Adka Bhagavathi Kshetra also known as Someshwara Bhagavathi Temple or Adka Guthyama Temple is one among the 11 Holy shrines belonging to the Moyar Community. This holy Temple is along the NH66 National highway, located 12km south of Mangalore City and also accessible at a walkable distance from Ullal railway station. Adka temple with its history of over 500 years holds its place in the hearts of local people, and worshippers gather in large numbers to attend the spectacular Annual event. This event and also the rituals in the temple showcase the unique blend of culture belonging to the Malayalam speaking Tulunadu Community.
Historical proofs associated with the temple are often very difficult to trace unless these are captured and preserved by our ancestors in some written form like scriptures. Even if these scriptures are not available, over the period of time these are embodied in the rituals of the temple.
Sadly the history of Adka Bhagavathi Temple has faded over the period of time, what remains are the stories mentioned about the temple in some existing scriptures and art forms. The much famous and the nearby temple Someshwara Somanath Temple holds an historical link with Adka Bhagavathi Temple, still eminent in their festival rituals, but here too we have no historical evidence maintained. The most prominent example of this connection is the Pancha Durga Linga, of the fourteen good and goddess worshipped in Adka Bhagavathi temple Five Goddess is worshipped in their Linga form as “Pancha Durga Linga “in Someshwara Somanath Temple.
So the story says on the arrival of Bhagavathi Goddess on the shores of Someshwara; the Goddess (Bhagavathis’s of Adka) were travelling on their Boat Named “The Manikya”, seeing the Someshwara Somanath Temple, the goddess docked their boat and started their climb towards the West gate of the temple. Upon witnessing the beauty of the Temple and its surrounding the Goddess wished to abode at Adka. They expressed their wish to Lord Somanatheshwara, but the Lord declined. Saddened and angered to see their wish been declined by God Somanatheshwara, goddess Bhagavathis’s turned in to their Fierce form , unable to confront the anger of the Goddess the Lord Somanatheshwara decided to please and negotiate terms with the Bhagavathi Goddess. Denoting his hand signs Lord Somanatheshwara agreed to please the Goddess and instructed that the Bhagavathis’s will be worshipped in the form of “Pancha Durga Linga” in the Somanatheshwara Temple and “Naivedya” (Ghee Prasad) be offered to their worship. Bhagavathi Goddess were not satisfied with the offer and wanted Lord Somanatheshwara to please them with word of mouth, upon which God Somanatheshwara had to speak and Lord bestowed a place outside his doors as a place for the Bhagavathi to reside.
Over the period, Adka Bhagavathi Kshetra was built and became the Place of wordship of Bhagavathis’s. The Local Moyar Community (Fishing Community) administered the Adka temple and organized the annual Festival. It is during this annual festival the Goddess Bhagavathi are taken in procession to Somanatheshwara temple, a ritual followed even to this date.
Another story about the temple coming in to existence is about twin sisters “Kody” and “Biru”, both were devotee of Bhagavathi goddess. Sisters belonged to the “Belmath Moyar“(A sub Community within the Moyar Community) were on their visit to the annual Bhagavathi Festival organised at Udyawara (Bhagavathi Temple Located in north of Kasaragod). Distraught after been unable to offer prayer as they wished and also unhappy with the reception they received at the Udyawara temple the sisters prayed to Bhagavathi for a temple in Adka. Seeing the ardent devotion of the sisters the Bhagavathi decide to abode at Adka. Even in today’s date the sacred ornament belonging to Kody” and “Biru” are preserved and are part of ritual at Adka Temple. Initially in Adka, and there were no idols of Bhagavathi goddess for worship, they offered worship to Bhagavathi through community prayers and rituals. Later on, one of the Priest (Poojary) belonging of Belmath Moyar, on his visit to the Udyawara Bhagavathi Kshetra , carried back the Idol of Bhagavathi Goddess back to Adka. This lead to whole lot of controversies and infight in the Moyar Community, and there on till todays date the Priest’s (Poojary) of Belmath Moyar Community are banned from participating in the rituals at Udyawara Bhagavathi Kshetra.
The idol brought from Udyawara Bhagavathi Kshetra was that that of a powerful Bhagavathi, in the year 1875 other Bhagavathi god idols were placed for worship in the temple. As time progressed the worshippers were not limited just to the Belmath Moyar Family, entire Moyar Community joined hands in the Worship, rituals and Celebration at Adka Bhagavathi Kshetra. For all the rituals and celebration the Head Priest position is occupied by the member of Belmath Moyar Community.
Image Source :MBSS
Contents Source : Bhagavathi Aradhane (Dr. Amritha Someshwar) & MBSS
