Igguthappa

Igguthappa is an important deity for the people of Kodagu, especially of the Kodava people and Kodagu Arebhashe gowdas, and is known as their Lord of rains and crops. He is also their Maha Guru (chief preceptor). His main shrine, known as Paadi Igguthappa (12°16′18″N 75°37′48″E / 12.2716°N 75.6299°E / 12.2716; 75.6299 (Paadi Igguthappa)), is in Kakkabe, Kodagu, Karnataka, India. The temple, located atop a hill in a forested area in Kakkabe, has been in existence since 1153. ^[1][2]

Mythology

Legend has it that in ancient times from what is now Kerala arrived seven celestial children.^[1] They were siblings, six brothers (including Igguthappa) and one sister. The first 3 brothers stayed back in Kerala in and around what is known as Kanjirath village, in Tali Paramba. The eldest brother was known as Kanyaratappa (Kanyarat was a name for Kanjirath), the second was Thiruchembarappa and the third was Bendru kolappa, known by the names of the villages they settled down in and where temples were built for them. The temples built for the three brothers are now famous in Kannur in Kerala. The temple of the first brother is now famous as the Rajarajeshwara Temple in Tali Paramba. The Trichambaram Temple of the second brother is now famous as the Krishna temple in Taliparamba. The third temple is well known as the Vidyanatha temple of Kanjirangad. The remaining three brothers with their sister moved towards Kodagu.

The fourth brother Igguthappa took base at Malma in Kodagu and a temple was built for him at Paadi naad. The fifth brother moved to Paloor in Kodagu where a temple was built for him. It became known as the Mahalingeshwara temple. Their sister who was called Thangamma settled down in Ponnangala village, near Kakkabe, where a shrine was built for her and so is now known also as Ponnangala Thamme. The last brother Pemmayya moved further south and moved into what is now as Waynad in Kerala. Along the Brahmagiri range at Thirunelli a temple now known as the Janardhana temple was built for him.^[3]

Significance

Igguthappa is known as a rain god. As Kodavas and Kodagu Arebhashe gowdas were agriculturists they used to pray Lord Igguthappa for rains so that they could get good crops. Huthari, the harvest festival in Kodagu, is normally celebrated 90 days after Onam around the end of November or in early December. Every year, paddy is first harvested in fields belonging to Lord Igguthappa. As a mark of respect during the harvest festival of Huthri only after the first crop for the year is offered to Lord Igguthappa the celebrations begin all over Kodagu district. Hence people of Kodagu celebrate the festival the following day. In addition, an annual prayer festival, called the Kaladcha, is also held at the Padi Igguthappa Temple in March.^[1][2]

History

Paadi Igguthappa temple became a prominent place of worship during King Lingarajendra’s reign. Lingarajendra had ordered his Dewan Apparanda Bopu to get an idol of an elephant made out of the silver coins. The coins weighed about three kilograms. On the back of the idol is inscribed in Halegannada (old Kannada), the year in which it was dedicated to Igguthappa for favours granted to Lingarajendra. This exquisite silver elephant is used daily in the poojas performed at the temple.^[1]

In 1835, the year after Linga Rajendra’s son Chikka Veerarajendra was deposed by the British, Dewan Apparanda Bopu took it on himself to renovate the temple. The structure was reconstructed and was fitted with tiles replacing the earlier thatched roof.^[1]

Modern times

The temple once again went through reconstruction in 2008. Descendants of Apparanda Bopu along with other devotees have provided silver cladding for the entrance door.^[1] Every afternoon lunch is offered to all devotees. The people of Kodagu especially the Kodavas, conduct the naming ceremonies of their children at the temple.^[3]

References