Jathra Mahothsava at Kachhur Maldi and Bhagwan Babbuswami Kshetra

Barkur , it seems never ceases to fascinate one who explore into the realms of its rich cultural past and heritage.  One has to be a bit inquisitive and that’s it.  With its 365 Devasthanas (temples) and 366 Daivasthanas  (Well, I don’t know the equivalent in English!) it will keep one wondering what were all these about.

Now just the other day I came to know that, many of the Barkur Daivasthanas and devasthanas are the Moolasthanas for many communities like Mogaverera, Bhandari, Samagara, Ganiga , Mundala and Adi Dravida, Vishwakarma etc! Some of them are unique. There is no other devasthana or daivasthana of their kind anywhere else.

On the old ferry road, down the church towards Halekody  there stands one such  moolasthana is Shri Kacchoora Maldi and Bhagawan Shri Babbuswami moola kshethra and the adjacent holy pond the Baila Kere.  Ignored for years together by its own community, now turned out to be the center for worship for all the devotees of the Mundala and Adidravida community in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district, thanks to the efforts of some enthusiastic community leaders.

The residents of Ikkeri (Sagara) in the patronage of Keladi Kings , they were all Lingayiths (Devotees of Lord Shiva) and pure vegetarians. Later, as the story goes, after the fall of Keladi Kings, the community was subjected to ill treatment by the upper caste people of Ikkeri, was forced to leave the place and travelled down to Barkur and surrounding places. With no roof on their head , nothing to tell as their own , the Mundala and Adi Dravida community suffered a lot and were forced to throw the Lingams they were wearing , at the pond of the Kota Eeshwara Temple (Hence the name Kotee Lingeshwara!) and subjected to non vegetarianism. They started working as bonded laborers with the local landlords and in general, were in a sorry state for many years.

Among them was Malathi Thayi of Kacchoor,  the chosen one from Lord Shiva himself, as they were the devotees of Lord Shiva from the beginning. One day when she was bathing at the Baila Kere , gets pregnant by the divine intervention.  But it was her landlord, Kodange Bannara with whom  she was working as a bonded laborer,  and herself gets the blame for the pregnancy and she was forced to take the Agni Pareekshe (a trial by the fire) and escapes unscathed and proves to the community that it was really a divine power. Bhagwan Babbu swami is the son of Shri Kachhor Maldi , was later looked after by Bunt community and shows is divine powers by performing many miracles (Karnika) thus getting the community the recognition it was craving.

Now to bring back the old glory to the community and to live in unity the community leaders formed committee to renovate the Daivasthana and celebrating the Jathra Mahotsava from the last 2 years.

The Mundala and Adi Dravida Community leaders from all over the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Districts have gathered together at the moolasthana to unite the community. From 10^th and 11^th January about 20000 people visited for  the traditional Maldi Devi  darshana and offered Kenda Seve in remembrance of the Agni Parikshe of Shri Kachhoor Maldi.  On 10^th January Saturday at 4 pm there was a grand procession (Hore Kanike) from Kalchapra to the Daivasathana followed by the various cultural programmes at the venue. Kenda Seve was offered from 10 pm till the wee hours in the morning.

On 11^th , His holiness, Ma.Ni.Pra. Saiddhalinga Mahaswami, Koodli Bharangi Mutth, Thalaguppa, was welcomed to the place in a grand procession who presided over a religious meeting at 11 pm. Thousands of people participated in the Anna Santharpane followed by the Daiva Darshana. The celebrations concluded at the evening with the Maha Pooja.

The committee lead by the President Eeshwara, Mangalore, Honorary President Channayya Mulki, supported by secretary Gokuldas , Kacchur and the 54 members from all over Karnataka State , is very happy about the outcome of its efforts and is hoping to unite the community at the moolasthana and regain  the long lost recognition to the community. Plans are drawn to build a bigger temple with more facilities and the required space is already acquired.

With Bennekudru Temple undergoing a massive renovation worth 150 lakhs, and now the Kacchoor Madli Kshetra added to it, Barkur is surging ahead in getting back the former glory, at least in the religious front.

News and Foto:Kishoo (12/01/2004)

Arangetram of Kumari Sushma

The Arangetram  (Rangapravesha) of Kumari  Sushma  Barkur, was a great success at Poorna Prajna Auditorium (PPC Udupi), on 10^th January 2004. She was blessed by His Holiness Shri Shri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji, Pejavar Adhokshaja Mutt, Udupi.

The function was presided over by Dr.B.M.Somayaji, HOD, Chemistry Department, PPC.,Udupi and Kalamandalam Smt.Usha Datar, Professor in Dance, Bangalore University, Bangalore and Smt. P. Kanchana, Bharathanatyam artist Chennai, were the chief guests.

The evening started with Ganapathy Stuthi in Nata raga, adi tala followed by Padavarna in Kharahara priya raga, adi tala and continued to the Tillana at the end in Suruthi Raga, aditala, was ably compered by Mr.Rama Bhat Sanjanagadde, Barkur.

Kum. Sushma, daughter of Smt. Anjani and Sri Y. Mohandas Kamath , started learning Bharathanatyam and Kuchupudi at the age of ten. After completing the Bharathanatyam Junior and senior exams with very good marks under the able guidance of her Natyacharya. “Nrityakalasindhu”, Sri Radhakrishna thantry and his daughter “Nritya vidhushi” Smt. Veena m Samaga, passed the Bharatanatyam Vidwat Examination which was held in June 2003 in first class. She also passed the classical Dance Audition test (Noopura Nada) recently conducted by Doordarshan Kendra, Bangalore, has been selected to give classical dance programmes for Doordarshan

Prize winning crib of Christmas 2003!

Sydney John Lewis came up with yet another prize winning crib this year too. Sydney , a budding Marine Engineer, S/0 Staney and Gretta Lewis Bennekudru won the first place in the crib competition last year too. Here are the  photographs, speaking for themselves…..

Foto:Kishoo

Christmas Celebration at Barkur.

The open air midnight mass at well lit and beautifully deceorated Barkur church ground started with melodious  Carols singing by the choir group lead by Mr. Eric Soans. The main celebrant for the high mass was Fr.Charles Lobo from New Delhi, accompanied by Fr. Ivan D’Almeida who came down from Punjab and Parish Priest Fr.Sylvetser D’Souza and Asst PP Fr.Wilfred.

Cakes sponsored by Syndicate bank and Corporation Bank and Coffee sponsored by Mr. Alwyn D Almeida of Al-D-Al general Stores was distributed to the people after the mass along with the arrival of Santa Clause.

A Xmas tree and funny games were organized in the evening for children with lots of attractive prizes and surprise gifts.