Stephan Kayyar
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Oct 17: Lord Parthasarathi Srikrishna temple at Mujungavu, which happens to be one of the four most important temples within Kumble province, has become famous for several reasons. The temple is also popularly known with the names, Kavu, Mujungare etc. The temple pond, which the devotees believe contains holy water and hence has divine virtues, has made this temple particularly famous. The people believe that the water of this pond is as holy as the divine water of the spot from where River Kaveri manifests. Scores of people pledge by the quality of this holy water, stressing that taking bath here after offering rice and horse gram seeds rids one of skin-related ailments. Many vouch for the veracity of this belief out of their own experiences.

Taking holy dip in the temple pond happens on every Tula Sankramana day. The holy dip day this time fell on Saturday October 17, on which an estimated 50,000 devotees took part.

Mujungavu is located about three kilometres away from Kumble, which located on the road between Mangaluru and the town, on the road leading to Badiyadka. It is very near to Naykapu. Because there is unshaken faith in the minds of the people about the efficacy of the holy bath getting rid of skin diseases, people give special importance to Tula Sankramana and make it a point to visit the temple and take holy dip in the pond.

Over the years, it is seen that the number of people taking holy dip here has been increasing every year. The temple pond is surrounded by herbs and vegetation having medicinal qualities, and people claim that the water from the pond has acquired its healing power out of the roots of these herbs that have made way into the pond. A unique phenomenon of this pond is that it brims with water all through the year, and seasonal changes do not affect its water level.

On Saturday, the chief priest of the temple, B Mahadeva Bhat, reached the pond accompanied by musical instruments at around 4 am. After he collected holy water from the pond in a silver pitcher and poured it over the idol of the presiding deity of the temple, holy dip began formally. The devotees who had taken bath at home and worn fresh clothes, took bath in the pond in front of the temple, by circumambulating it duly tossing a mixture of horse gram seeds and raw rice into the pond, after which the remaining seeds are placed into the huge metal cauldron placed at the tower of the temple. It is customary to offer cucumber, coconut, and plantain to the Lord, and then receive holy water and Prasadam from the priest.

The holy dip, which began at 4 am, continued till 12 pm. It culminated with the Mahapuje and Prasad distribution at 12.30 pm.

For the devotees coming to the temple for Kaveri Teertha Snana, lunch was served since 10 am and continued till evening. Buses run special trips to the temple on this day, carrying devotees to Mulleriya and Kumble.

It is being analyzed that horse gram is offered to the pond, as it represents Ketu, one of the nine planets having direct affect on the health and happiness of people as per Hindu belief system. Offering of horse gram pacifies him, and being the deity in charge of diseases, he ensures that the people are discharged of their ailments. Likewise, Goddess Kaveri, who turns the water holy, loves raw rice, and she turns benevolent when raw rice is offered to her, it is said.

The temple has mythological background. It is said that King Muchukunda belonging to solar dynasty was very strong, and even the gods and angels sought his assistance. Because of his chivalry, he had been made the commander of the armies of gods on several occasions. After many years, Muchukunda gave up the said post of commander of the forces to Lord Subrahmanya and performed penance at the peaceful spot where Kaveri Teertha pond is now located. It is said that when Kalayava, who was following Srikrishna taking a leisurely trip around this place with the aim of harming the latter, kicked Muchukunda who was undertaking penance, believing him to be Lod Srikrishna, Muchukunda opened his eyes at which Kalayava was burnt down. When Srikrishna appeared before Muchukunda, Muchukunda offered cucumber to him, it is said. Therefore, even now, offering of cucumber is believed to appease the temple's presiding deity.

People believe that Lord Srikrishna agreed to station himself here at the request of Muchukunda. 'Kavu' means heat, anger, etc. As Muchukunda got angry and turned Kalayava into ashes, the place earned the name, 'Muchukunda Kavu', which gradually got shortened to 'Mujungavu', it is believed. Perhaps, the pond also earned its name, 'Mujungare' because of the fact that Muchukunda invoked Krishna's presence there and prayed to him, thereby earning the pond its name, 'Muchukunda Kere', which over a period, has come to be known with the name, 'Mujungare'.

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