BUNTS

BERMERU

Bermeru, also known Brahma or Brahmalingeswara is worshipped as a presiding deity in many Bhuta shrine complexes. He is not be identified with Brahma of the hindu Trinity.  There are in fact three Brahma namely Bhuta Brahma, Naga Brahma and Yaksha Brahma (of Jains) worshipped in Tulunad.  He is worshipped along with the serpent spirit, Koti Chennaya and Nandi in the same complex.  A legend narrates the origin of this spirit.  In the beginning there were three worlds, called heaven, earth and the nether world.  The sun and the moon inhabited the heaven while serpents a bounded in the nether world.  The earth was the abode of  human

Beings.  Once there arose a fierce battle between the Gods and Demos at the foot of the Dheva Sampige (Michelia Campaka) tree.  Seven seas got mixed up.  The blood gushed through  the bottom of the tumbe plant (phlomis Indica).  The activities of the world came to a stand-still.  When everything  was destroyed ,God Narayana wanted to create a new world.  Certain four legged animals and two legged human beings were created, rivers and mountain arose, brahma in the form of a granite stone .A shrine was constructed . Different kinds of creatures

Shot up from the body of the stone. People began to worship that deity on the square stone .In certain shrines a statue of bermeru seated on horse   back can be noticed . Bermeru  is thus establish as the guardian angel and head of the other spirits and began to occupy a central place among the deities of a complex of shrines known as aalade. Offerings of flat rice, puffed rice, jagerry and coconut are  made in a ritual associated with this spirit . But in a couple of places the possession dance  does take place in which the impersonator is dressed in white dhoti, white beard and moustache to look like a saint.

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