Padumale, the birth place of Koti-Chennaya, legendary twin heroes of Tulunadu, the other name of undivided Dakshina Kannada, will be given a new lease of life with grandiose plans in the making for its restoration.
Padumale, which derives its name from the erstwhile Ballala ruler Padumale Ballal (Permale in Tulu) whose reign dates back to 500 years, is located in Puttur taluk, 70 km away from the district headquarters Mangaluru.
Koti-Chennaya Janmasthala Sanchalana Samiti, headed by multilingual actor Vinod Alva, the current custodian of the land with historical significance as its honorary president, on Saturday took part in the religious programmes organised towards developing and restoring the shrine that was once drawing pilgrims and locals alike in large numbers.
Alva told reporters, “Being the Mokthesara (head of the temple) of Sri Koove Shasthara Vishnumurthy temple, the presiding deity of Ballalas, it becomes my utmost duty to give due importance to the restoration of the shrine. Apart from giving a new look to existing structure that occupies prime place in the annals of history of Tulunadu, a Garadi (traditional gymnasium) to pay tributes to Koti-Chennaya, who were also great wrestlers who nurtured traditional martial art during those times, will be built on a part of the land where the royal abode ceases to exist, besides renovating the shrine of Ullakulu (Kinnimani and Poomani) and Pili Chamundi Daivas.”
President of the Samiti Harikrishna Bantwal said, “Prominent among the religious programmes are giving Moksha to the soul of Buddhivantha (the minister of Ballala, who is believed to be killed by Koti-Chennaya), to facilitate the plans to develop the place further as a shrine without any ado.”
The rituals in the day at ‘Dharma Chavadi’ included Ganapathi Homa, Aghamarshana Homa, Navagraha Shanti, Mrutyunjaya Homa, special puja to Nagabrahma, Tambila, Pavamana Kalasha, Aghora Homa, Vanadurga Homa and Sudarshana Homa.
The rituals scheduled for Sunday are Thila Homa (to ensure Moksha (salvation) to the soul of Buddhivantha), Chakrabdha Puja, Bhagavatha Dashama Skanda Parayana, Dwadasha Murthy Aradhane and Dampathi Puja.
Sea of devotees
A large number of devotees descended on Padumale to witness the religious rituals. To enable the visiting devotees peek into history, banners were put up at prominent places with adequate information about them. The Samiti had also made elaborate arrangements with mass feeding among other facilities, albeit for temporary.
Remnants of past
What remains now is a portion of Padumale Ballala’s palace, with sand bricks and walls with broken tiles covering the roof with a room, believed to be the birth place of Koti-Chennaya.
That apart, the ‘Dharma Chavadi’ the court hall (it remains intact among other structures with timely restoration works), where Balalla conducted the trial of the duo, Nagadevara Sannidhi (the shrine of serpent god) that was worshipped by the duo and their mother Deyi Bydethi’s grave.
Padumale, which derives its name from the erstwhile Ballala ruler Padumale Ballal (Permale in Tulu) whose reign dates back to 500 years, is located in Puttur taluk, 70 km away from the district headquarters Mangaluru.
Koti-Chennaya Janmasthala Sanchalana Samiti, headed by multilingual actor Vinod Alva, the current custodian of the land with historical significance as its honorary president, on Saturday took part in the religious programmes organised towards developing and restoring the shrine that was once drawing pilgrims and locals alike in large numbers.
Alva told reporters, “Being the Mokthesara (head of the temple) of Sri Koove Shasthara Vishnumurthy temple, the presiding deity of Ballalas, it becomes my utmost duty to give due importance to the restoration of the shrine. Apart from giving a new look to existing structure that occupies prime place in the annals of history of Tulunadu, a Garadi (traditional gymnasium) to pay tributes to Koti-Chennaya, who were also great wrestlers who nurtured traditional martial art during those times, will be built on a part of the land where the royal abode ceases to exist, besides renovating the shrine of Ullakulu (Kinnimani and Poomani) and Pili Chamundi Daivas.”
President of the Samiti Harikrishna Bantwal said, “Prominent among the religious programmes are giving Moksha to the soul of Buddhivantha (the minister of Ballala, who is believed to be killed by Koti-Chennaya), to facilitate the plans to develop the place further as a shrine without any ado.”
The rituals in the day at ‘Dharma Chavadi’ included Ganapathi Homa, Aghamarshana Homa, Navagraha Shanti, Mrutyunjaya Homa, special puja to Nagabrahma, Tambila, Pavamana Kalasha, Aghora Homa, Vanadurga Homa and Sudarshana Homa.
The rituals scheduled for Sunday are Thila Homa (to ensure Moksha (salvation) to the soul of Buddhivantha), Chakrabdha Puja, Bhagavatha Dashama Skanda Parayana, Dwadasha Murthy Aradhane and Dampathi Puja.
Sea of devotees
A large number of devotees descended on Padumale to witness the religious rituals. To enable the visiting devotees peek into history, banners were put up at prominent places with adequate information about them. The Samiti had also made elaborate arrangements with mass feeding among other facilities, albeit for temporary.
Remnants of past
What remains now is a portion of Padumale Ballala’s palace, with sand bricks and walls with broken tiles covering the roof with a room, believed to be the birth place of Koti-Chennaya.
That apart, the ‘Dharma Chavadi’ the court hall (it remains intact among other structures with timely restoration works), where Balalla conducted the trial of the duo, Nagadevara Sannidhi (the shrine of serpent god) that was worshipped by the duo and their mother Deyi Bydethi’s grave.