Shri Rajarajeshwari temple is located at Polali in Kariyangala Village of Bantwal Taluk in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka State. Shri Kshetra Polali is in the heart of this village surrounded by high hillocks and wide paddy fields. River Phalguni flows from east on the northern side a furlong way from the temple. It turns left towards south at the back of the temple in the Western side. This place was being called as Pural and the deity in the temple was known as Porala Devi in several old records and ancient epigraphs available.
Puliapura is its Sanskrit version. In Kannada this is called Polali. It is believed that King Suratha got the temple constructed, installed the image and placed his own crown on the head of the image. This is an ancient temple. This temple has been alluded to in the Ashokan inscriptions and in the reports of the foreign travelers who visited India. Queen Chennammaji of Keladi visited Polali and got a grand chariot constructed for the temple.
Being a pilgrimage Centre, Polali attracts travelers and tourists with its natural scenic beauty and serenity. Polali Chendu is a unique festival in this temple, which will be performed during annual festival of the temple.
These facts have been explained in Shastras and Puranas. The above were fractional incarnations of Shri Mahadevi just like the incarnations Matsya (fish) and Koorma of Lord Mahavishnu. But Shri Lalitha Devi was the full incarnation of Shri Bhuvaneshwari. After coronation She was called Shri Rajarajeshwari. Her sacred story is as follows:
After the untimely death of his wife Gouri, Lord Rudra renounced all activities and started severe penance. Seeing this Kama the God of Love shot Rudra with his darts of love. Rudra in rage opened his third eye and burnt Kama into ashes. After many years Lord Ganesha made a human form with that ash and placed it before Rudra. Lord Rudra looked at it with compassion and an inert image became a living being. Nandikeshwara initiated him with the holy Rudramanthra. The ash born being repeated the mantra with implicit faith and incessantly prayed Lord Shiva (Rudra). Lord Shiva became highly pleased with him and blessed him with many boons. This being became famous as Bhandasura.
Shrukracharya, the preceptor of demons took him to Shonithapura and there he was crowned as the King of asuras (demons). Shukracharya initiated Bhandasura with many mantras of mysterious power. As advised by Shukracharya, Bhandasura engaged himself in severe penance, got many boons became very powerful. Mad with the newly gained powers he began to torture the people. Even the three Gods - Hari, Hara and Brahma found him to be intolerable. He even invaded heaven and being impossible to face him all the Gods ran away from heaven and took shelter in riverbanks, forests and mountains in disguised form.
Later, after many years with the advice of Divine sage Narada the destitute Gods engaged themselves in meditation, worship and penance to make the Divine Mother manifest before them. They even got ready to sacrifice their bodies in the blazing fire of Yajna. Shri Bhuvaneshwari in Manidweepa (Island of gems) saw the sufferings and penance of Gods and appeared before them in the bright form of Lalitha Devi, which is the full incarnation of Shri Bhuvaneshwari. Gods of heaven and Thrimurthis built a mahamantapa and a chariot for Shri Bhuvaneshwari with the help of Vishwakarma.
Brahma and other Gods assembled in the Mahamantapa and with just a look at Goddess Shri Mahadevi the things they desired was fulfilled. Goddess boarded her Shri Chakra ornamented with navaparvas. Shri Devi with her large army and assistants advanced in no time and arrived at Shonithapura of Bhandasura and encamped there. The battle raged. Within four days Bhandasura's brothers, nephews, relatives and ministers, army chief and large army died fighting against the army of Shri Mahadevi.
On fifth day Bandasura himself came and fought against Shri Mahadevi and died. All the three worlds again returned to peace and happiness. Shortly afterwards Hari, Hara and Brahma engaged the services of the sculptors Vishwakarma and Maya and got sixteen cities built in the Himalayan region and in other places for the stay of the Divine Mother. All these towns were called Shrinagar and Shri Bhuvaneshwari still lives in these sixteen cities and protects all the worlds from the evil forces.
It is well known that King Suratha installed and worshiped Shri Rajarajeshwari. Starting from Swayambhuva there are fourteen Manus. In the early years, Swarochisha, the second Manu begot a son by name Chaitra. King Suratha was born in his line after many years. His vast kingdom spread all over the world. Unfortunately by force of circumstances he had to fight with a band of hunters by name 'Kolavidhwamsi'. Even though they were less powerful, King Suratha suffered defeat at their hands. Therefore the King totally withdrew from the areas overrun by his enemies and returned to his capital city.
