Turning the wheels of tradition

CULTURE

Some well known chariots in the State include the tallest temple car at Ulavi, the oldest ‘ratha’ in the State belonging to Chittapura Mutt of Uttara Kannada district, the golden and silver chariots of Sringeri and Krishna Temple at Udupi, to name a few. Rathasaptami and the ensuing car festivals are eloquent testimonies to our rich heritage, writes Vatsala Iyengar

Surya, the sun god, is a Vedic deity and has an eternal presence, according to Hindu belief. Surya is believed to have been born on Magha Suddha Saptami, a day on which he commences his celestial journey northwards.

It also signifies the ushering of ‘Vasantha Ruthu’, the spring festival. The day is observed as Rathasaptami, February 17 this year, as a re-enactment of the primordial and cosmic act of the deity. Devotees believe that the rays of the sun emanating on this day are particularly beneficial to their health and well-being.

In the bygone days, donating a ratha marked the event and there have been many records and inscriptions about kings and rulers gifting new chariots to temples on the occasion.

This was undertaken by placing a fee of gold on the palm and offering the same with a libation of water. One such record states that Krishnaraja Wodeyar III donated a ‘Suryamandala’ on January 26,1844 to the Lakshmi Narayana Temple at Mysore on the occasion of Rathasaptami festival. Rathasaptami sets the stage for many car festivals held year long, barring the monsoon months, in thousands of temples all over the land and there are at least 10 rathotsavas a day almost till the end of June.

Wooden rathas are exquisitely carved and are a virtual encyclopedia of mythology, epics and legends embodying the cosmic vitality running through them, tier after tier.
The Crafts Council of Karnataka had undertaken research and documentation of chariots in Karnataka and consequently published a volume titled ‘Temple Treasures - Chariots’, containing intricate details of craftsmanship.

Some of these well known chariots include the tallest temple car at Ulavi, the Manjuguni car that has more than 1,000 panels of gods and goddesses, the oldest ratha in the State belonging to Chittapura Mutt of Uttara Kannada district, the magnificent golden and silver rathas of Sringeri, Krishna Temple at Udupi, to name only a few.

Teru and Kurju are other terminologies used for the car, and a jathre or a fair is held on the occasion of pulling the sacred vehicle of the deity. There are many religious beliefs and practices associated with the festival as it provides a unique opportunity for people to socialise. First and foremost, pulling the car on the streets of the town is intended to take the deity to the doorstep of those who are unable to enter the precincts of the place of worship due to old age, etc.

In addition, several musicians, folk dancers and artistes perform during the festivities offering all their mite to the deity. In Shishunala village of Haveri district, thousands of people, irrespective of religion, converge to participate in the festivities and villagers of nearby Kundagol retain a portion of their harvest for community feeding.

A similar surge of devotion can be witnessed when hundreds of hands pull the ratha irrespective of caste and community. It is yet another privilege for people to offer haggada seve (rope service) and in some places like Ulavi, a very thick string of yellow chrysanthemums was used as a rope to add colour to the already richly decorated chariot.

Exuberance marks the fairs where household articles, eatables and local cosmetics are displayed amidst selling, buying and bargaining. At the village level, cattle fairs are also organised.

All civilisations of the world possess a mythology without exception and all mythologies contain ample references to the chariot without exception.
But while the rest of the world has relegated the chariot to the pages of history or a museum relic, in India, it is very much a living tradition, reflecting our glorious heritage. Rathasaptami and the ensuing rathotsavas are eloquent testimonies to this heritage.