Arabi Bhuta © Dr Lakshmi G Prasad Translation by Aravinda Bhat

Tulunadu tales: Arabi Bhuta© Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

The story of how Arabi Bhuta came to be worshipped

Dr Lakshmi G Prasad|


In Tulunadu folklore, it is not just locals and Hindus who turn into deities/bhutas. There are several examples of non-Hindus and people from foreign land turning into bhutas.

For example, there are Muslim bhutas such as Ali Bhuta, Babbarya, Mapule Mapulthi, Mapulthi Dhoomavathi, Byaari Bhuta, Byardi Bhuta. And Kiristhaani Theyyam is an example of Christian bhuta.

This article is about the story of how Arabi bhuta came to be worshipped.

Arabi Bhuta is worshipped near Chilimbi Malaraayi Daivasthanam in Mangaluru. Every year in April, while providing tribute to Malaraayi by performing 'kola', Arabi Bhuta is also worshipped.


 Copy rights reserved© Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

According to the story, Arabi Bhuta, who hailed from Arabia, traded in dates in Mangaluru. There were many people who came from Arab countries and traded in India.

One day, while this trader was selling dates near Chilimbi Malarayi Daivasthanam, a pretty girl who belonged to Alake family was bathing after having her period.
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‌Overcome by lust, the Arab trader moves forward to possess her. At this moment, the girl asks Malaraayi Bhuta for help. Suddenly, Malaraayi makes the girl disappear and in rage punishes the Arab trader by making him vanish.


The Arab trader realises his mistake and aplogises for his mistake. Malaraayi forgives the trader and turns him into a deity with her spiritual power.

In actual fact, it could be possible that both might have been drowned during the struggle. In Tulunadu, it is common for people to turn into deities if he/she has an unnatural death.

The girl, who was helped by spiritual power, is also worshipped as Brandi (Bramanathhi) Bhuta. Both the bhutas are worshipped in Chilimbi.
Reference: Tundu bhutagalu,Tulunadina apurva bhutagalu,Bhutagala adbhuta jagattu
(Translation: Aravinda Bhat)

Tags:    TULUNADU

http://www.bfirst.in/lakshmiprasad/tulunadutale/tulunadu-talesarabi-bhuta-422863
 

Gili Rama © Dr Lakshmi G Prasad Translation by Aravinda Bhat

The story behind the worshipping of Tulunadu deity Gili Rama
©Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

Many deities in Tulunadu folklore are born as ordinary people but perform extraordinary deeds. In the end, they turn into deities through a tragic incident. One such brave man who turned into a deity was Gili Rama.

According to "Daivaradane Jijnaasegalu" by Dr. Bannanje Baabu Ameen, Gilirama Shetty's parents are Rama Shetty and Ramalakka. Like any parent, both Rama Shetty and his wife raise their child with lot of affection. Gili Rama grows up into a brave and brilliant young man.

When he is somewhat older, he goes to rear cattle with local boys. But the local boys won't include him in any of their games. Angered by this, Gili Rama builds a bow and arrow from a nearby tree and attacks them.

Later, with the help of same bow and arrow he kills two wild buffaloes. As it had hunted on Maha Navami, he is turned into a deity and worshipped as Gili Rama.
Copy right reserved©Dr Lakshmi g prasad
Reference :Daivaradhane - jijnasegalu © Bannanje babu amin
Tags:    TULU
http://www.bfirst.in/lakshmiprasad/tulunadtale

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Subbiyamma Guliga © Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

Price of beauty: Tulu daiva Subbiyamma Guliga

The folk story behind the worshipping of Tulu deity Subbiyamma Guliga
Copy rights reserved
Dr Lakshmi G Prasad
Translation by Aravinda Bhat

Subbiyamma Guliga is one of the deities worshipped in Tulu Nadu. With the help and grace of Guliga, Panjurli, Chamundi, Malaraaya and others, many deities have been created throughout Tulu Nadu.

But how did Subbiyamma Guliga came to be worshipped?