The Ministers now understood that their King had become weak and incompetent and took the military and treasury under their control. King Suratha now realized that his Ministers had cheated him. He feared that his ministers and military might conspire with his enemies and handover him to them. He therefore decided to flee away for safety. He told them that he was going out for hunting and rode away on his horse. At last he entered a dense forest and reached the hermitage of Sumedha, a great ascetic. The King prostrated before the sage and narrated the event that forced him to come to the forest.
The sage warmly received the King and asked him to stay there for some days. One day Suratha was walking around the hermitage bemoaning the loss of his Kingdom, wealth, wife and children. On the way he met a merchant. He paid his respect to the King and narrated his sad story that how his wife and children driven him away hankering for his wealth. Hearing this story the King took the trader to the sage. Both of them offered obeisance to the Muni (Ascetic). King Suratha then narrated the story of the merchant to the sage. Hearing this sage advised them to worship Divine Mother as prescribed in the Shastras and seek blessing from her.
The King and the merchant offered their obeisance to the sage and took leave of him. Now both of them were eager to see the Divine Mother face to face. At the same time they were will grief - striken because of their attachments to the people who had driven them away. They selected a place from where water had recently receded. This place was not far away from the hermitage of Sage Sumedha.
There, they built a hermitage and there in they made out a clay image of the Divine Mother along with that of her subordinate deities, strictly in accordance with the rules of Tantra Shastra and sculpture. Both of them began repeating the sacred Devi Sooktha, beginning with words, "Namo Devyai Mahadevyai" and invoked Chandika Devi, the one integrated form of Mahakali, Maha lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi into the image they were worshiping. In the beginning they were taking limited food at regular intervals.
But later on they reduced the intake of food and began fasting more and more intensely. They withdrew their six senses from outside objects. As days passed their faith grew stronger and stronger and their penance became more and more intense. Ultimately they began to offer oblation mixed with their own flesh and blood to their favorite deity. Thus they continued their rigorous penance for three years. Finally Devi manifested before them and pleased to grant a boon to them.
Then King Suratha prostrated to the Divine Mother and prayed for his Kingdom, wealth and happy life with his wife and children. The merchant Samadhi asked for divine knowledge and deliverance from all worldly bonds and ultimately a salvation. Accordingly Devi blessed them and disappeared.
Then King Suratha and the merchant went to sage Sumedha's presence and respectfully saluted him. They narrated to the sage now the Mother granted the boons they prayed for. Then there arrived the ministers and other officials of Suratha's Kingdom and begged him to pardon them for their unrighteous actions and with condescend request asked the King to come back to his Kingdom. The King then took leave of the sage and returned to his country. There he ruled his kingdom righteously till the end of his life. The merchant Samadhi also took leave of the sage. Being free from all worldly temptations he visited many holy places and gave up his body in course of time and ultimately attained salvation.
From very ancient times, the people have been telling that King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi engaged themselves in penance on the bank of the same Phalguni River, which is still flowing through Polali. It is said that the clay images of Shri Raja Rajeshwari and the subordinate deities now worshipped in the Polali temple are the images, which were installed and worshipped, by King Suratha and his merchant friend. By referring various Puranas we may assume that the image of Shri Rajarajeshwari in Polali temple is of at least five thousand years old.
Even then a few inscriptions found at Ammunje, Kariyangala and in Polali Temple are now preserved in the custody of the Karnataka Government. In olden days this Dakshina Kannada District was under the suzerainty of many royal dynasties like Kadamba, Chalukya, Aloopa, Rashtrakoota, Hoisala, Vijayanagara, Ikkeri, Mysore etc. As per history and inscriptions the kings of these dynasties ruled over Dakshina Kannada with the help of the vassals like Banga, Chouta, Ballal etc.
In some administrative divisions called 'Maganes' the kings appointed their own executive officers. They donated agricultural lands to the temples and monasteries under their jurisdiction and did their best to serve the temple deities and set an example to their subjects to become god fearing, religious and righteous. Alupa kings were one of the many royal dynasties that aided and enriched the temples and encouraged temple-worship in our district during their rule from 710-720 A.D.
Daily worship, Special worship, Religious services and Festivals: Daily poojas and special poojas in this temple are done as laid down in Durgagama and Skandagama. The daily morning pooja is regularly done at 8.30 a.m. The noon Mahapooja is daily conducted at 12.30 p.m. and the night pooja takes place at 8.30 p.m. The 'Kartika pooja' and the Flower pooja' offered by the devotees are performed only during the time of the daily poojas and not at other times.
