Bagalkot: 'Blind' Faith - Devotee Gouges His Eye to Please Spirit of Spiritual Guru

Daijiworld Media Network - Bagalkot (SP)

Bagalkot, Aug 29: In Karnataka, people know of a mythological character named 'Bedara Kannappa', an innocent tribal who donated his eyes by gouging them out, out of concern for the Lord, to enable Lord Shiva to see. A person here emulated this devotee, by gouging out one of his eyes and offering it to the divine power in which he has unshakeable belief.

Mudukappa Karadi (50) from a farmer family living in Adgagal village from Badami taluk in the district removed his right eye and offered the same to the spirit of Shankraiah Ajja, a person who earlier used to live here. Various stories of his divine powers and miracles performed by him during his lifetime are in vogue in the district. A Math located in the village is named after Digambareshwar (other name of Shankraiah Ajja) who the people believe, was a saint.

Mudukappa is an ardent devotee of the Math for long.  In the wee hours on Thursday August 28, Mudukappa dreamt that Shankraiah Ajja asked him to offer his right eye to him. Mudukappa immediately got out of his bed, started shouting and jumping as if a spirit had taken over his body and as the people gathered around him, gouged out his right eye with his thumb and offered the same to the seat of the late saint. He also claimed that he is the God.

People took him to Badami hospital where his injured eye was covered by bandage. Mudukappa however, is unfazed by the turn of events. "My Guru has showered his blessings on me. I am prepared do anything for him," he said. People are now thronging to have a glimpse of this modern 'Bedara Kannappa'.

The doctors who attended him on said that Mudukappa is not in danger even though he lost some blood when he removed his eye.