79. The place: Kadiri

Kadri is one of most significant places in Mangalore in terms of historical evolution.Even though,now the place is commonly called Kadri, earlier local people used to refer to it by the name "Kadire". Manjeswara Govinda Pai has popularised the word 'Kadire' in his research works.
Many of our experts have endeavored to explain the meaning and or origin of the word. The most favored explanation is that it is a word derived from ‘kadali’ (=banana). The ‘kadali’ is also a small and sweeter variety of local species of banana that is popular in the district. But there is an alternate explanation with proof in the form of inscription under the bronze idol of Avalokiteswara installed by Alupa King Kundavarma which describes the place as ‘Kadarika vihar’. The word ‘Kadarika’ is Sanskritised version of Kadari or Kadire. (A ‘Vihar’ is a Buddhist monastery or hostel).
Kadali
In support of the aforesaid word Kadali, the place is ostensibly described as ‘Suvarna Kadali vana’(=golden banana grove). Infact, there is an suitable anecdote to match this epithet. However, on analysis of available historical data, it appears that the notion of Kadali vana came from Srishaila, another renowned Shaiva- Sidda- Natha holy place in Andhra Pradesh. At Srishaila there is a kadali vana. Historically, there was good theological relations between Kadri and Srishaila. It appears that the notion of Kadali vana may have been borrowed from that site at Srishaila.
Puddar
Tulu farming people traditionally celebrate the annual opening of harvesting season with a festival known as ‘Puddar’ or ‘Puddvar’. The origin of the word has been explained as 'pudda' (=new)+ 'baar' (=paddy).The word ‘Puddar’ has become ‘Huttari’ among Kodava people. Puddar >.puttar >.huttar >.huttari.
The festival is alternatively called ‘pasatt’(=new!) or ‘kural parba’(=spike of paddy+ festival), the latter word being more common among those converted into Christianity.
The festival is of quite ancient in origin derived from our early/proto-Munda heritage. The present Munda people of Chotanagapur area call it ‘Karam’ festival. It seems that the ‘puddar’ or ‘huttar’(Kodava) was the original word used by early Munda people who inhabited the Karavali/ Kodagu region during the early historical period.
Kadir
The key factor in the ‘puddar’ festival is a newly harvested spike of paddy called ‘kadir’ or ‘kural’ is brought from the designated place of community worship and tied to places in the entrance of the house and/or nearby trees, cattle-shed etc. It is a community festival of farmers since ages.
I suggest that the word kadiri came from ‘kadir’, the new spike of paddy. Kadiri was the ancient designated locality where they used to distribute the ceremonial ‘kadirs since ages.
Puddarkatte
There is a Puddar katte near Kadri temple, where the kadir was being distributed ceremonially since ages. The Kadri Jogis, the administrators of the temple have continued the popular ceremony of distributing kadir-s during the annual puddar festival, as cited by writer Rahamath Tarikere(2006).
®

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.