala Katchi were detained on Sunday by the Pondy Bazaar Police after they tried to protest outside Illayaraaja's house in Chennai, The Hindu reported.

In his speech, Ilaiyaraaja spoke about a YouTube documentary which stated that Jesus Christ had not been resurrected. "Then he went on to claim that true resurrection took place for Ramana Maharshi at the age of 16, and also explained how it happened," a police officer told the publication.

While it is not clear yet at which event Ilaiyaraaja made the comments, a video of his talk has been doing the rounds on social media.

The composer can be seen talking about the saint Ramana Maharshi, and goes on to compare him with Jesus Christ. He then refers to a YouTube documentary which said that the resurrection of Chirst had not taken place.

This is a song I wrote about Bhagwan Ramana. After writing this song, I never thought of writing another song. Don’t think this is unrelated. Of all the enlightened thinkers who have appeared on earth, there is none like Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi. They say of Jesus Christ that after he died, there was a resurrection and he came back to life. I usually watch YouTube documentaries when I get the time. Now they are saying there was no resurrection. They have produced all the proofs possible, and they are saying that he did not come back to life. The foundation on which Christianity is built and the basis on which Christianity has grown for over 2,000 years – they have correctly proven historically on YouTube that it has not happened.

Ilaiyaraaja

"Whether that happened or not, the one and only person who has truly experienced resurrection is Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi. That too, when he was a 16-year-old boy. He was overcome with the fear of death. He wanted to see what death will do to his body. He decided to lie down on the ground, hold his breath and his blood flow stopped. His heart stopped and his body became cold. He died. It's his own statement that he died. His body froze and even though his body froze, one unknown is seen. He went to that state of realisation," he added.

During the talk, Ilaiyaraaja, however, mentioned that his views regarding this were not related to the event.

The Sirupanmai Makkal Nala Katchi undertook a protest outside his house in T Nagar. One member of the party said, "He has to be arrested. He is inciting religious violence. That's our demand. He has insulted our religion. Instead of arresting him, the police is arresting us."

(This piece was originally published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)