The pattern
of different rituals offered for different Divine Spirits as a part of Spirit worship
(Daivaradhane) are distinct from one
deity to another. The essential differences are brought out below.
We
summarized the general comments, made by Narayana A. Bangera (NAB) during our
conversations on our Post-350: Kāle & Kāle Kola, in our Post-352/31.10.2015:
Kola & Nema: The Distinction.
Subsequently,
we received a brief Note in Kannada in November. Though this writer wanted
bringing it to the knowledge of our readers, he lost himself in a stupor on
being engrossed on subject of ‘Dhoomavati’. We now give a gist of the written note
of NAB as a dilation of the earlier Post-352.
Manifested
God-forms
Annual
celebrations of God- manifestations are called as Jaatre or Aayana. They are performed on specific days as
pre-fixed. Designated performers are
from Parava caste.
Aayana
Highlights: Flag hoisting (kodi mara eruni). Pulling of cart (bandi)
with deity on board. No circumambulation
with ‘badikara (an earthen pot containing auspicious things) and ‘bolgode/bolkode’
(white umbrella). There was a custom of circumambulating of the deity in a palanquin,
on āne (elephant) or Nandi (bullock) around temple.
Wearing: Spades
of arecanut to legs, girders for the waist, crown
or head-dress to head.
Wearing not included: Gaggara (Jingling
anklets). Siri (coconut palm fronds) and muga (mask).
Offerings:
No animal sacrifice. Sacrificial food is vegetarian in the form of broiled or
puffed up paddy/rice with jaggery, along with tender coconuts. This offering is accepted by impersonator of
the divine spirit. So these things are the ‘Barne’ (food for eating) for
the impersonators as a token of offering to respective deities.
· Ullaya: He is the
manifestation of Lord Eeshwara. Fixed
days are: Beshada (May-June) Sankranti (Vrishabha Sankramana). It falls on either 14th or 15th
of May. This year it falls on 14th
May. (See our Post-292/30.12.2011:
Fishing Rituals at Kandevu).
·
Nalkaitaya: Manifestation of Vishnu. Annual celebration is on Mayida Punname
(Full moon day of Feb-March).
· Bermer: Manifestation
of Brahma. Annual celebration is on ‘Bontyoluda
pattu popinani’, i.e. on 10th day of Tulu month of ‘Bontyolu’
(Oct.-Nov). The Brahma temple at Palli, near Udupi, Karnataka
is very famous. It was renovated and
consecrated on 14th May, 2009.
Nemas
for Rajan Daivas
Nemas are
performed on specific days, prefixed. It may be noted that divine spirit
impersonators are from ‘Pambada’ class of dancers. Annual celebration is
with all customary rituals, siri shringara, wearing gaggara, and Muga/Moga
(= mask of the deity). ‘Badikara’ and ‘Bolgode’ Balis (= circumambulations)
are very much part of the celebration. Animal sacrifice is allowed.
1.
Jarandaya & Kodamandaya: They
are deified souls of Jain Kings. Eru
Kodi (Flag-hoisting) and ‘Oipu Bandi’ (Circumambulation on carts
pulled by devotees) are highlights of the Annual Nema.
2.
Jimaadi: She manifested herself as a boon bestowed upon Jaabaali
Rishi on his rigorous penance.NAB says that ‘Jumaadi’ and ‘Dhoomavati’ are wrong
nomenclatures. It should be ‘Jimaadi’, a shortened version of Jeeva (rashi’s)
Aadi, i.e. the Supreme Soul of Divine Mother and the lord of individual (egoistic)
souls of all creatures of this world (supposed to be 84 lacs Jivikotis of
various categories or classes). She has
a male’s face with woman’s body. She is
known by different names after her famous devotees. She is known as ‘Sarala Jimaadi’ in the
household of Saralantaya, Kanteri Jimaadi in Kantu Rai’s House and Maarla
Jimaadi at Aithu Maarla.
Sometimes,
Kola celebration is performed at Gadupadu or Gaduvadu places on fixing a day with
all rituals (of wearing deity’s mask, siri shringra, gaggara, etc)but without
Kodi (Flag-hoisting) and Bandi (Cart-circumambulating) rituals.
Note: As a popular belief, Jimaadi or Dhoomavati is
equated to Parvati. Our preconception
was that She is ‘Ardhanarishwara’. We
may come out with a new Post on Dhoomavati after further study.
3.
Babbarya
It is
not ‘Bobbarya’. The correct name is ‘Babbarya
(Bappa+Aarya). Supposed to be the reincarnation of Ayyappa Shastara, he comes
to the rescue of women under distress as Vishwadeva Shastara protected Sachi,
the Spouse of Lord Indra, from the cluches of Ajamukhi, sister of Mahishasura.
He is not Byari (Muslim) as is
believed in Kasaragod side (For better understanding readers may read NAB’s
article ‘Babbana Babbarya’, published in Mogaveera Monthly, Mumbai, of January
to March 2009). Non-vegetarian food is not offered to the Deity. Vegetarian
food is made of rice flour, sweetened by jaggery, and baked on-the-spot on
cinders at the place of worship. Offering
is called as ‘Dāne’ or ‘Dhanya’ (Read our Post-198/11.07.2009:
Bridge on mud-crack).
Please note:
‘Nema’ is observed on pre-fixed days at the Babbarya Temple (= Gunda, a round-shaped
rock structure). No flag-hoisting, no
circumambulation on a ‘bandi’ (wooden cart).
The divine spirit impersonator does not wear ‘Siri’ (Split coconut leaf
fronds). He wears silken cloth around
loin but does not wear muga/moga (mask) nor ‘sirimudi
(= head gear).
4.Other
Divine Spirits
There
is no pre-decided day for celebration in the form of Kola to other divine
spirits, including Panjurli (NAB opines that, ‘Panjirli’ is the correct
version), Kalkude, Kordabbu, Gulle, Raavu, Koragajja, Mayandal, etc. There is no Kodi or Bandi. The
stages of invocation, like Siri ecchi,
gaggarada ecchi, etc. are there.
Glossary
Bārane leppuni (ಬಾರನೆ ಲೆಪ್ಪುನಿ) = Seeking permission to accept food offered. It is a ritual of addressing the
organizers of the Bhūta festival and blessing them by Bhūta impersonator before
accepting the food offered.
For other related words, please see our Posts:
No.250/20.08.2010: From Ola Savari, Olasari to Varasari.
No.233/20.03.2010: Panjurli
No.306/13.12.2012: Mayandal and other Posts on Divine Spirits
Acknowledgement:
This post is based on the information
provided by Vidwan Shri. Narayana A.
Bangera, for which we are immensely thankful.
Narayana A Bangera: A profile
A Commerce Graduate and retired as
Manager in Air-India, NAB is a prolific writer, poet, kirtankar, discourser on Shani
Mahatmya, Shri Satya Narayana Vrita
Katha, and Puranas. Besides, he was a teacher in Night High Schools, Kannada
Professor in College and is a well-known celebrity in
Mumbai. On completion of 75 years of his
fruitful life, he was felicitated by a group of admirers and Associations of Tulu-Kannada
diaspora of Mumbai on 2nd April, 2016 at Karnataka Sangha’s Dr.
Vishwesharayya Smaraka Sabhagriha, Matunga (West), Mumbai-400016. To mark the
occasion, an Abhinandana Grantha entitled
“Krishnarpana”.has been brought out.
-Hosabettu Vishwanath, Pune