Special occasion Poojas are as follows:
1. Simha Sankramana
2. Souramana Ugadi (first day of the year as per solar calender)
3. Gokulashtami
4. 4th day of Bhadrapada Shukla
5. Kadiru Habba (Corn Festival)
6. Navarathri Festival
7. Deepavali (Festival of lights)
8. Kartika Bahula Padya
9. Laksha Deepotsava (on new moon day of the Karthika month)
10. Subramanya Panchami and Shashti Festivals
11. Dhanurmasotsava
12. Mahashivarathri Festival
13. Annual Festival (commences on Sankranthi day of month of Meena)
In the evening members of the Gutthu families occupy their seats on both sides of the front gopuram. The members of the oil miller family then place the ball and a palm leaf umbrella in the gopuram. Then the person authorized to throw the ball arrives there wearing his headgear. He then offers prayers to the deity in the presence of the members of the Gutthu. Afterwards the members of the Gutthu families go to the 'Sultan Katte' near the football field and wait there. The honorable person authorized to throw the ball then comes to football field with all honours.
He throws the ball and game begins. When the ball reaches either the southern or northern bund of the field the ball is again given to the authorized person to be thrown again. All together the ball is thrown three times. This procedure is repeated for five days. When three games are over the person authorized to throw the ball returns with it to the temple and occupies his seat in the gopuram and some specified persons are offered betal leaves and areca nuts and honoured in the presence of the head of Gutthus. This festival is conducted with great pomp and gaiety. The final football festival of Polali is very famous.
Bantwal Tq.
Dakshina Kannada District,
Karnataka - INDIA
Phone - 91-824-766141
Being a pilgrimage Centre, Polali attracts travelers and tourists with its natural scenic beauty and serenity. Polali Chendu is a unique festival in this temple, which will be performed during annual festival of the temple.
Mythology:
When evil forces gained strength and got the upper hand and embodied themselves as demons and began to destroy the Dharma Setu (Bridge of Dharma). Rajas and Tamas were the most predominant evil qualities in them. They tortured the people in innumerable ways. In such a situation Shri Bhuvaneshwari, Divine Mother assumed divine forms with the names Kumari, Tripura, Kali and Durga and established the age old Dharma by destroying the wicked and protecting the good.
These facts have been explained in Shastras and Puranas. The above were fractional incarnations of Shri Mahadevi just like the incarnations Matsya (fish) and Koorma of Lord Mahavishnu. But Shri Lalitha Devi was the full incarnation of Shri Bhuvaneshwari. After coronation She was called Shri Rajarajeshwari. Her sacred story is as follows:
After the untimely death of his wife Gouri, Lord Rudra renounced all activities and started severe penance. Seeing this Kama the God of Love shot Rudra with his darts of love. Rudra in rage opened his third eye and burnt Kama into ashes. After many years Lord Ganesha made a human form with that ash and placed it before Rudra. Lord Rudra looked at it with compassion and an inert image became a living being. Nandikeshwara initiated him with the holy Rudramanthra. The ash born being repeated the mantra with implicit faith and incessantly prayed Lord Shiva (Rudra). Lord Shiva became highly pleased with him and blessed him with many boons. This being became famous as Bhandasura.
Shrukracharya, the preceptor of demons took him to Shonithapura and there he was crowned as the King of asuras (demons). Shukracharya initiated Bhandasura with many mantras of mysterious power. As advised by Shukracharya, Bhandasura engaged himself in severe penance, got many boons became very powerful. Mad with the newly gained powers he began to torture the people. Even the three Gods - Hari, Hara and Brahma found him to be intolerable. He even invaded heaven and being impossible to face him all the Gods ran away from heaven and took shelter in riverbanks, forests and mountains in disguised form.
Later, after many years with the advice of Divine sage Narada the destitute Gods engaged themselves in meditation, worship and penance to make the Divine Mother manifest before them. They even got ready to sacrifice their bodies in the blazing fire of Yajna. Shri Bhuvaneshwari in Manidweepa (Island of gems) saw the sufferings and penance of Gods and appeared before them in the bright form of Lalitha Devi, which is the full incarnation of Shri Bhuvaneshwari. Gods of heaven and Thrimurthis built a mahamantapa and a chariot for Shri Bhuvaneshwari with the help of Vishwakarma.
