Friday, January 18, 2008

77. Natha cult at Mangalore

The Kadri Manjunatha temple at Mangalore in the present form was founded by Jogi Matsendranath of the Natha pantha (=cult) during the rule of King Kundavarma Alupa (ca. 968 CE). The Natha cult sprang from the Mahayana school of Buddhism but revived the Shaiva tradition. It marks the waning stages of Buddhism in southern India and transition of faiths from Buddhism back to mainstream Hinduism. The Jogis and the Jogi Mutt of Kadri are involved with the administration of Kadri temple since historical days. The place was known as ‘Kadarika Vihar’ during the hay days of Buddhism in Mangalore. The word ‘Natha’ means lord, owner or God.
The name Manjunatha generally means the Lord of the Snow (Himalaya or Kailasa). But, in the evolutionary terms, originally it may be the Natha representation of Manju Ghosh (Manjushri) Bodhisattva, a key disciple of Gautama Buddha. In the later case it follows that the Kadarika Vihara initiated as centre of spirit worship that eventually graduated into the worship of Lord Shiva, the Manjunatha.

Mangala of Pingala
Most of the published materials suggest that the name ‘MangaLoor’ or ‘MangaLur’ came after Malabar queen ‘Mangale’ came to this town and died here. We may have to make small corrections in this anecdote, after perusing the version provided by Jogi Anandanath (2003) of Kadri Jogi Mutt.

Pingaladevi
The queen who relinquished her regalities and followed Jogi Gorakshanath to Kudala was ‘Pingaladevi’ ( not Mangale or Mangaladevi ) according to Jogi Anandanath. Her original place was described as ‘Strirajya’(literally means ‘Womens kingdom’, possibly an allegory for the matriarchial, women dominated state in Kerala).She was disciple of Jogi Matsendranath and was the first Yogini (=female Jogi). She was actively involved in the propagation and activities of the Natha-pantha and introduced several female disciples to the Natha cult.
On the occasion of Kumbha mela at Triambakeswar, near Nasik, Maharastra, she was traveling from Kerala on foot with Jogi Goraksha Natha along the coastal path to attend the festival that recurs every twelve years. (The number twelve has auspicious significance in the Natha cult). Goraksha Nath was the eminent disciple of Matsendra Nath. Goraksha Natha halted in the southern part of (present Mangalore) town near Jeppu by installing his ‘danda’(ceremonial stick), at a place that became known as ‘Goraksha danD’.
Queen Pingaladevi attained ‘mangala’ in a nearby location. (Attaining ‘mangala’ apparently is an idiom used by Natha Jogis for death. Like Veerashaivas use the word ‘lingaikya’ or ‘shivaikya’ for death.).The specific timeline has not been given in the report for any of these events.
The word ‘mangala’ has several meanings, like (a) auspicious-[ceremony,marriage etc]- (b) fort (c) end (end part of events like bhajana session or yakshagana) and (d) end of life (death).
Thus, the location where ex-queen Yogini Pingaladevi attained ‘mangala’ (=end of life) was later named as ‘Mangalapura’ and a shrine was built there.
It follows that the worship of Mangala was initially a spirit cult in honour of the expired Yogini. Subsequently in the history, the Mangaladevi was accepted as a form of Durga or Shakti. Thus this is a clear case of eventual conversion of spirit cult into deity cult of mainstream Hinduism.


Reference:
Jogi Anandanath (2003) “Nathapantha kStetra Jogi maTa, Kadali, MangaLoor”.(in Kannada). Natha pantha prachara samiti, Mangalore. p.10+99.

10 comments:

  1. That was really informative post on Natha cult.

    The word 'mangala' is strongly associated with many rituals in Kodava society (probably north Malabar too). At present both Kodava-s and north Malabar Malayalis use it only for marriage. Does the word 'mangala' have some special place in Natha cult ritual acts?

    Then there are many polluting aspects 'pole' in Kodava and 'pula' in Malayalam. Do Tuluva-s have it (and do they call it pole?)

