BUNTS
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BUNTS |
BOBBARYA
Bobbarya is known as the God of the seas and hence worshipped mostly by members of the fishermen community as their tutelary spirit or guardian angel. An interesting feature of this spirit is that it was soul of a young man born of a Muslim father and Jain mother. He was transformed into a spirit after a tragic death in fishing boat on the deep waters of the Arabian sea. A Jain damsel was in distress as all her bridegrooms were killed by a serpent coming out of her nose in the midnight. Murava Byari, a Muslim Youth goes to Mecca and Madina prays God Allah and come to her and offers himself as a bridegroom. He prepares a human replica of rice powder past and keeps it by the side of the bride. A cobra come out of her nose in the midnight. Murava Byari kills it and marries her. Their son goes on a shipping expedition with his flowers. As per one version the ship was wrecked by the cyclone sent by the Goddess Ganga and as per another version the ship got wrecked in a maritime battle. Murava’s son Bappa alone survived and he was transformed into a spirit. The spirit took rest in the Ayyangala Katte at Mulur, near Kaup. A toddy tapper comes that way and he was blessed by the new spirit. But he was not supposed to disclose this secret to anybody . The toddy tapper got maximum yield that day. His joy knew no bounds and he disclosed the secret to his wife. As a result of this he got only blood in his toddy pot next day. When he went near the lotus pond to clean his knife he was immersed in the water of the tank. The people pacified the spirit by constructing a shrine and arranging periodical festivals.
Bobbarya is worshipped in a pillar like structure with a platform of stone serving as altar. A pyramid shaped stone is noticed in some places on the top of the pillar. A wooden mace is also kept as its weapon. It is known daanya. Bobbarya koola is celebrated by the fishermen community in different part of the coastal region. The impersonator is not decked with a huge and broad headgear, but wears a special crown during the possession dance. A dish of rice and coconut is made and it is molten into the shape of a big mace. The impersonator goes round the temple with that mace. The procession goes to the seashore with the impersonator to obtain the blessings of Bobbarya for a good catch of fish. Bobbarya is also worshipped as Baagila Bobbarya or door keeper in certain shrines. Wooden statues of Bobbarya are placed on both sides of the doors of sanctum. A spirit names as ali Bhuta is another Muslim spirit venerated in the southern part of Tulunad.