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SHRINE OF KACCHUR MALDI DEVI & BABBU SWAMI - BARKUR
At
Barkur, even an isolated stone resonates with stories of its great
past. Quietly flowing River Sita and her extended
tributaries and shores all around the place drag your attention to
the present, and today it’s the turn of renovated temples,
especially few moola stana’s as they attract the devotees
in large numbers.
Low
lying Kacchur Fields is one such grand location. Yes, one can
oversee and have distant look at this new sprawling Temple
complex, all the way from bridge over Sita. Its not only
mythology, stories and legends involved around the Malti devi
and her son Babbu Swami but most importantly the earnest
efforts of the Mundala and Adi Dravida community
leader’s dedication in restoring and resurrecting a forgotten
legacy, by building a rich artistic temple, took me all the way
over here.
Some 40 years ago, this place was busy with people and bullock
carts, as it was a commercial route. All have to cross at ferry to
reach Brahmmavar, and less than half a mile before, was a small
shrine, with 24 hours gleaming oil lamp, located on the banks of a
Canal at the right side of the road. Once a year and on some
auspicious days a small gathering used to take place. With the
fall of prominence of old Barkur area adjacent to Church and the
Friday Market, on the one hand, as a result of the new bridge over
Sita, which paved the way for the growth of Kalchapra being yet
another centre of activities, consequently, this small temple also
out of sight and out of mind for many, and thus ignored!
A
grand revival of faith by the Adi dravida / Mundala community-
For
long, both Adi Dravida and the Mundala communities
subjected to negligence and in some places pushed to lower ladder
of caste system, so naturally they were economically weak and
looking at their plight, the union Government was keen to uplift
their status, deservedly included them in the Scheduled Caste (SC)
and worked out various welfare schemes, including reservations.
Especially, after independence, the new generation applied
themselves to opportunities and to the changing social status and
concentrated more in education. Their efforts now started paying
results and today many of these community members progressed
economically and are at par in the society. Nostalgically, few of
them spiritually awakened, equally concerned of their past,
ultimately found their roots in Barkur, as their moola-stana
in Coastal Karnataka, where they eventually built a grand temple
at Kacchur Fields, in the year 2007.
A
brief legacy of the past:-
It
is said, earlier they were the residents of Ikkeri (Sagara
in Shimogga District) in the patronage of Keladi Kings, and
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, and were forced to leave the place and traveled down to
Barkur and surrounding places. As luck would have it, Barkur was
by that time known to be a commercial hub and probably wealthy
port city.
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 confined to a sorry state of affairs for many years.
Some legends attributed to the place and Maldi Devi: –
As
the community was scattered at and around Barkur, 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 was falsely implicated for the pregnancy and for
which she was forced to take the Agni Pareekshe (a trial by
the fire) and escapes unscathed and thus proved to the community
that, the conception was the Grace of The divine power. Bhagwan
Babbu swami is the son of Kachhoor Maldi, was later looked
after by the Bunt community, where his divine powers and miracles
(Karnika) brought the Mundala community the respect in the
society.
Grand Temple Complex –
Constructed on a bed of half a meter filled red soil, an area
almost three acres, the newly inaugurated temple is a must see
venue to any visitor. Inside the rectangle shaped red tiled roof
pouli, there stand two beautiful shrines, different in
size, facing east, will stun anyone for its diverse design and
artistic look. Meticulous carvings on stone, used in the exterior
of the foundation platform and walls, grand entrance, and the
statues of Gods and Goddesses, naturally inculcate reverence to
the deity. Diverse flavors, fragrances, sounds of bells, make for
this enchanting and unique experience. Though religion and faith
are subjective, personally visited lot many temples of the
District for sheer curiosity and here in our own Kachhur, amazed
to see a modern temple. There are some small shrines / gudi
even outside the pouli and understand there are plans to
improve the Baila kere (holy pond). The Temple compound
houses a water tank, kitchen, make shift provision for a dining,
and the spot where the original gudi earlier existed now
utilized as office / stores.
In
our opinion, the urgent need is to give road access through
Kacchur Fields to save the time of visitors…but to take a round of
the old town, i.e. via Kalchapra is worth the walk as it turns
the clock back into the past, with rare monuments.
January – hosts the Annual Jathra Mahotsava
Once the community traced its first place of worship at Barkur,
where they reconstructed this temple, the devotees rejoiced by
celebrating a grand festival every January. Kenda seve to
commemorate the Maldi Devi’s Agni pareeksha, hore kannike
procession, Daiva darshana, maha anna santharpanne, conclave
of community leaders, several cultural programmes keep 2 – 3 days
busy and occupied and gives Barkur a grand festive look.
As
this place frequently visited by community members from far and
near, the temple’s Management is keen to provide basic facilities
to comfort the young and old to relax and refresh. If tomorrow,
one makes a tourist brochure of temples of Southern India, surely
Barkur, with the likes of ‘Kacchhur Kkshetra’ and others,
rightly find a prominent place in the listing by virtue of its
history, culture and sanctity.
On behalf of Barkur-on-line Team & ICYM Barkur
Ex-Members Association,
P.
Archibald Furtado,
Muscat, 31/01/2009. |
