Fifth largest fire sacrifice ritual to be held in Kollur from today

The four day 'Ayur Chandika Mahayaga', the fifth largest known sacred fire ritual ('Yaga') will be performed at Kollur in Kundapur at a cost of Rs 10 crore from December 25 to 29.

1,350 special priests ('Rithvijas') will perform the ritual. Muscat-based entrepreneurs Periya Swamy and Shanti Periya Swamy, from Tamil Nadu origin, are organising the 'Yaga', in fulfillment of their vows made before Goddess Sri Mookambika Devi, the presiding deity of Kollur.

'Ayur Chandika Yaga' comprises 10,000 'Chandika Yagas' performed simultaneously. 10 sacrificial fire platforms are built for this regard. The 'Yaga' ritual will be held from 9 am to 12 noon on the first day and 6 am to 12 noon during the rest of the days. The final offerings of closure ('Poornahuti') will be done on December 29.

One crore 'Lalitha Sahasra Kumkumarchane' and 'Atirudra Parayana' will also be held on the occasion. Shivaswamy from Tamil Nadu, who leads the religious rituals said that the 'Ayur Chandika Yaga' is done for the welfare of the entire mankind.

'Yagashale', the ground where the fire sacrifice will be performed, is set up on a one and a half acre private land at Kundapur-Kollur highway. After a two month-long work, the land was levelled and concreted, along with the setting up of tents. Kitchen and dining hall have been constructed to prepare and serve meals for thousands of people at a time.

The materials required for the ritual were also brought from Tamil Nadu. 800 priests from Tamil Nadu and priests from Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are expected to grace the event.

Public is allowed at the 'Yagashala' between 11 am and 12 pm on other days and on the day of 'Poornahuti' on December 29. The entry is restricted by passes.

Even as Kollur temple has no direct role to play in the 'Yaga', the temple management committee members have been providing support to the 'Yaga' locally. Temple priests Murthy Kalidas Bhat,Dr K N Narasimha Adiga and N Suresh Bhat will take part in the rituals.