Keethianda Okka
Contents
About the Okka
The Thoratappa temple near the Keethianda Ballyamane was burned and its idols desecrated, with fragments still found in a nearby stream. Kalaiah and his aunt were imprisoned in Piriyapatna, but she helped him escape disguised as a Brahmin priest. Returning to Kodagu, Kalaiah joined King Veeraraja’s forces against Tipu Sultan. For his bravery he was made Kariakara and granted land in Thora. Later, jealous rivals falsely accused him, and he was executed at Madikeri without proper inquiry.
Moolapurusha
Keethianda Kalaiah
Ainmane
The original ainmane of the Keethianda family was once home to more than 300 members of the okka. In 1786 it was burned down during Tipu Sultan’s campaign in Kodagu, and the family remained without an ainmane until the early nineteenth century. The present ainmane, built in the late 1800s, is now regarded as the ancestral home of every member of the family.
In the traditional ainmane, the Kanni Kombare is a special room located in the southwest corner. It has an opening to the attic and plays an important role in family rituals. Here, meedi is offered to the ancestors. Their favourite foods are prepared and placed on a banana leaf, after which the doors are closed. It is believed that the ancestors descend from the attic through the opening to partake of the offering, strengthening the bond between the living family and their forebears.
Kaimada
The kaimada is situated about 100 metres from our ainmane and is a striking sight as one approaches Thora. More than 200 years old, it stands as an important symbol of the family’s heritage. The okka has deep emotional ties to this sacred memorial, where the ancestors are honoured and remembered, making it a place of reverence and continuity for generations.
Sthanas
Naga sthana :
- The Nāga (sacred serpent) is revered as a deity. Each okka has a dedicated Nāga sthāna, usually located a short distance from the ancestral ainmane. This sacred spot is regarded as the dwelling place of the serpent deity and is treated with great reverence.
Every year, during the Kodava month of Birchyar, a special pūjé is performed to honour Nāga Deva. This annual ritual renews the clan’s spiritual bond with the deity and is believed to bring protection, prosperity, and well being to the family and the wider community.
Powvvadi Stana :
- Every year, during the Kodava month of Birchyar, a special pūjé is offered to honour the goddess. For an entire month, a sacred lamp is lit each day, illuminating the grove with a steady glow. This daily ritual is believed to invoke the blessings of the deity and maintain the spiritual sanctity of the place, drawing family members and villagers together in reverence and devotion.
Pattedara
Eminent People
Keetianda Ganapathy -Brigadier
Keethianda Muddaiah – Forest Officer
Keethianda Belliappa – Lawyer ( MDT Associates )
Keethiyanda Vivina Kuttaiah
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