Hari Kumar’s Daiva:the known and the unknown
A few years ago, when the calling came to me, I chose to plunge into the world of the unknown, the world of magical reality. There were close relatives and friends who sniggered when they heard of my experiences. Having probably published the first thesis on Pattanaik’s works and his understanding of the world of the unknown, it often made me wonder how people could quote Pattanaik and accept his writings, while real experiences and intentions of mine were misconstrued. The sacred realm of the spirits and deities was unfolded by Rishab Shetty to a certain extent through his movie, ‘Kantara’; but what happens to all those varied experiences of many in this enigmatic world of the daivas of Tulu Nadu? What happens to those who choose to be silent about it and work their ways around this sacred realm, those who cannot pen these emotions down on paper but delve deeper into folklore and mythology to seek answers? The ‘urban mind’, which claims rational thought, supercedes the rural thinking. It scorns the presence of deities and spirits in the world; while ironically you see the same urban mind, using Astro apps and consulting various online prediction links to take a peek at their future. This attitude has been well summarised by Hari Kumar, the author of “Daiva: Discovering the Extraordinary World of Spirit Worship.”
Circumstances sometimes turn believers into non-believers and non-believers into staunch believers….Not even the most commercial spiritual leader can give you the right answer without hiding behind the veil of faith. But what impresses me most about Daiva Aradhane is the fact that people, whether working in air-conditioned cubicles in top tech companies or hustling in the humid lanes of faraway cities, every year, thousands of them flock to their native places in Tulu Nadu to witness traditional jaatre, aarat, kola, nema, etc. Such traditions have kept the otherwise divided society bound by the ethereal thread of faith (23).
Recommended by a good friend and well-wisher, I got hold of this book, and once I started reading it, it brought in a different experience altogether. Amazing research and thoughtful sequencing and writing by Hari Kumar, the author of the book. The first part of the book takes the reader through the land of the Tuluvas, their various forms of worship, the rituals and processes, and the search for the ‘Satyolu’ apart from his experiences. The second part of the book explores stories of the ‘Satyolu’ studying each Daiva, the aspect of worshipping them, the steps and the attire that go into the making of the ‘Kola’, the ritualistic dance performances, and the folktales that surround the mystic world of the spirits. As one flips through the pages of the book, the book engrosses the mind with the author, experiencing his life as one of our own, relating to certain experiences in my own life, and dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions that we carried with us all along, finding answers to some of the questions that remained unanswered….
Good read this one!