Sometimes, with no fault of theirs, beautiful girls too turn into deities by their grace or misfortune. Subbiyamma is an example.

This folk story about Subbiyamma Guliga has been taken from Dr Amrithsomeshwar's Subbiyamma Paddana.

On the ghats lived Ramu Guligandar and Subbiyamma, who was quite beautiful. Ramu Guligandar sold bangles for a living. By selling bangles, they eventually reached Mangaluru.

From Mangaluru, they reached Manjeshwara in Maladi, where they decided to halt. They put up a tent, prepared food and slept.

Next day, Ramu Guligandar went to sell bangles while Subbiyamma woke up, took bath and got ready.


As there was no water, she went to fetch water from the nearby well. When she bent down, a deity named Guliga, mesmerized by her beauty, pushed her into the well. Subiyamma drowned instantly.




On returning, Ramu Guligandar searched for Subbiyamma but couldn't find her. Later, to his shock, he saw her dead body in the well.

A grieving Ramu conducted his daughters funeral. When the body was burning on the pyre, he heard Subbiyamma's saying: "I am with Guliga and I am moving".

In his Tulu Janapada Sahithya, Dr B.A Vivek Rai states, "As she was a very beautiful and since Guliga was attracted by her beauty, she is worshipped in Talappady."

What was the fault done by innocent Subbiyamma?

There are some possibilities. Some people might have tortured her and she might have committed suicide by jumping into well or accidentally she might have fallen to the well.

Whatever maybe the reason, Subbiyamma is now worshipped in many temples.
Copy rights reserved©Dr Lakshmi G Prasad
Reference 1: Tulu janapada Sahitya - Dr BA Viveka rai
2 Bhutaradhane- ondu janapadeeya adhyayana- Dr chinnappa Gowda
‌3 Tulu paddana samputa - Amruta someshwara

(Translation by: Aravinda Bhat)

Malesaavira Daiva © Dr Lakshmi G Prasad

Tulunadu tales: The story of Malesaavira daiva

Most deities in Tulu folk tales have a human origin, and Malesaavira Daiva, also known as Antayya Baidyya, is no different

‌Dr Lakshmi G Prasad


In Tulunadu's folk tales, most deities are basically humans. People who suffered unnatural death, blessings or curses of deities are later transformed and worshipped as deities. Some examples are Koti-Chennaya, Mugerlu, Ali Bhuta, Mukambi Guliga - all of these deities were previously humans.

Same is the case with Anta Baidya/Antayya Baidyya, who is worshipped as Male Chamundi, Male Jumadi and Malesaavira Daiva.

According to Bannanje Baabu Ameen, who has researched on the subject, there are two stories on the creation of this daiva.




A man named Antha Baidya was a big devotee of Lord Shiva. One day, when he had climbed a tree to remove the Amruth (Kallu), he falls and breaks his legs and arms; he also loses his eyes. Later, when he asks the Lord, the Lord says, "In future, you will take a human form and go to earth. You will be worshipped as Malesaavira, and when you are being worshipped, let 1000 deities too get worshipped." So Anta Baidya turns into Malesavira Daiva.




The is a slight difference in the second tale.




In the south, there is a place called Belaadi, where a black magician named Antayya Baidya lived.

One day, Baidya goes to Shirva Nudibettu Chavadi and asks land on lease. Baidya is given land on donation basis. According to the arrangement, he has to give percentage of crops grown to the land owner. The land given is located in a place called Kattangeri.

Baidya honoured the arrangement. But once his crop failed and so he couldn't pay. With the help of black magic, he bundles water and sends it as donation to the land owner. The landlord complains this to Keenyadka Jumaadi deity, who makes Baidya disappear.

"A place near Kattangeri is said to be where his funeral took place. In the northern part, he is worshipped as Male Sara (MaleSaavira) and in southern parts he is worshipped as Male Jumaadi. In the eastern part, he is worshipped as Antya Baidya," says Bannanje Babu Ameen.

He is also worshipped as Male Chamundi.


Translation by Aravinda Bhat