Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP) 

Kundapur, Aug 29: Lord Kotilingeshwara temple in Koteshwara in the taluk, mention about which can be found in mythology, is bracing to get a new valuable addition. The 'Kodimara' of the temple is being replaced after a gap of 60 years. The tree trunk chosen for making the flagpole arrived at the temple premises on Wednesday August 28. A new Kiralbhogi (malabar ironwood) tree trunk that is straight, and is about 97 feet tall with a girth of 6.45 feet, which was chosen for the purpose of making the new flagpole for the said temple, was brought to the temple with the help of a huge trolley. The work of bringing the tree from Sullia to Koteshwar took three days. On Wednesday morning, the tree was brought in an impressive procession to the temple from Thekkatte, which happens to be the entry point for Kundapur taluk.

The current flagpole of the temple has completed 60 years. When erecting the flagpole then, a tree had been brought from Kollur forest. However, it was noticed that in the recent years, that flagpole has become weaker and decayed. The temple management, which realized that having a defective flagpole does not augur well for the temple, prepared a detailed plan for replacing it. The challenge the management was facing was finding a tree trunk that is 97 feet in height and has a circumference that matches with the current flagpole. President of the temple managing committee, Markodu Gopalakrishna Shetty and president of temple renovation committee, Koni Krishnadev Karanth, got involved with the search operation with the support of sculptor, Rajagopala Acharya. After long-drawn efforts, a suitable tree was found to be standing in the Bolkur forest in Kukkujadka in Amarapadnoor village, Sullia taluk. It was not easy to procure this tree that was under the control of forest department. After the matter moved through the deputy commissioner of the district, forest department and higher officials in the department, permission was finally granted to cut down the said tree that was destined to become Kodimara of Kotilingeshwara temple. 

Religious rituals preceding the cutting down of the tree were performed on August 25. 'Vanadurga Homa' was performed. The tree was cut on the morning of August 26. The same evening, the trunk of the tree was loaded on to a trolley with the help of two cranes. 

The mega procession from Thekkatte had impressive participation. Temple managing committee president, Markodu Gopalakrishna Shetty, Renovation Committee president, Koni Krishnadev Karanth, Tantry (rituals expert) of the temple, Prasanna Kumar Aithal, religious leader, Malyadi Shivaram Shetty, sculptor, Rajagopal Acharya, gram panchayat president, Shobha, zilla panchayat member, Sreelatha Suresh Shetty, Lami Manju Billava, taluk panchayat and gram panchayat members, temple managing committee members and members of the renovation committee were present. 

The next step would be to keep the tree trunk submerged in water and oil for a prescribed period.