This Kshetra situated near the bus station of Vittala Town (Dakshina Kannada District) is also known as “Arekana Guthyamma Sthana”. In the complex the Bhandara Sthana and Annappa Panjurli Sthana are at a lower place than that of the main Sthana and Veeramara Sthana . Close by we can also find the famous Bakimaru field of the Vittala palace. Legend has it that the sound of the bells and blowing of the conch at the Sthana would be clearly heard at the palace which stands a little farther than the Sthana. Inside the Bhandara Sthana, we can find an idol made of metal and some weapons placed on a wooden stool. The idol signifies the presence of three Bhagawathis. Annappa Panjurli being one of the important deities worshipped here, a separate Sthana has been built for this deity. A metallic idol of this deity along with another one of Dharma Daiva are kept inside this Sthana. We also understand that there is a very well established relationship between this Sthana and the Vittala palace. Once upon a time, a few Moyas who were in service at the Vittala palace, went to Adooru to witness the Nadavali Utsava at that Bhagwathi Kshetra. They felt belittled at not being treated properly. On the way back, they reached a place called Apperi Pade. At this juncture, one amongst them got possessed by Bhagawathi and his body started shaking. Straightaway he rushed to the nearby Panchalingeshwara Temple followed by the rest. From there, they rushed to the palace to meet the king. Shri Bhagawathis revealed their presence to the king and requested him to provide a suitable place nearby for building a Sthanam for them.
The king initially did not respond favourably to this request. Subsequently, however, he said that if the Bhagawathis can stop the menace being caused by a wild boar to the Bakimaru field, he will provide the needed place. The legend further states that an elderly gentleman belonging to the Erodimoya Kutumba who was in service with the Dharmasthala temple, while returning to his native place, loses his way on a dark night. He prays to Panjurli to show him the way. Thereafter Panjurli in the form of a lighted torch appears before him and guides him to Vittala. The Panjurli thus reaches Vittala. There he assumes the form of a wild boar at night and in order to make his presence felt, starts causing damage to the Bakimaru field. Since nobody could stop this, the king was desperate. The Bhagawathis ask Veeramar Daiva to stop this menace. Veeramar aim their arrow at the boar and injures the same. When the Bhagawathis tried to console the injured boar, Annappa Panjurli reveals himself. Thus when the king comes to know of this, he allots appropriate plot of land for building the necessary Sthanas for Bhagawathis and Annappa Panjurli as well. He also extends financial help to build these Sthanams. Initially, there were about sixty houses at Vittala where Moyas were dwelling. Gradually it started getting reduced and even the property allotted to them by the king was taken away by others.
This dwindling of Moya population lead to the deterioration of the Daivasthana complex as well. Only recently. after much efforts, the Bhandara Sthana was renovated and in 1997 the main Sthanam too was reconstructed. Presently, there are no Achchamar like poojary, daivapathri or karnavas at Vittala. But the regular poojas are being performed by Brahmin archakas. Many changes in the rituals have been effected to suit this changed condition. Festivals like Navarathri, Deepavali, Sankranti are being celebrated here. To a very great extent, this Sthana has been converted from a Daivasthana into a Devasthana. It is also said that during the regime of Tippu Sultan once when his army raided the town, the people at the palace threw all their precious belongings like jewellery, gold coins, etc. into a wellend after putting fire to the palace, fled to live in hiding somewhere at Kalanjemale. During that raid, the gold jewellery etc. belonging to the Daivasthana were hidden in a pit. It is believed that these are still existing in this pit-but cannot be retrieved as deadly snakes guard their, During festivals, the Bhagawathies used to visit Apperi Pade and Panchalingeshwara temple as well as Vittala palace in procession. No Nadavali Utsav was held here since many decades.
Image Source :MBSS
Contents Source : Bhagavathi Aradhane (Dr. Amritha Someshwar) & MBSS
