Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 4: The Worship of the Daivas (spirit deities) is an important part of religious life in coastal Karnataka. The people here have been conducting various rituals specific to the Daivas to appease them and get their boons. As per one account, the number of Daiva forms here exceeds 400. Daivaradhane is mainly prevalent in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi districts of Karnataka and parts of Kerala.

The way the Daivas are invoked, rituals followed by the shaman (Patri)  through whom the spirits are invoked, austerities to be followed relating to food etc., are different from one Daiva to the other.

Among the Daivas, Mookambika Guliga Daiva is quite different. During this Daiva Kola, the shaman possessed by the Daiva jumps into the fire, rolls inside it, sits there and does many other things! These things depict the purification process after killing the wrongdoers. Mookambika Guliga Daiva Kola is performed in a few places in the coast and some in Kerala. 

The Daivas are like demigods. There are minor differences in the way the Daivas perform in Kerala and Karnataka. The Daivas are given as much importance as the gods in these places. 

The story behind Mookambika Guliga Kola starts with Guliga Daiva. Guliga, an ardent follower of Lord Shiva, settled down at Maranakatte where the Goddess annihilated Mookasura. With the grace of the Goddess, Guliga was given the form of Brahmalingeshwara. It is said that the Goddess had issued instructions to perform the puja of Guliga on the right side of Mookasura. 

A tantric from Kollur had once started for Kerala along with his wife to  perform Shanti puja there. Guliga Daiva had accompanied the tantric to Kerala by way of protecting him. On the way a person tried to rape Tantry's wife, Mookambika. Shocked by this, the lady ended her life by jumping into water. Her soul merged with that of Guliga Daiva. After joining Guliga, Mookabika destroyed the entire family of the person who attempted to rape her. Thereafter, Mookambika is being worshipped as Guliga in the coastal belt and this Daiva is treated as a very powerful among the Daivas.

On the occasion of Mookambika Guliga Daiva Utsava, areca nut trees are cut down and hundreds of logs are piled together. This heap is then set on fire. The Daiva Patri then falls into this fire, lies down, sits and in general rolls around inside the fire. This is an unique, awe-inspiring feature of this Daiva Kola.  It is believed that this is an indication of purification by bathing in fire after the killing of the evil people forces.