Series 1: Kapu da Appe — “The Road”

And so we call her Kapudappe……

And a spirit leads them all through the sleep of night as they cross her home when the winds are blowing low and the stars are lost in the darkness of the night, my mother would say. That was the time for Maari appe to take her nightly walk through the roads with jasmine in her hair. The wandering air in the areas around would smell faint of the fresh jasmines from her hair and her delicate anklets, and their jingle faded into the night’s silence. People driving their trucks at night would dare not drive past her, let alone stop by the silent sides of the road.

The entire space around her dwelling and beyond would be quiet. And for those who dared to stop by, the fragrance of the jasmine would make them grow pale, and their lips would go dry. The rhythmic jingle matched the steps she would take. If turned around and seen by some, they would see a fading silhouette of a woman passing by. For the ones who folded their hands in obeisance, uttered a silent prayer to her to guard them, and moved on, there would be blessings, and their journey ahead would be safe.

But for those who dared to follow her or stopped by and stared at her with devious eyes, the end was around the corner. For ages, this mystery of sudden deaths and fatal truck and other vehicle accidents resulted in limited vehicle movements in the area in the dead of night. People often mentioned how they saw a lit torch movement on the nights when the maripooja was over.
Is this appearance of hers a way of her visiting the human world, driving across the message of protection for women from evil predators, of her way of ensuring that she is on guard as the name of her territory goes? Kapu….implying ‘guard’. Myth has it that she was the protector goddess to whom the kings, emperors, and soldiers alike prayed for protection during battles; the battles continue in the present world, but take a different form and template as we fight evil and face challenges in life.

Our devotion and strengthening of the devotion of the goddess Maari continue. We watch truck drivers of distant lands, buses, and cars stop by her dwelling, make offerings, and ask for protection in return for the day. Some may brush it aside as the presence of something unnatural and talk about why these deities frighten us. But then, for those who experience it and see the scattered jasmines, relive the fragrance, and watch the goddess walk away, the much-feared and revered Kapudappe…

I arise from dreams of thee.In the first sweet sleep of night, When the winds are breathing low, And the stars are shining bright: I arise from dreams of thee, And a spirit in my feet Hath led me — who knows how? To thy chamber window, Sweet!

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

Her dwelling, the devasthana, may have been moved to a better place where larger numbers can flock to seek her protection. Just as we make offerings to rebuild our homes and create more space, our mother needs us to build her new home. The Appe calls us all to come forward and experience her presence in our lives as we together create a new history of her existence.

Note:
The renovation work is at speed of the temple, if you would like to donate please access the link: https://www.srihosamarigudikaup.org/contact-us/