Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA) - pics - RK Durga Digitals
Udupi, Mar 29: The well-known Suggi (harvesting season) mari pooja of Kaup temple was held on Tuesday March 27 and Wednesday March 28.. The holy rituals at 'Hale Marigudi (Old Mari Temple), Hosa Marigudi (New Mari Temple) and Kalya Marigudi (Kalya Mari Temple) were held with devotion with devotees thronging in large numbers from all over the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada.
The devotion of goddess Mari was commenced in Tulunadu during 17th century. Basappa Nayaka, one of the prominent rulers of Keladi royal family built a fort "Mahoragadha" on Kaup seashore in 1743. He also constructed a fort at Mallar to Shelter his military (Dandu). The goddess "Dandinamari" came along the military and settled in Kaup.
British rulers occupied the port after the demise of Tipu Sultan. People started to worship the goddess at a new temple in Pallapadpu.
Goddess Marai or Mari is regarded as “Kapuda Appe" (Mother of Kaup). Kaup houses three Mari temples. The temple at Pallipadpu is recocognized as old Marigudi. Earlier, people, irrespective of their caste and religion, were worshipping the goddess. But a dispute came between the Gowda Saraswath Brahmin families and other devotes regarding the management of the Temple. Finally, the judgment came in favour of the GSBs. So the devotees constructed separate temple in 1830. Chief of the Kaup Beedu generously donated land for constructing new marigudi.
In the beginning of the 20th century, another dispute between Beedu Family and Sankappa Sheety of Mallargutthu, resulting construction of third shrine at Kalki near Ulliyaragoli which later came to know as Kalya marigudi.
Kaup Maripooja is one of the seven rituals of theundivided Dakshina Kannada district. The other six are - Udupi Paryaya, Bappanadu Dolu, Arasara Kambala, Kavatha Ayana, Dharmastala Deepotsava and Padubidri Dhakkebali.
Maripooja is being offered thrice in a year. However, the suggi Maripooja in the month of March is the most important than the other two viz Aati Maripooja in the month of July/August and Jarde Maripooja in the month of November/December.