Bangalore Karaga - Historic Events Regarding The Karaga Shakthyotsava

Historic Events Regarding The Karaga Shakthyotsava

• The Karaga Shakthyathsava is been celebrated from centuries. Different dynasties like ‘Marathas’, ‘Mysore Wodeyars’, ‘Britishers’ and the ‘Union Government’ have ruled Bengaluru. It is evident that, many temples are destroyed and ruined for many reasons, but Shri. Dharmaraya Swamy Temple is sustained over the centuries. A few incidents are remarkable to quote.

• During Maratas period, some mantravadies (Black Magicians) wanted to test the thantras of the Karaga and wanted to stop the movements of Karaga. At this the Karaga started raising to the height and amazingly it sat on the coconut tree. The Karaga poojari punched his lap with the knife and sprinkled the blood and prayed god. The Veerakumaras offered alugu seva. Soon after this, the Karaga shakthi came down and took its place on poojaries head and started moving on its regular sanchara.

• The Maharaja of Myosre wanted to test the Alugu seva of Veerakumaras in the year 1811 A.D., the swords were broken into pieces and Immudi Krishnarajendra Wodeyar became the devotee to the temple and issued an order to take the temple to his administrative control and huge lands in and around the Bengaluru marked in the name of the temple for the development of temple and community.

• At the time of British rulers, the top person of the Administration came to temple to stop the Karaga festival in the midnight since it disturbs the peaceful sleep of the public, when he reaches the temple on his chariot, he lost his eyesight and horses could not pull the chariot, he realised the power of the Religious beliefs of the people and recognised his mistake and confessed to the Karaga shakthi with the help of his servants. After this he had his eyesight back and recommended to the Union Govt., to extend the privilege of keeping swords by Thigala Community for their religious purpose. The exemption is given from weapon prevention act of India the same benefit the Thigalas are utilising even today. At the same time, the order was passed by the rulers not to restrict the Karaga Shakthyotsava and uthsavas of the Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. This privilege is in use even today by the temple authorities.

• Another incident towards the communal harmony. During the sulthans ruling, a person called Haju Masthan was supposed to be right hand to the sulthana, and is sincere follower of Islamic religion, had a dream in which he was standing near Karaga and saw that the two hasthas(hands) were right in front of the Karaga blessings. With this he realised that, all the religions are one and developed good relationships with community. After the death, the Karaga visits Masthan sabs daraga and receives pooja.

• Another incident is that, Marata Kshathriyas (Pategars) youth came to temple with swords and offered Aluguseva thinking that they are also kshathriyas, soon after his both the youths got their chest sheered off and blood started coming out and then they realised their limits and confessed to the Karagashakthi. Karaga karthas pasted bhandara on their chest, the wound was vanished, from then onwards their family members became the devotees of the temple and their family youths are undergoing vratha charana along with community veerakumaras even today.