Brahma and other Gods assembled in the Mahamantapa and with just a look at Goddess Shri Mahadevi the things they desired was fulfilled. Goddess boarded her Shri Chakra ornamented with navaparvas. Shri Devi with her large army and assistants advanced in no time and arrived at Shonithapura of Bhandasura and encamped there. The battle raged. Within four days Bhandasura's brothers, nephews, relatives and ministers, army chief and large army died fighting against the army of Shri Mahadevi.
On fifth day Bandasura himself came and fought against Shri Mahadevi and died. All the three worlds again returned to peace and happiness. Shortly afterwards Hari, Hara and Brahma engaged the services of the sculptors Vishwakarma and Maya and got sixteen cities built in the Himalayan region and in other places for the stay of the Divine Mother. All these towns were called Shrinagar and Shri Bhuvaneshwari still lives in these sixteen cities and protects all the worlds from the evil forces.
Installation of the Image of Shri Devi:
The pious soul who installed and worshipped the clay image of Shri Rajarajeshwari with subordinate deities in the ancient days deserves our greatest gratitude.It is well known that King Suratha installed and worshiped Shri Rajarajeshwari. Starting from Swayambhuva there are fourteen Manus. In the early years, Swarochisha, the second Manu begot a son by name Chaitra. King Suratha was born in his line after many years. His vast kingdom spread all over the world. Unfortunately by force of circumstances he had to fight with a band of hunters by name 'Kolavidhwamsi'. Even though they were less powerful, King Suratha suffered defeat at their hands. Therefore the King totally withdrew from the areas overrun by his enemies and returned to his capital city.
The Ministers now understood that their King had become weak and incompetent and took the military and treasury under their control. King Suratha now realized that his Ministers had cheated him. He feared that his ministers and military might conspire with his enemies and handover him to them. He therefore decided to flee away for safety. He told them that he was going out for hunting and rode away on his horse. At last he entered a dense forest and reached the hermitage of Sumedha, a great ascetic. The King prostrated before the sage and narrated the event that forced him to come to the forest.
The sage warmly received the King and asked him to stay there for some days. One day Suratha was walking around the hermitage bemoaning the loss of his Kingdom, wealth, wife and children. On the way he met a merchant. He paid his respect to the King and narrated his sad story that how his wife and children driven him away hankering for his wealth. Hearing this story the King took the trader to the sage. Both of them offered obeisance to the Muni (Ascetic). King Suratha then narrated the story of the merchant to the sage. Hearing this sage advised them to worship Divine Mother as prescribed in the Shastras and seek blessing from her.
The King and the merchant offered their obeisance to the sage and took leave of him. Now both of them were eager to see the Divine Mother face to face. At the same time they were will grief - striken because of their attachments to the people who had driven them away. They selected a place from where water had recently receded. This place was not far away from the hermitage of Sage Sumedha.
There, they built a hermitage and there in they made out a clay image of the Divine Mother along with that of her subordinate deities, strictly in accordance with the rules of Tantra Shastra and sculpture. Both of them began repeating the sacred Devi Sooktha, beginning with words, "Namo Devyai Mahadevyai" and invoked Chandika Devi, the one integrated form of Mahakali, Maha lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi into the image they were worshiping. In the beginning they were taking limited food at regular intervals.
But later on they reduced the intake of food and began fasting more and more intensely. They withdrew their six senses from outside objects. As days passed their faith grew stronger and stronger and their penance became more and more intense. Ultimately they began to offer oblation mixed with their own flesh and blood to their favorite deity. Thus they continued their rigorous penance for three years. Finally Devi manifested before them and pleased to grant a boon to them.
Then King Suratha prostrated to the Divine Mother and prayed for his Kingdom, wealth and happy life with his wife and children. The merchant Samadhi asked for divine knowledge and deliverance from all worldly bonds and ultimately a salvation. Accordingly Devi blessed them and disappeared.
Then King Suratha and the merchant went to sage Sumedha's presence and respectfully saluted him. They narrated to the sage now the Mother granted the boons they prayed for. Then there arrived the ministers and other officials of Suratha's Kingdom and begged him to pardon them for their unrighteous actions and with condescend request asked the King to come back to his Kingdom. The King then took leave of the sage and returned to his country. There he ruled his kingdom righteously till the end of his life. The merchant Samadhi also took leave of the sage. Being free from all worldly temptations he visited many holy places and gave up his body in course of time and ultimately attained salvation.
