By John B Monteiro

Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 17: Kadri Jogi Math, otherwise a sleepy complex atop Kadi Hill, accessed by a lane branching out from the road linking National Highway off Nanthur High School complex to Government Circuit House, will come into focus this week-end, though the real action will take place at the base of the hill – at Sri Manjunath Temple complex – where Jogis will adorn one of their deities with silver cover on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Members of the Jogi community will offer silver cover to Guru Chowranginatha who, along with gurus Mathsyendranath and Gorakshanatha, is considered holy by the followers of Natha pantha. Sri Kshetra Kadri comprising Sri Manjunatha temple, Jogi Math and Kashi Kala Bairava temple, are the most important places of worship for the Natha panta in south India. Of the three gurus cited above, two have already been adorned with silver covers.

The silver cover for guru Chowranginatha’s idol will be taken in a grand procession on Saturday afternoon and the installation ceremony will be held on Sunday 8.30 AM under the guidance of Vittaldas Tantri, the chief priest of Sri Manjunatha temple. Incidentally, the head of the Jogi Math, called Raja or Arasu, Raja Sri Sndyanathji, is on holiday in his native Rajasthan and is expected to return, by air, on January 19 to be on time for the Kadri temple’s Maharathossava on January 22 at 6PM in which he has an important part to play - as noted later in this article.

Jogi Math on Kadri Hill is the most important Maths of Jogi or Nath sect that is spread from Nepal to Kanyakumari. Who are Jogis or Naths? According to the scholarly book by George Weston Briggs, titled Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis, first published in 1938, the followers of Gorakhnath are known as Yogi, as Gorakhnathi and as Darsani, but most distinctly as Kanphata. The first of these names refers to their traditional practice of Hata Yoga, second to the name of their reputed founder, the third to the huge ear-rings which are (were) one of their distinctive marks and the fourth to their unique practice of having the cartilage of their ears split for the insertion of the ear-rings.

In Punjab, in the Himalayas, in Mumbai and elsewhere they are often called Natha, which is a general term meaning ‘Master’. Women of the sect are called Nathni. In western India they are generally known as Dharmamati, after the famous disciple of Gorakhnath, by that name. In other parts of India the names Kanphata and Gorakhnathi are commonly used. The word Yogi, which is common in Karnataka, is a general descriptive term, applied to many who do not belong to the Kanphatas. It has many shades of meaning ranging from saints to sorcerer. It is also a general term for ascetics, particularly for those who are endeavouring, by restraint and discipline of the body, to secure union with Brahman.

It may be noted that the use of the word Kadali (later corrupted into Kadri) has its own background. The word Kadali may evoke the image of a variety of bananas. But, the other significance of the word is that it refers to the middle of a forest associated with, or suitable for, observing tapashya. Mangalore’s Kadali is associated with great saints of the Nath sect. It is in the Kadalivana or Muktivana, Shiva, in his avatar as Manjunatha, blessed the Nath sect founder Macchendaranath and his disciple, Gorakhnath, and indicated the way to mukti through the yogic route. The place has the samadhis of many gurus of the sect.

The religious head of this Jogi Math, called Raja or Arasu, is appointed every twelve years. He is selected during the Kumbha Mela, observed once in every twelve years, at the Trambakeshvara Temple near Nashik. Traditionally, the selected Raja travels on foot, with some followers, covering a distance of over 1150 km and stretching six months, halting on the way in some 79 Nath centres and receiving their hospitality and devotion.

The route and halts cover Nashik, Sinnar, Pune, Satara, Karad, Khollapur, Belgaum, Londa, Yellapur, Sirsi, Barkur, Udipi, Mulki and Panambur. After the padayatris start from their 79th halt at Naneshwara temple in Panambur, they reach Kottara Chowk to the great reception by the local and regional Jogi community, and taken in procession through car street PVS Circle where they are entertained at the PVS family temple in Laxmi Baug. It is said that that one of the rajas of the time, who chewed tobacco, encouraged Puthu Vainkunta Shet (PVS), the founder of beedi business, to start it in 1906.

