Author: Team Mangalorean, Udupi
Publication: Mangalorean.com
Date: May 26, 2009
URL: http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=126360
A very rare Brahma temple dating back to nearly
hundred years was recently on May 14 renovated and consecrated with the Brahma
Kalasha. The temple is located atop the Kumblegudde or Kallechi Mountain which
is in the centre of Palli nearer to Udupi district. Before the country's independence
in 1947, there was a wooden idol of the deity at the spot, which had broken
into pieces due to nature's fury and hence replaced with a stone one. But
over the years even this stone idol along with the temple was badly damaged
and needed urgent repairs. Thus the temple was renovated and restored to its
former glory by members of the Palli Pejakodange family ably lead by Palli
Jagdish Hegde and his team.
Although there are three major gods in Hinduism
such as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Brahma is rarely worshipped by Hindus. According
to stories narrated in Hindu mythology various curses on Lord Brahma, is supposed
to have prevented him from being worshipped on Earth. Moreover, according
to the ancient puranas, Lord Brahmâ is regarded more as a Creator of
God/Brahman and not necessarily regarded as God himself in Hinduism. Hence,
India today has very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma alone, as opposed
to the tens of thousands of temples dedicated to the other deities such as
Vishnu and Shiva. Among the famous ones is the Brahma temple at Pushkar in
Rajasthan, other known ones include those in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan,
Goa, Gujarat, Kullu Valley and a temple in Thirunavaya. But none that is known
in Karnataka, hence this temple at Palli may be the only known Brahma temple
in the region.
This Brahma temple is located at 350 feet
on top of the Kallechi Mountain with a breathtaking panoramic view of the
region particularly of Manipal, Nitte, Kudremukh with even the Nagarjuna power
plant being visible. The temple is located at a distance of about 19 kms from
Udupi and Karkala equally. The Palli Pejakodange Bunt family's ancestors date
back to nearly 500 years. The head of the family then was a female chieftain
Baalu Maadedhi. It is said that Baalu Maadedhi's name even features in one
of the Tirupati edifices as having made a hefty donation there in those days.
She had two heirs Palli and Yellyal which in Tulu means elder and younger
daughter respectively. The rest of the Palli Pejakodange families are believed
to be the direct descendents of these girls in the respective places at Palli
and Yellyal. The entire Palli temple renovation work was taken up a month
back and against tremendous odds duly completed. It was rebuilt with huge
granite stones with yeomen effort and co-operation from the localites especially
the transporting of the construction materials to the top of the mountain.
In fact, the work was done by localites with out any payment, in the evening
till late night as during day time the heat would be unbearable.
There are a few significant aspects relating
to the place and temple. One was that in the Kallechi Moutain there is a huge
'surang' tunnel passing below the temple, right down to the ground level of
the mountain, in which tigers are said to often come and take refuge. Moreover
nearer to the ground level on the mountain there is a well filled with pure
water which is utilized by the devotees. However, people here state that when
the traditional Kambla which is a race of buffaloes takes place a few distances
away, the water at the said well too gets muddied, due to the race. Another
significant aspect pertaining to the temple is that the entire temple is built
from granite stones and copper but no iron metal is used in keeping with the
ancient wisdom. According to the Hindu Shastras use of metals like iron is
forbidden in temple structures as iron, is mystically considered the crudest,
most impure of metals. Moreover the presence of iron is said to attract lower
impure forces. By and large gold, silver, copper, granite is used in the structure
so that only the most sublime forces are invoked during the pujas.
The Brahma Kalasha ceremony of the newly renovated
temple at Palli began early in the morning with the various rituals associated
with it, thereby bringing the temple to life. Firstly the vastu puja on intricate
rangoli and rice designs on the ground close to the temple was performed.
Then the kalasha ceremony began with 108 copper kalashas (pots) filled with
holy water brought from various religious places. The kalashas were decorated
with mango leaves in the mouth of the pots and a coconut placed over it. Colorful
threads were also tied around its neck and the pots were decorated with designs.
The kalasha is considered very auspicious and duly worshipped. The waters
from the holy rivers, the knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of
all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is thereafter used
for all the rituals, including the abhisheka. Thus the consecration (kumbha
abhisheka) of the Palli Brahma temple was done in a grand manner with elaborate
rituals including the pouring of 108 kalashas of holy water on the top of
the deity inside the temple.
The puja was conducted by the head priest
of the family Shreesha Tantri. Although there was no rain in the region, but
when the abhisheka took place it started raining which was considered by many
to be a very auspicious beginning indeed, for the temple. After which there
was the bootha darshana, which in the course of the ritual expressed it's
satisfaction at all the work done. Prasadams were distributed to the devotees
at the end of the ceremony. After which there was a community luncheon (anna
santharpane) on plantain leaves for all those who had assembled. Also for
entertainment there was a singing troupe which kept the crowds enthralled
with religious songs.
There were nearly one thousand devotees and
family members at the venue, all of whom had climbed the steep mountain range
to reach there. Usually only two days of the month a puja is held at the Brahma
temple at Palli, one during Sankranti and another during Amavasya (New Moon
Day) and yearly there is 'Tambila' which is a special puja performed.