From very ancient times, the people have been telling that King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi engaged themselves in penance on the bank of the same Phalguni River, which is still flowing through Polali. It is said that the clay images of Shri Raja Rajeshwari and the subordinate deities now worshipped in the Polali temple are the images, which were installed and worshipped, by King Suratha and his merchant friend. By referring various Puranas we may assume that the image of Shri Rajarajeshwari in Polali temple is of at least five thousand years old.
Historical importance of Polali temple:
It is not easy to clarify the antiquity and importance of Polali Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple with historical evidences. It is said there were many inscriptions here and there around the temple. But, in the past these inscriptions might have been destroyed or taken away due to the indifferent attitude of the persons responsible for their upkeep.Even then a few inscriptions found at Ammunje, Kariyangala and in Polali Temple are now preserved in the custody of the Karnataka Government. In olden days this Dakshina Kannada District was under the suzerainty of many royal dynasties like Kadamba, Chalukya, Aloopa, Rashtrakoota, Hoisala, Vijayanagara, Ikkeri, Mysore etc. As per history and inscriptions the kings of these dynasties ruled over Dakshina Kannada with the help of the vassals like Banga, Chouta, Ballal etc.
In some administrative divisions called 'Maganes' the kings appointed their own executive officers. They donated agricultural lands to the temples and monasteries under their jurisdiction and did their best to serve the temple deities and set an example to their subjects to become god fearing, religious and righteous. Alupa kings were one of the many royal dynasties that aided and enriched the temples and encouraged temple-worship in our district during their rule from 710-720 A.D.
Daily worship, Special worship, Religious services and Festivals: Daily poojas and special poojas in this temple are done as laid down in Durgagama and Skandagama. The daily morning pooja is regularly done at 8.30 a.m. The noon Mahapooja is daily conducted at 12.30 p.m. and the night pooja takes place at 8.30 p.m. The 'Kartika pooja' and the Flower pooja' offered by the devotees are performed only during the time of the daily poojas and not at other times.
Special occasion Poojas are as follows:
1. Simha Sankramana
2. Souramana Ugadi (first day of the year as per solar calender)
3. Gokulashtami
4. 4th day of Bhadrapada Shukla
5. Kadiru Habba (Corn Festival)
6. Navarathri Festival
7. Deepavali (Festival of lights)
8. Kartika Bahula Padya
9. Laksha Deepotsava (on new moon day of the Karthika month)
10. Subramanya Panchami and Shashti Festivals
11. Dhanurmasotsava
12. Mahashivarathri Festival
13. Annual Festival (commences on Sankranthi day of month of Meena)
Football Game (well known as Polali Chendu) during the Annual festival:
This festival of football commences when there are seven days to the avabritha. This football festival continues for five days. This game during the temple festival is very popular. Members of a particular cobbler family at Mijar prepare this leather ball. The members of the oil miller family of 'Kadapu Karia' bring the leather ball from Mijar. On their way back they come to the house of Malali Ballal. They first place the ball in the cow dung washed front yard of the house and inform them the date of the football festival.In the evening members of the Gutthu families occupy their seats on both sides of the front gopuram. The members of the oil miller family then place the ball and a palm leaf umbrella in the gopuram. Then the person authorized to throw the ball arrives there wearing his headgear. He then offers prayers to the deity in the presence of the members of the Gutthu. Afterwards the members of the Gutthu families go to the 'Sultan Katte' near the football field and wait there. The honorable person authorized to throw the ball then comes to football field with all honours.
He throws the ball and game begins. When the ball reaches either the southern or northern bund of the field the ball is again given to the authorized person to be thrown again. All together the ball is thrown three times. This procedure is repeated for five days. When three games are over the person authorized to throw the ball returns with it to the temple and occupies his seat in the gopuram and some specified persons are offered betal leaves and areca nuts and honoured in the presence of the head of Gutthus. This festival is conducted with great pomp and gaiety. The final football festival of Polali is very famous.
How to reach the temple:
There are frequent busses plying from State bank bus stand (Hampankatta, Mangalore) to B.C.Road via Polali temple. It is 19 K.M. from Mangalore. New visitors for quick transit can catch a service bus from Mangalore up to Kaikamba (via Gurupura) and from Kaikamba another bus service having stop at Polali temple.Postal Corresponding Address of the temple:
Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple Polali,Bantwal Tq.
Dakshina Kannada District,
Karnataka - INDIA
Phone - 91-824-766141
Compiled by: Vishweshwara Rao M. Mangalore
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