copy rights reserved (C)
An untouchable (in olden days, not now there is untouchability )as a deity? Yes.The Tuluva pantheon has Koraga Thaniya
Unlike other ‘bhutas’, Koraga Thaniya cracks jokes, entertains


From elders to youngsters, everyone loves the name, Koraga
Thaniya. Those who worship Bhutas (deity) of tulunad are afraid of their
deities due to many reasons. But when people hear the name Koraga
Thaniya everyone’s face turns wider with smile due to his entertainment
and jokes done by the lord.
Whenever there is a theft or valuable is misplaced they
pray to Koraga Thaniya for help and they offer him a bottle of
alcohol/spirit. Soon after they worship him in this manner, the items
that they have lost will soon be found. Also, any problem to cattle,
they please Koraga Thaniya for help. He is worshipped in almost all the
parts of South Canara.
copy rights reserved (C)Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

He is worshipped by offering Kola and Agelu (spiritual
performances) to him. His attire is so simple. There is no special
ornaments or other things on him. Folklore has it that he is regarded as
a brave warrior.
His birthplace was in Koragara Koppa. In ‘Paddana’, we can
see many places where many Koraga community members live -- Kadri,
Jeppu, Moodbidri and Mulki. Folklore has it that in Koppa Koraga and
Korappolu, a baby boy is named Uravana Odi. When this baby grows into a
matured man they search a suitable girl for him to marry. His uncle says
“There is a girl in Thirthamale Koppa”. When they reach the place, they
say that girl is in Kadpamale Koppa. So, they travel to Kadpamale
Koppa, while many of them arrive near home where Koroppolu Maire who
would be fetching lice from her father’s head sees the people and says
“Wow, see the beauty of relatives arrived at our sweet home, dad”. While
her dad says “You are still very small and you are not old enough to be
sought in marriage”.

Later, he asks her to arrange some water and to welcome the
guests. Gives some beetle leaves with tobacco to eat. Later, they ask
for a girl. At first her father rejects saying she is very small to send
her. But later they agree to teach her everything. Later, they mutually
accept the marriage and they decide to fix a date. They get married.
One day, she learns that she is pregnant. She prays to lord Kantaavara
and says she will do a special puja to Ullaya if she delivers safely.
Later, when it was time for delivery, Maira remembers her curse given by
Lord Shiva where he thought her as Parvathi and tries to force himself
on her. But Maira regards him as lord and offers him puja. Angered by
this, Lord Shiva curses her that she will deliver a baby boy and with
this her whole community will be vanished.copy rights reserved (C)Dr Lakshmi G Prasad
So, when Koraga Thaniya was born, his mother dies while
feeding him. His father too dies while trying not to keep his son
starved. Later, his aunt dies too. After all his family was banished, he
alone went to faraway places to lead his life. Later, in a big street
he would be doing some funny activities. But would cry missing home.
Seeing this, a lady called Bairakka, her daughter Manjakka, and brother
Chenneya take him to their home. There he learns to make pots and bags
from bamboo. During the Nema of Marl Jumadi, Mada Maisandaya, Padavu
Lakkesiri, lot of goods including coconut fronds, tender arecanut fronds
and other items need to be sent to temple. Seven persons were supposed
to carry these items to the temple. But they do not turn up. Upset,
Bairakka’s husband asks Koraga Thaniya, if he could give it to temple.
He agrees to do it if they provide whatever they used to
offer as treats to seven members. He is offered all that and he takes
the goods all alone. While going, he turns back and says to Bairakka,
“You have taken care of me very well but today you don’t have full faith
on me to return”. Baidyakka feels very bad and asks him not to go. To
which Koraga Thaniya says, “Once I take up the goods on my head, I will
not leave it until I reach my destination.” But at the temple, people
say “You are untouchable and cannot take the goods inside the holy
place”.
Upset, Koraga Thaniya asks “If I pluck those coconut leaves
and offers it to Lord, he has no problem. But if I bring these goods
and take them inside the temple, it is a big issue?” Angered Koraga
Thaniya, drops everything outside the temple. Later, he sees a kaipura( a lemon type fruit which used to make picle) tree near the roof of the holy place. He remembers his mother’s words,
“Need to get kaipura to make a pickle.” So, he climbs up the tree and
keeps his one leg on the roof of the daivasthanam and tries to pluck kaipura fruit . But he goes missing which indicates that he turns one among
the daivas. Hence, he is worshipped as Koraga Thaniya daiva.
Koraga Thaniya always carries one stick in his hand and he is fondly called as Ajja/grandfather.
In Tulunadu culture, one who dies for the sake of divinity gets the status of daiva and is worshipped.copy rights reserved (C)Dr Lakshmi G Prasad
Author:

Dr Lakshmi G Prasad is a well-known Tulu folklorist. The
author holds PG degrees in Kannada, Sanskrit, and Hindi as well as
doctorates from Hampi Kannada University and Dravidian University.
Currently, she teaches Kannada at Government PU College in Nelamangala.
She blogs at www.laxmipras.blogspot.com
Artile published in Bfirst.in
Looking for koragajja mantra
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