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Once a year hundreds of thousands of devotees flock to the shrine of Veeranna in Korivi. Whether a myth, a reality or
just folklore, devotees return home with their faith reinforced.
“O my God of fertility, my saviour, gives me a
baby. I will give him your name and vow to return to your shrine next
year.”
This is a fervent
petition by a childless woman who in an emotional surrender, clings
to the temple-post (Dhwajasthambha) facing the idol of the
deity Veeranna. A timeless scene which immediately recalls one of the
familiar Puranic pictures depcting Markandeya embracing the
Shivalingam. Strolling alone the pathway to the sanctum sanctorum, I
was astonished to see several women prostrate on the ground in the
scorching sun, holding coconuts and incense-sticks in their hands
stretched in the direction of the deity. All of them appeared to be
in a state of semi-consciousness and unmindful of the vociferous
singing, chanting and dancing around. In Korivi, the ancient shrine
of Veeranna, the god of virility and fertility celebrates his annual
Ratha Yatra.
Korivi is situated about
60 kilometres away from the historic fort-town of Warangal in Andhra
Pradesh. A very small village, it owes its importance to the presence
of the temple. Korivi has a hoary past dating back to the days of the
Chalukaya dynasty. For some time it even enjoyed the status of a
capital of the Kakatiyas and continued to be so until the early 11th
century AD when the capital was shifted to Warangal. According to
some inscriptions found here, the idol of the deity Veeranna or
Veerabhadra was installed some time in 800 AD by the Chalukyan kings
who also erected a small structure around it. Later, during the days
of the Kakatiyas, some more structures were added. It was not until
the year 1700 that the temple gained glory when some of the Rajole
chieftains took pains to reconstruct the whole temple complex and
started the Nitya-radhna. The idol of the deity stands seven
feet high, wielding clubs, shafts and discs. Set amidst simple rural
landscape in the middle of the village, the temple is surrounded by a
number of neem and pipal trees.
The deity is said to
possess miraculous powers. Hundreds of thousands of people visit
Korivi in prayer and penance each year starting from the
Mahashivaratri day to the Telugu new year day, Ugadi, in March.
Devotion to the deity
Veeranna is the strongest in rural areas of Telangana, especially
amongst the Lambada tribals for whom a pilgrimage to Korivi is a
tradition. Whether it is to pray, to conceive or to give thanks for
the child they have already conceived, women travel to Korivi to
fulfil their vow by observing certain religious austerities and
customs. Whether myth or reality, their prayers at this temple find
their faith reinforced and they return home assured that they have
been heard.
When and how the concept
of so called ‘fertility’ got attached to the deity is not
exactly known. The faith is so old and so deeply rooted in worship of
the deity that the very name – Veeranna, pervades almost every
Lambada household, particularly in Telangana, where there is at
least one member in each family devoutly named after the deity.
There are many legends,
beliefs and anecdotes, which make the Korivi Theertham a myth, a
mystery and folklore. Earlier, according to legend the deity was
asserting more powers and performing many miracles. People possessed
with evil spirits would never dare enter the shrine for fear of being
exposed. This, the people believe, was because of a powerful yantra
(a thin copper plate carrying inscriptions of incantations) that was
cryptically implanted somewhere on the back of the idol. Once, a
local chief wanting to worship the deity entered the temple
accompanied by his wife and assistants. But as soon as they entered,
much to the embarrassment of those present, the chief’s wife
started screaming demonically. The annoyed chief immediately got the
yantra removed.
The Lambadas arrive in
Korivi in large numbers in their gorgeously decked bullock carts
fitted with modern musical systems. For about 40 days the village
reverberates with excitement and religious fervour. Scores of
makeshift tents shelter the pilgrims. Several stalls selling various
commodities sprout up along the temple street. The large gathering
also helps tribals to conduct weekly markets outside the temple where
anything from forest produce to livestock is traded.
The women who observe
penance start their day quite early with a ceremonial bath followed
by body anointment with a paste of turmeric and vermilion. They are
then led by the clan elders, carrying coconuts and incense-sticks to
circumambulate the temple amid deafening drum-beat and dance. After
completing the predetermined number of rounds about the temple, the
women are splashed with a bucket of cold water mixed with turmeric.
In some cases a woman is given repeated cold baths after every round
to induce sleep. When they start dozing they are made to lie on the
ground facing the deity. They drift into a state of
semi-consciousness but continue to chant the name of the deity. They
seem to be detached from their surroundings and remain so for hours.
The chosen ones are said to have communion with the deity. When they
wake up, they do so, beaming with joy. Through these women the god is
said to manifest his will, and his pleasure or displeasure. The
unlucky ones who do not attain this state return next year to repeat
the rituals.
The blessed ones revisit
Korivi to fulfil their vow and their votive offerings include Godanam
– gifting away a cow or a calf to a Brahmin. The newly born
baby is given a ceremonial tonsure and named after the deity –
Veeranna or Veeramma, in case of a female baby.
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