The designated Raja brings with him patradevata which is first temporarily installed in the Math. After the arrival of the party from Nashik, within 10 to 15 days, on Mahshivaratri, the new raja is enthroned. The patradevata is also installed in its permanent place.

Incidentally, the current incumbent is Raja Sandhynathji. Asked, by this writer some years ago, about his return journey, at the end of his 12-year tenure, in 2016, he said that walking back is not an option and he would take a train to his home base in the Pali district of Rajasthan. According to tradition, the raja, once installed at Kadri, is not supposed to go north of Godavari River until his term is over. The present raja takes an annual break at his native place. One of his public duties is to ride a decorated horse in the courtyard of Kadri Manjunatha temple during its annual festival and order the commencement of the ratha pulling by declaring “Avo Beta Manjunatha” (Come son Manjunatha).

Behind the 1150-KM padayatra from Nashik to Kadri is the fact that all the rajas of Kadri Jogi Math have come from the Hindi belt, except one in the 1980s, whose roots were in Dharwad. With the exception of this raja knowing Kannada, other rajas did not know Kannada or Tulu. The present raja said that he can understand local languages but cannot communicate in them. In any case, he said, many locals know Hindi.

While many temple complexes in Mangalore, including Kudroli, Pandeshwar and Garodi, have seen renovations and additions, Kadri Jogi Math presented a low, static profile. Asked why the Math complex has not expanded or modernized, the present raja pleaded lack of resources. He said that the Math had extensive lands which had been acquired for the park and other public purposes on Kadri Hill. However, this writer on his Friday visit to the Math found that construction activity is in progress in the Math complex.

Finally, why is Jogi sect and their Jogi Math so low profile? It is mainly because the sect is splintered into twelve sub-sects and their adherents are thinly sprinkled all over India. Among the Jogis who have crossed the low profile barrier of the sect are Divakara, former MCC Mayor and Harinath, who had represented Bondel as a Corporator in MMC, reaching the post of Deputy Mayor.

Why Is Kaibattal So Called?

There is a story behind the name Kaibattal which is a valley lying to the south-east of Kadri Sri Manjunatha temple. It is the starting of a valley which extended to Gurpur River and was once host to paddy fields and coconut and areca nut groves. There were a few heritage houses like the one occupied by the late Prof. Alban Castileno who was physics professor for generations of students who passed out of St. Aloysius College between 1950 and 1980 when he retired to pursue his hobbies of writing and music.

The Kaibattal story is linked to the main Kadri temple on the crest of the hill and Jogi Math on the crown of the hill. The head of the Jogi Math is called Raja or Arasu. One of the public duties of the Raja of the Jogi Math is to ride a decorated horse from the Math to the courtyard of Kadri Manjunatha Temple and order the commencement of the ratha pulling by declaring “Avo Beta Manjunatha”.

This traditional honour bestowed on the Raja was increasingly resented by Kadri temple priests (Thantries). One year they prevailed upon the temple management not invite the Raja to signal the start of the ratha. On the ratha yathra day, the crowd was asked to pull the ropes. However much they tried, the ratha wouldn’t budge. Then a management delegation went uphill to the Math and asked pardon of the Raja and begged him to perform his traditional role. When the Raja gave his traditional call for the ratha to move, it moved smoothly to take a round of the courtyard.

This was a slap in the face of the chief thanthri who, out of anger and frustration, threw away the plate (battal) in which pooja materials are carried. The area in which the swung battal landed came to be called Kaibattal. Today the paddy fields and cocanut groves have yielded place to bungalows and high-rises, many of their residents not knowing why it is called Kaibattal.

Incidentally, the horse in which the Raja rode was owned and stabled by Jogi Math. Over the last couple of decades many horses died of disease and accidents. The last one, Chetan, died painfully some years ago. It was the last horse in Mangalore. The Math has not replaced it. With the result, Mangalore today is a no-horse city and the horse is now accessed from outside the city – possibly from Panambur beach this year.

John B Monteiro, author and journalist, has his latest book, Corruption – India’s Painful Crawl to Lokpal, published in USA. Priced at $ 21.5, it can be ordered online from Amazon and other leading online distributors.