R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Mar 20: Religion does not become an impediment if deep faith and devotion are involved. Perhaps because of this, a very ancient centre of faith of Hindus was recently developed, thanks to financial assistance extended by a Muslim entrepreneur.

Thanks to the philanthropic attitude of a Muslim businessman, a centre of Hindu faith located a little distance away from the national highway near Abbenjalu between Karkala and Bajagoli has gained back its lost grandeur. A large number of devotees had gathered together, sinking their differences of caste, religion, financial status etc because of the fact that an ancient centre of divine forces had been reconstructed and renovated.

A realtor, Miyar Muhammed Ghouse, has been the force behind this change. When he was involved with land deal at Abbenjalu, he saw that a dilapidated centre of divine forces belonging to Hindus was located there. He had promised to help to reconstruct this centre, after holding talks with the owner of the land in which this centre is situated.

The development initiatives were undertaken in consultation with astrological experts like Padmanabha Tantry, Krishna Bhat, and Prof Ramachandra Achar Moodbidri. Shrines of serpent god, Brahma, Rakteshwari, Nandi, Kshetrapala, Chamundi, and Guliga have been newly built. Religious programmes including Vaastu Homa, Gana Homa, Naga Pratishte, Ashesha Bali, Naga Darshana etc were performed there recently. Hundreds of people including Vedic scholars, those managing temples from the region, owners of the land, villagers, entrepreneur, Kuntibail Leo Pereira, Kuntapady John D'Silva, participated and accepted the Prasadam.

Muhammed Ghouse had started his business in 1992 by undertaking transportation of rocks for the reconstruction of Goddess Adilaxmi temple at Kodsarabettu Nandalike. He had named his business concern after Adilaxmi. He believes that this endeavor helped him to scale greater heights in business.

"No one should forget that God is one, although there are differences in the way we worship him. In spite of the ways of worship followed, the prayers reach the same god. When we have faith in this, we get peace of mind," says Muhammed Ghouse.