History of Tharavad

History of Mangi Illam Tharavad and Worshipping Korathi Amma

Altogether 8 Tharavad of Mangi Illam merged together at Narayanamangalam, Kumbla on March 22 2021 to form one big Tharavad. Here are those 8 Tharavad.

1. Kodikal(Originally from Nellikatte/Naikap), Mangalore, Karnataka – Originally was started by Late Smt. Manu at her maternal house Naikap(Present Narayanamangalam)
2. Shakthinagar, Mangalore, Karnataka
3. Akashabhavan, Mangalore, Karnataka
4. Thokkottu, Mangalore, Karnataka
5. Betchampadi, Mangalore, Karnataka
6. Puttur, Karanataka
7. Kumble, Kerala
8. Kasargod, Kerala

As I told my mother Late Smt. Suguna Nellikatte, the original place the Korathi Amma was worshipped at my grandma’s house at Naikap (Present Narayana Mangalam, near Kumbla). My grandma Late Smt. Manu was lighting the lamp on every morning and evening for Korathi Amma and was offering “Guru Naivedya” every year where all the family members used to gather including her children, grand children and close family relatives. This custom continued in her Nellikatte house too after she moved the Korathi Mane when she moved from Naikap to Nellikatte with her husband Late Sri. Krishna Chettiyar. Smt. Manu and her husband Nellikatte Krishan Chettiyar were worshiping and yearly “Guru Naivedya” was performed in Nellikatte House until they expired. Once they expired, the Korathi Mane was not taken care properly and daily worshipping was stopped in that house for various reasons. ALl the family members found it difficult to arrange for do yearly “Guru Naivedya” too. Then one day my Mother Late Smt. Suguna got the Korathi Mane to Kodikal Mangalore where she was living with her husband Shankar Kasargod and family. It was worshipped for many years in Kodikal, Mangalore and also yearly “Guru Naivedya” was performed before it is moved to the old Tharavad Narayanamangalam. My uncle Late Sri. Mana Master was instrumental to bring all the 8 Tharavad of Mangi Illam together and to establish at the place of old Tharavad place where Late Smt. Manu was living at Narayanamangalam.

Types of Daivas in Tulunadu and Kerala

Thurston counts among the best known deities “Brahmeru, Kodamanitaya, Kukkintaya, Jumadi, Sarala Jumadi, Pancha Jumadi, Lekkesiri, Panjurli (a divine boar), Kuppe Panjurli, Rakta Panjurli, Jarandaya, Urundarayya, Hosadevata (or Hosa Bhuta or Posa appe), Devanajiri, Kalkuḍa, Tukkateri, Guliga, Babbariya (or Bobbaraya), Neecha, Duggalaya, Mahisandaya, Varte, Koragajja, Chamundi, Baiderukulu, Ukkatiri, Kallurti, Shiraadi, Ullalthi, Okkuballala, Korddabbu, Ullaya, Korathi, Siri, Mantridevathe, Rakteshwari, Istadevathe and Odityay. The Bhutas are supposed to belong to different castes. For example Okkuballala and Devanajiri are Jains, Kodamanitaya and Kukkinataya are Bunts, Kalkuda is a smith, Bobbariya is a Māppilla, and Nicha a Koraga.” Some of them are ancestral spirits such as Bobbariya, Kalkuḍa, Kallurti, Siri, Kumar Koti and Chennayya. Some are deified wild animals such as the boar – Panjurli (the female counterpart is Varte Paanjurli) or the tiger – Pilichaṇḍi.

Some butas are Androgynous such as some instances of Jumadi who is represented as female below the neck (breasts), but with a male head sporting a mustache. There are anthropomorphic butas, zoomorphic ones, and mixed forms (such as the Malaraya of Kodlamogaru, Kasargod, who has the head of a wild boar and the body of a woman).

Depending on the significance of the people who worship them, butas or daivas can be family deities (kuṭuṃbada buta), local or village deities (jageda buta, uruda buta), or deities associated with administrative units such as manorial estates (guțțus), groups of estates (magane), districts (sīme) or even small kingdoms (royal butas or rajadaivas)

Bhuta Worship Types
The Bhūta worship of South Canara or Tulunadu is of four kinds, kōla, bandi, nema, and agelu-tambila.

Kola

Demi god dancing, is offered to the Bhutas in the sthana of the village believed that which they are supposed to reside.

Bandi

Bandi is the same as kola, with the addition of dragging about a chariot, on which the one who is representing the Bhuta is seated; most often, he is from the nalke, pambada or ajala communities.

Nema

Nema is a private ceremony in honour of the Bhutas, held in the house of anyone who is so inclined. It is performed once in every year, two, ten, fifteen, or twenty years by well-to-do families.

Agelu-tambila

is a kind of worship offered only to the family people, wherein rice, dishes, meat, alcohol are served on plantain leaves and offered to spirits, deities, departed forefathers annually or once wishes are completed.

Videos of Korathi Amma’s Kola