This ancient Sthanam with certain unique features is situated around 20 kms. to the east of Kasargod town. A handout issued by the Sthanam in 1974 vividly lists its history as under : “Bhagawathi after demolishing Dasigasura leaves Madavu Kavu assuming the forms of Kuja, Chandra and Shukra accompanied by two warrior lieOtenants. After visiting Dharmashastara at ,Chandragiri, they travel to Adoor to visit Shree Mahalingeswara. At the temple entrance they meet Pannikudath Chamundi who was on security duty. When she prevents them from meeting Shree Mahalingeswara, the three shaktis join together in the form of Bhadrakali and defeat her. Then using their bows for support, they reach the presence of Shree Mahalingeswara and request him to provide suitable place in the complex for all five of them. Shree Mahalingeswara expresses his inability to accede to their request and instead suggests that they visit Shree Mahavishnu at Kuntaru who will be able to provide them proper place. These five then proceed as suggested and on the way come across five Bovis who were in the employment of local Ballala King. Getting into the body of one of these Bovis they present themselves before the king by coming into avesha and request him to provide proper place in his kingdom. However, the king fails to recognise their presence and instead orders the Bovi to be tied up and caned. Enraged by this act of defiance, the Shaktis vow to convince him of their presence by next sunrise. Next day morning when the king’s daughter got up, her body was full of small pox boils. Seeing this the king becomes desperate and requests them to show him a way out of this predicament. ‘If you promise to provide a suitable place for all five of us, your daughter will immediately be cured’ was the assurance given. Accordingly, the king assures that whichever places within his kingdom they wish to be established, he will make suitable arrangements.
Thereupon, the princess gets cured of her ailment. The king then assigns his confidant Kanakodu Kapikolan to go with them and select a suitable place. The Shaktis then select a big lake situated near the Adoor Panchalingeswara Temple. On return, the king’s emissary explains to him that it would be humanly impossible to fill this lake and construct necessary structures. But the Shaktis assure the king that they will accomplish this task overnight. Next day morning the entire lake area was, transformed into a level ground and a cow and a tiger were resting there together. Greatly influenced by this unusual sight, the king immediately orders for five stones and five wooden seats to be taken in procession to the site along with the five Shaktis. As advised by the Shaktis and without consulting any shilpis a “Palliyara” at the place where the cow was resting and a “Mada” where the tiger was resting were constructedA.place for the dwelling of the Bovi whom these Shaktis had possessed was also set up and the king left him behind appointing him as the Pujari. Out of the other four Bovis, one became the Karnava of Chandra phagavathi Kaneerath Tharavad at Chandragiri. Other two became Karnavas of Kuja Bhagawathi Kareyappa Kiriya Tharavad and Shukra Bhagawathi Kokkotte Tharavad at Kasargod respectively. The last one assumed charge as Karnava of Beeramar Kenthingare Vairagarath Vadakkarangodi Tharavad at Kavugoli. Bovi community thereupon accepted the kutumba of the Pujari as the number one and the house became Madai Poojari Tharavad. Since the Pujari had to live all alone in the midst of a thick jungle at Adoor, the Shaktis travelling around all these kutumbas in human form order them to regularly visit the Sthanam site and periodically perform certain festivals. When these five Shaktis were established here, the local deity Kuntaru Chamundi too was provided a proper place in the complex. With the speciality of ‘One idol and one seat’ all the three Devi Shaktis, Chandra, Kuja and Shukra are installed in the Garbhagriha. Asurala, Malampuli Chamundi, Mecheri Chamundi, Kallangara Poovala Chamundi and Panjurli find a place just outside the Garbhagriha.
Separate Sthanams for Beeramar, Vishnumoorthi and Kuntara Chamundi are also built.” This description certainly contains extraordinary prowess of these Daivishaktis. Conglomeration of so many deities here suggests that there might have been unification of various cultural beliefs here. The Kuja Bhagawathi mentioned here is Uchholi Kadavu Bhagawathi, Chandra is Punyakkal Bhagawathi and Shukra is Aamuttr Bhagawathi. These names, however, vary from place to place. In this Sthanam there is only one Panchaloha idol in which all the three Shaktis dwell. In the four hands of the idol, Pallibal, Gurani, Akshayapatra and a mirror are held. During Navaratri special puja is held here on all the nine days. Reciting Devi Mahatme is also being done during this occasion. This is a speciality of this Sthanam and not in practice in any of the other Sthanams of Moyar. ‘Tula Puthari’ festival is also being held here. Once in a few years Nadavali is being held. Every year in the month of Meena, Bhagawathis go in procession to meet the Lord at Panchalingeswara Temple at nearby Mallapura. Many years back Kaliyata Mahotsava was held here. Since the ground around the Sthanams is not supposed to be dug up, there are no stones put up to hold the flag post. According to legend, as this area was a lake and was filled up to construct the Sthanams, digging is prohibited. There is only a couple of houses around this complex. All other houses with Moya dwelling are situated in and around Kasargod. Even the Bhandaramane is at Kasargod. At Adoor we find a special memorial built in honour of a Pujari of exceptional talent and quality. This samadhi built at an elevated place near the complex is in memory of that famous personality late Subba Poojary. On festival days special prayers are offered at this samadhi. This is a unique feature not found in any other Sthanam. Late Subba Poojary was a man of exceptional qualities. He was knowing Sanskrit and had thorough knowledge of the scriptures. He was known for suggesting suitable solutions for any religious problems. His views had great respect in meetings and discourses. Besides, he was well known in the field of Yakshagana as well. Besides being a well known Arthadhari he was a teacher in this field too. His towering personality had raised the status of Adoor Sthanam to great heights.
Image Source :MBSS
Contents Source : Bhagavathi Aradhane (Dr. Amritha Someshwar) & MBSS
