Aabritti Paudyal
Self-flagellation is simply understood as a self-punishment. It is the practice of flogging oneself with whips or other instruments such as blades, knives, to cause pain. Whipping oneself was done to reduce feeling of guilt.
The beginning of such act has a history since 14th century. The ritual was first found practiced among the members of several Greco- Roman and Egyptian cults and the Sparta Arthemis Orthia and is still practiced in the different parts of the world.
Self-flagellation is performed often as a form of penance, purification and initiation. People flagellate to maintain distance from all kinds of pleasure and fully devote themselves to God.
Another main reason for this ritual is the idea that pain causes devil to exit the body. Also, there are many methods of self-harming chosen differently according to people following different religions. With time the practice changed the format from self-harming to self-control or “discipline”.
History shows that the same physical act has taken various psychological meanings with time. During 14th century flagellants were the protestors.
Later on in the sixteenth century self-flagellation was associated to self-control. Different religions including Christianity, Shia Islam, Judaism and Hinduism practice the ritual with almost common purpose.
When Christianity came to follow self-flagellation with sole purpose back in time, the practice took a form of spiritual act among other religions too. The ritual has also been a practice to purify own soul as a repentance to the wrong deeds.
Pain and suffering has always been a major part of understanding religion. Although different religions have different act of self-flagellation, it is performed for purpose of common benefit culturally, spiritually or emotionally.
The practice is not openly talked about amongst communities despite being performed in religious communities. The ritual is performed with a belief of being closely connected to god, letting go of sorrows and sins, as a punishment for misdeeds and so on.
In Christianity common forms of mortification are fasting, abstinence as well as pious kneeling although controversy exists whether to be practiced or not despite Catholics and many churches have been practicing the tradition. Some Christians believe flagellating themselves bring them closer to Christ. They believe that to be closer to God, you needed to suffer through the pain of Christ.There are still parades in Mexico, the Philippines, and other nations during Holy Week. Devotees carry crosses and whip themselves on the back with their faces covered to avoid legal consequences in places where the practice is banned.
In Shia Islam the ritual is performed as a remembrance to the martyrs of battle of Karbala and specially to address the contribution of Imam Hussain. A public ceremony is held with chest beating as a display of their devotion to Imam Hussain and his suffering. They use a specific Arabic word matam (chest beating) which has two forms: one where hands are only used for chest beating: another where matam is performed using chains, knives, swords and blades also known as zanzeer-zani and Qama-zani.
Another religion that participates in self-flagellation is Judaism. The Jewish follow this ritual to create a high moral standard. On the afternoon before Yom Kippur, men get on their knees while a friend stands behind with a belt and administers 39 “lashes” (actually light taps) on the back. During the flagellation both the receiver and the giver keep count of the “lashes” by saying the verse of Psalm 78:38 (But he being full of compassion forgave iniquity, and not destroy and yes many a time he turned away his anger and not did stir up all his wrath) which has 13 words (in Hebrew), and the verse is recited three times.
Whereas, fasting, abstaining from meat and sex, body piercing activities, carrying a kavadi (a physical burden) are other forms of flagellation among Hinduism community during the annual Thaipusam festival. This festival is a celebration of the Hindu God Murugan.
Self-flagellation carries an experience of pain and also a feeling of being alive among those who practice it. They believe the act of purification of soul from committing misdeeds in the past can only be done by harming oneself causing evil to let go of the body.
A common goal of self-flagellation is the desire to emulate a certain god of certain religion they follow. By whipping oneself, one would find distraction from the pleasures of world and be able to fully focus only on God.
But still many controversies exist regarding whether to practice flagellation among Islam and Christian religion, the leaders have made a statement, children don't need to practice although adults can practice flagellation with full consent and a conscious mind. Although psychologist claims self-flagellation can ease guilt and self-inflicted pain rebalances the scales.
I think self-flagellation is nothing more than insanity and lack of self-esteem. There is no any parameter to measure one's guilt, and it fascinates how some people find relief from mental pain by physical pain. People do strange things that we are never told to do for God. Self flagellation is a brutally insane ritual. No God would want their followers to go through this suffering. There is no further need for any sacrifices and suffering for God. People should understand that flagellation doesn’t bring them any closer to God.
On the other hand, we cannot abolish this deeply rooted ritual once and for all. It takes time. We should take the step by removing all these complicated concepts like sin, purity introduced by human beings. I wonder, why do rituals of pain and torture develop in the first place?
People should be taught that there is no such place called hell and heaven, there is no after life, and purity cannot be achieved by flogging oneself. Violence isn’t the solution. People should realize that although self-flagellation is accepted by the holy as penance to reform soul, it is not recommended.