By John B Monteiro
Karkala, Jan 25: Kantavara Temple, located 15 km from Karkala, which celebrated its annual Rathossava (Car Festival) on January 24, 2022, has many unique features. Once it was a remote spot which could only be reached on foot. Now there are road connections. One can reach it through the Belve Road, south of Karkala. Another approach is Karkala–Belmanu Road, branching at Manjara Palke and driving southwards and crossing Bola, Beladi villages. Kantavara is no more a dot on the district or taluk maps but a developed centre.
Kantavara Temple is situated on a high plateau surrounded by valleys of verdant green fields and forests, and affords a panoramic view extending up to the Western Ghat ranges. This plateau, rising high above the villages of the region, has been variously described as Thrembaka Parvatha, Ambarisha Bettu and Ambala Padav. It is surrounded by Sanur, Belve, Palladka, Kadandale, Bola and Nitte villages. From the lofty height of the temple ground one can observe movement in the surrounding areas.
Because of this, it is speculated that the Kantavara Temple Kshetra could, in the past, have been a natural military station, without having to construct protective or defensive fort or moat. Explaining this, Dr P N Narasimha Murthy, in his “Kantavar – A Study” says that in ages gone by defensive positions were not confined to capitals of kingdoms, but extended elsewhere to protect the subjects of the realm as well. Some places provided a natural defensive environment. Such places, at high elevations, provided look-out points for enemy movements and strategic ground for offensive and defensive action. Dr. Murthy concludes that Kantavara could have provided such a setting for a military station.
That is one part of the story of Kantavara. The other part is the origin and the status of Kantavara Temple. Many stone sculptures found in the vicinity and elsewhere in the district, elaborately cited by Dr. Murthy, place the origin of Kantavara Temple at about 10th century AD. Thrembaka is another name for Lord Shiva and the name Ambarisha Bettu may have come from the seer of that name having worshipped Shiva there.
The popular name of this place now is Kantavara and inscriptions dating back to 14th century AD have reference to this name. There are two traditional or folklore accounts about the origin of Kantavara Temple – though there is no basis in any Puranas. According to one version, a demon had two sons by name of Avystitasura and Pipilikasura. They were troubling people including the sages. One who suffered from their misdeeds was a sage called Ambarish. To overcome their rampage, Ambarish resorted to tapasya seated on a high mountain – later to be called after him. Responding to his prayers, Shiva destroyed the two demon brothers. As per the sage’s request, he was granted a Shivalinga and its installation and worship commenced. This is the origin of Kantavara Temple.
According to the second version, Koragas used to reside in the thick forests surrounding the present Kanavara Temple plateau and used to live on forest products. Once when a Koraga woman was collecting firewood her sickle stuck a stone. At once blood spurted out of the stone. She screamed “O Maga Kanta”. The incident reached the villagers who rushed to the spot only to find a Shivalinga. They built a temple and started various rituals. During the annual car festival, the Koraga leaders come and declare:“Let the car festival commence”. It was said that if this practice was not observed, the Ratha would not move even an inch.
There is a sub-text to this version. According to one account, a voice from an unseen source said: “Your son has integrated with me. I am Kanteshwara. Tell the Ballals of (Baradi) Beedu to establish and maintain this Kshetra”. Having heard this from the Koraga woman involved in the forest incidence, the Ballals of Baradi Beedu came to the spot and constructed the temple
How the Ballals of Baradi Beedu have managed the temple over the centuries is another story for another time. The present trusty and administrator of the temple is Dr Jeevandhar Ballal of Mangaluru’s Vijaya Clinic fame.
Postscript: This article was originally written decades ago and published in an English daily which survives no more. Dr Jeevandhar Ballal, noted in the previous para, had invited me, escorted, played host and guide on my visit to Baradi Beedu (also involved in kambalas, and the temple affairs). I am happy to read his name in the brief Kannada media coverage of the latest Kanthawara Temple Rathossava – though he is much older than me.