By Aruna Mallya Gupta, Toronto, Canada
Growing up in India, one often willingly or unwillingly got drawn into or witnessed, endless rounds of Yagnas, poojas and homas of which one seldom understood the significance. Scoop rice, throw rice, pour ghee, pluck the tulsi, … . Of course, one has to partially blame oneself for not being curious enough to research things out for oneself….yet being too inquisitive as a child and questioning our elders’ beliefs was often frowned upon, no?
Fast forward onto adult experiences. At my female cousin’s wedding in California over a decade ago, the priest, a software engineer (moonlighting as a Bhatmam on weekends) went that extra mile to explain in detail the significance of every ritual during the ceremony. During the kanyadaan (giving away of the bride), I vividly recall myself and a few other ladies being moved to the point of weeping; partially reliving our own bridal angst but more importantly, speaking from a personal perspective, understanding in simple layman’s language what everything really signified.
A somber and interesting function, Punarprathistapan (resurrection) of the Moolnaga was held in our native place, Bantwal early last year. The Moolnaga is a series of Nagas (serpents) carved on black stones as seen in our traditional temples. Some hoodless Naga carvings found in the wilderness of Bantwal, led to superstitions of invoking negative spirits. The Mallya Moolnaga apparently was lost/overlooked, for several generations and excavated after much efforts three years ago. Certain rituals and poojas that are supposed to be performed regularly connected with Moolnaga had been neglected for several decades. The property where the Nagas nestled ended up with the government who in turn gave it to some landless laborers. Wild shrubs and foliage sprung around and slaughter of animals and liquor consumption on the sacred site by the laborers is believed to have angered the Moolnaga, leading to several Nagadoshas (sins of omission) which affected many in the extended Mallya clan.
Having ascertained from spiritual leaders of the Mahalsa temple in Goa–the ruling deity of the Mallyas, including the Swamijis, that the afflictions and problems in some of the Mallya clan was due to the lost and angered Moolnaga, the search for the authentic Moolnaga was undertaken. Once located, the labourers were persuaded to sell the land in order to build a small temple around the Naga deities, and all hoodless carvings were thus restored and resurrected. As for the congregation, well, there was solace in the belief that the serpents had been appeased and the hope that future generations would not have to face the wrath that their forefathers did.
Pictures of the Naga pratishtha provided by Deepti & Vivek Mallya, Boisar, Maharashtra
The white murthys are the newly carved ones, while the grey ones are the original excavated nagas.
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Filed under: Festivals, Karnataka, Spiritual Tagged: | Karnataka, Nagadoshas, Nagas, Sanatana Dharma