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  2. Yes,I have heard Kodava people using the word Mangala for marriage.The word 'mangala' may be remnant our Buddhist heritage also.Mangala was the third of the twentyfour Buddhas.In Tulu culture Mangala is used mainly for signifying the'end of the session'like in Bhajane,Yakshagana etc.
    Jogi Anandanath(ibid) uses the word " mangalaacharane gaidaru" for her death.I shall gather more on that sometime later.
    2.'Pole' is not used in current Tulu as far my knowledge goes.I checked the 'Tulu Nighantu' for some verification. 'Poli'(prosperity,crop etc) is discussed under some ten shades of meanings.Or maybe because the stronger influence of this word 'Poli'(prosperity etc)the other word 'pole'(cited by you)has been masked.I shall try to gather some data and pass on to you later.

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  3. Thanks, Ravi.

    The ersthwhile indigenous Kodava rulers were Jains and where also matrilineal(according to M N Srinivas). But historically until modern times Kodavas were ruled Kannada speaking Saiva Nayaks. Hence Buddhist influence is rather obscure. "Mangala" may be either Jaina or Saiva legacy.

    How common is 'pile'(impurity due to birth/menstruation) in Tulu?

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  4. Mangala(=marriage) exists in Tulu as 'mangila', though less in use, because of arrival of other synomous words.
    'Pile' of course exists as (a)impurity from child birth, menstrual flow or filth and (b) insult, humiliation, accusation of adultery.(Tulu nighantu. Vol.l5, p.2030). It must be the equivalent/modification of 'Pole' you referred to.

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  5. "Mangalam padaaru" in telugu is a phrase that means "udvaasane" in kannada or goodbye. Mangala haarati is always at the end, not at the beginning.

    Now my amused question is how "mangala" shifted to being auspicious as in a marriage?

    One astrologer told me that tuesdays are actually designated (a)mangala vaara, where here mangala means "shubham" or good. Astrologically it is Mars day..

    Poli is a word that is distinctly dakshina kannada.. While growing up "Avvallu dodda poli" was a phrase used to describe any flirtatious girl who would talk to boys.. [That was the very restrictive 70s early 80s :).] I'm assuming the adultery label being tagged on here.

    Ravi another word "shele" as in "shele malpondu" or acting coy, is very distinctly DK kannada.. :)

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  6. Yes the the word Mangala has evolved a lot during the history.
    I tried to summarise his in 90. Mangala.Have you read this:www.tulu-research.blogspot.com/2008/02/90-mangala.html

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  7. Contd..
    Lakshmi, Poli in Tulu has many meanings,mostly positive, like prosperity,goodluck,good crop etc.Possibly it originated during the cultural phase when agriculture was the main occupation and a good harvest was a direct symbol of prosperity.'Poli'(=harvest) apparently originated from 'Pola', the field.
    The Telugu 'Poli' you mentioned apparently is related to 'pOli'(long 'O' )meaning naughty or irreverent.
    3.ShEle (coy)is a distinctive Tulu word.It may be related to the root of 'shyli'(Sanskrit).
    1.There were also some more older posts on 'Mangala'. An African origin for the word was suggested.The apparently has a long evolutionary history,during which it aquirred several shades of meanings.

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  8. Mangila means marriage for "manser" caste in tuluvas
    Narayana Shetty

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  9. Antonios Vasileiadis-Athens - Greece
    The Kodavas explain that by saing "Poly-poly Deva" ask Gods for " more or many more" and is the exact meaning the Greek word" Poly" has. You use it today when you say Polytekhnic or Polyclinic. South Indian languages have given a lot of help to lost Mediterannean word's meanings. We were puzled what the word Korymbas ( of the people present at God Zeus birth) was meaning. Finaly I figured out that Korumbas in S.I. languages means "SHEPHERDS" well with the tradition were shepoherds are present at the birth of every miraculesly born and then tortured,kiled and resurected God. For you Sheep is " kuri ' for the ancient Greeks is "kura ". As I ended a paper presented at the 2007 Indian and South Indian History Congress -we are more close related than what we think.
    ant.vasileiadis@yahoo.gr

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  10. Thank You Antonios! Welcome to the blog.
    You are providing some more additional data that evinces historical relations between Mediterraneans and South Indians.'Poly' is plenty and prosperity in Tulu also.Korumba-Kuru(m)ba and Kura-Kuri analogies are interesting to note.There may be more such links. Lets explore further!
    Please write more on these..

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