I made a quick decision to explore the mighty Kolli Hills and started from Bangalore on a Saturday.
Being a spiritual guy, apart from the normal expedition, trekking etc. I wanted to check out about the tantriks and poosaris and village temples.
I reached on a Saturday morning and had darshan at Arapalesswarar temple.
From there I took the 1000 steps one side to the akasa ganga falls and came back tired.
Encounter with a samiyar
Masi Periasamy , Ettukkai kali are the two major village deities in Kolli malai. Kolli Malai is a tribal hills village and there are still many ancient practices that have not changed. Vasiyam substance the black wet paste called Mai ( pronounce as 'my') is famous in kolli hills. there are small kali shrines where goat and chicken sacrifice is a routine.
I wanted to have a darshan of Masi Periasamy temple but once we started, we figured out that the usual road to the shrine is blocked because of recent rains. But curious enough, I spotted a small hut with a tantrik inside.
i went inside his hut and had brief interaction with him.
people came to him for personal gains, vasiya mai etc. I asked permission and took some snaps of his hut and he himself. Seems this tantrik has practised some and has some will power. Obviously tantriks of this kind raise their voice, speaks in commanding tone and try to create a stir of fear in you. Their whole of the rituals and religious processes are around instilling fear in your minds.
Etukkai kali amman temple
This is a famous spot nowadays and all cab drives know this. Etukkai amman is the Kolli Pavai a form of kali. Blood sacrifices are frequent. There are bells tied around and the Vel or Spear fixed by devotees. There was a remarkably gigantic old poosari in his 60s. He was very valorous, commanded both awe and respect. I wished to talk to him more but could not.
at the straight opposite to the kali, there were some group standing around and preparing the rakhi like threads to tie on your wrists. these are called 'mantra kayiru' in tamil. Kayiru means small trhead to tie in the hands. there were also some photos of kali kept probably for sale along with these mantra kayiru.
One guy bought a fresh bell ( or brought it ) and was going to conduct a pooja before tying the same along with the other bells.
My guess is, apart from the usual day by day pooja, the old poosari over there in the etukkai amman temple may perform oracle trance, fortune telling ( Kodangi) and other roles periodically. Of course these shrines are famous for mid night poosai with drums and bells and goat sacrifice.
You have to make friends with these people to witness such rare events ( of course you have to devote time and explore such events on the fixed occasions )
Next article I will write about other attractions I encountered in Kolli Hills.
Being a spiritual guy, apart from the normal expedition, trekking etc. I wanted to check out about the tantriks and poosaris and village temples.
I reached on a Saturday morning and had darshan at Arapalesswarar temple.
From there I took the 1000 steps one side to the akasa ganga falls and came back tired.
Encounter with a samiyar
Masi Periasamy , Ettukkai kali are the two major village deities in Kolli malai. Kolli Malai is a tribal hills village and there are still many ancient practices that have not changed. Vasiyam substance the black wet paste called Mai ( pronounce as 'my') is famous in kolli hills. there are small kali shrines where goat and chicken sacrifice is a routine.
I wanted to have a darshan of Masi Periasamy temple but once we started, we figured out that the usual road to the shrine is blocked because of recent rains. But curious enough, I spotted a small hut with a tantrik inside.
i went inside his hut and had brief interaction with him.
people came to him for personal gains, vasiya mai etc. I asked permission and took some snaps of his hut and he himself. Seems this tantrik has practised some and has some will power. Obviously tantriks of this kind raise their voice, speaks in commanding tone and try to create a stir of fear in you. Their whole of the rituals and religious processes are around instilling fear in your minds.
Etukkai kali amman temple
This is a famous spot nowadays and all cab drives know this. Etukkai amman is the Kolli Pavai a form of kali. Blood sacrifices are frequent. There are bells tied around and the Vel or Spear fixed by devotees. There was a remarkably gigantic old poosari in his 60s. He was very valorous, commanded both awe and respect. I wished to talk to him more but could not.
at the straight opposite to the kali, there were some group standing around and preparing the rakhi like threads to tie on your wrists. these are called 'mantra kayiru' in tamil. Kayiru means small trhead to tie in the hands. there were also some photos of kali kept probably for sale along with these mantra kayiru.
One guy bought a fresh bell ( or brought it ) and was going to conduct a pooja before tying the same along with the other bells.
My guess is, apart from the usual day by day pooja, the old poosari over there in the etukkai amman temple may perform oracle trance, fortune telling ( Kodangi) and other roles periodically. Of course these shrines are famous for mid night poosai with drums and bells and goat sacrifice.
You have to make friends with these people to witness such rare events ( of course you have to devote time and explore such events on the fixed occasions )
Next article I will write about other attractions I encountered in Kolli Hills.
