IRPU RAMESHWARA TEMPLE – Pradeepta Vijay Machamada

An article which was the part of the essay writing competition on festivals of kodagu organised by kodavaclan during the lockdown.

Submitted

Pradeepta Vijay Machamada

Story of the temple

IRPU RAMESHWARA TEMPLE

 

Srimangala,  my little home town is located in the southern  part of Kodagu District. Along this tiny village lies the mighty Western  Ghats. The main deity of the people in and around Srimangala is Sri Ram , from the Indian Epic. A temple dedicated to Lord Sri Ram is located at Kurchi village at the base of the mighty  Western Ghats. This worship place is surrounded  by beautiful mist covered  mountains , luscious forests, waterfalls  and green paddy fields. The sacred temples are mainly located in the forest , which indicates  that our ancestors worshiped mother nature. In the present generation the natives have developed a habit of preserving the forests by building the temples at the heart of the forests.

 

According  to Indian Epic Lord Ram, during the fourteen years of exile in forest, happend to reach the the hills(part of the Western Ghats) in Kurchi village  ! Meanwhile  he asked his brother Laxman to fetch him some fresh water to drink . As Laxman was unable to find any source of water nearby , shot an arrow to the ground , making water gush out of the soil forming a waterfall.  This river from then was named as Laxmana Theertha and the waterfall was Called Laxmana Waterfall ! Now this water river is the main source of irrigation to coffee planters in the area.

 

The Annual Festival of this temple is celebrated  during Shivarathri, during which a fair is organized for the devotees, a day prior to Shivarathri a ritual  called Deva Kott is performed in the temple : Permaad Temple, seven kilometers away from Sri Irpu Rameshwara Temple , then on there is regular poojas performed . On the day of Shivarathri devotees visit Sri Irpu Rameshwara and take a holy dip in the Laxmana Theertha. Devotees observe jhgraney (stay awake) on Shivarathri. Various cultural activities  like orchestra, drama, harikhatha, yakhshaghana, are staged to entertain the devotees till dawn cracks . The devotees  then head to the waterfall , take a bath and prepare themselves  for the pooja. Lunch is provided to all the devotees  at noon . Temporary stalls filled with goodies are installed , bangle sellers ,toy sellers , stone sculptures,  sweet meat merchants come from near by villages to sell their goods. It is indeed entertaining  to see the buyers bargain before the pay ! Children are attracted to the colorful toys and sweet stalls . Villagers get to socialize with others in the fair which may help them to know each other well and might help to maintain cooperation during natural disasters , the fair also encourages the merchants to gain profit . 

As most of the temples are located in the mid of the forest ,the people tend to conserve the “Deva Kaad” (secread grooves) !

 

The head of the temple is the elders , who has the commanding capability and who is responsible  enough to shoulder opportunities.

The main rituals conducted on daily basis in Sri Irpu Rameshwara are: Ganapathi Homa ,in devotion of Lord Ganapathi to seek knowledge ; Rudhra Abhisheka, a prayer to Lord Shiva for Moksha (salvation ); Sathyanarayana Pooja, performed  for progress and prosperity and Ksheera Abhisheka,  a unique  prayer where devotees offer milk to Lord Vishnu for prosperity.

 

Google location

:https://maps.app.goo.gl/bAeLkAEbLwULzBKy8

 

   

 

Srimangala,  my little home town is located in the southern  part of Kodagu District. Along this tiny village lies the mighty Western  Ghats. The main deity of the people in and around Srimangala is Sri Ram , from the Indian Epic. A temple dedicated to Lord Sri Ram is located at Kurchi village at the base of the mighty  Western Ghats. This worship place is surrounded  by beautiful mist covered  mountains , luscious forests, waterfalls  and green paddy fields. The sacred temples are mainly located in the forest , which indicates  that our ancestors worshiped mother nature. In the present generation the natives have developed a habit of preserving the forests by building the temples at the heart of the forests.

 

According  to Indian Epic Lord Ram, during the fourteen years of exile in forest, happend to reach the the hills(part of the Western Ghats) in Kurchi village  ! Meanwhile  he asked his brother Laxman to fetch him some fresh water to drink . As Laxman was unable to find any source of water nearby , shot an arrow to the ground , making water gush out of the soil forming a waterfall.  This river from then was named as Laxmana Theertha and the waterfall was Called Laxmana Waterfall ! Now this water river is the main source of irrigation to coffee planters in the area.

 

The Annual Festival of this temple is celebrated  during Shivarathri, during which a fair is organized for the devotees, a day prior to Shivarathri a ritual  called Deva Kott is performed in the temple : Permaad Temple, seven kilometers away from Sri Irpu Rameshwara Temple , then on there is regular poojas performed . On the day of Shivarathri devotees visit Sri Irpu Rameshwara and take a holy dip in the Laxmana Theertha. Devotees observe jhgraney (stay awake) on Shivarathri. Various cultural activities  like orchestra, drama, harikhatha, yakhshaghana, are staged to entertain the devotees till dawn cracks . The devotees  then head to the waterfall , take a bath and prepare themselves  for the pooja. Lunch is provided to all the devotees  at noon . Temporary stalls filled with goodies are installed , bangle sellers ,toy sellers , stone sculptures,  sweet meat merchants come from near by villages to sell their goods. It is indeed entertaining  to see the buyers bargain before the pay ! Children are attracted to the colorful toys and sweet stalls . Villagers get to socialize with others in the fair which may help them to know each other well and might help to maintain cooperation during natural disasters , the fair also encourages the merchants to gain profit . 

As most of the temples are located in the mid of the forest ,the people tend to conserve the “Deva Kaad” (secread grooves) !

 

The head of the temple is the elders , who has the commanding capability and who is responsible  enough to shoulder opportunities.

The main rituals conducted on daily basis in Sri Irpu Rameshwara are: Ganapathi Homa ,in devotion of Lord Ganapathi to seek knowledge ; Rudhra Abhisheka, a prayer to Lord Shiva for Moksha (salvation ); Sathyanarayana Pooja, performed  for progress and prosperity and Ksheera Abhisheka,  a unique  prayer where devotees offer milk to Lord Vishnu for prosperity.

 

Google location:https://maps.app.goo.gl/bAeLkAEbLwULzBKy8