Puttur, July 30, 2025: In a significant move to bolster the spiritual experience of its devotees, Puttur Mahatobhara Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple, launched two new sacred services on Nagara Panchami, July 29, 2025. The ancient temple, under the stewardship of its tantri and with the support of the local MLA, introduced the rituals of ghee lamp lighting and pure kumkum offering. These ceremonies are intended to deepen the faithful's communion with the divine and facilitate the fulfillment of their devout aspirations. The initiative was spearheaded by the temple management committee, with President Eshwara Bhat Panjigudde at the helm, and is anticipated to enrich the sanctity and allure of this revered religious site.
Sacred Beginnings on Nagara Panchami
The day kicked off with auspicious ceremonies at the Moola Naga and Vasuki Naga temples, where special abhishekas and poojas drew a large crowd of devotees. The sacred rituals involved tambila service at the Moola Naga shrine and panchamrutha abhisheka at the Vasuki Naga shrine. Later in the day, the esteemed Ashlesha Bali pooja took place. An impressive turnout of over 6,000 devotees enjoyed the blessed annaprasada by midday, highlighting the significant participation in these religious observances.
Ghee Lamp and Kumkum Seva Launch
Post the customary morning pooja, Eshwara Bhat Panjigudde initiated a pious service by lighting the ceremonial first ghee lamp, signaling the commencement of a revered tradition. The venerated Chief Priests, Vedamoorthy Vasantha Kedilaya and V.S. Bhat, conducted the opening prayers. At the esteemed Shri Durga shrine, a generous offering of 1 kilogram of unadulterated kumkum, procured from the renowned Shri Ramachandrapura Matha, was presented to the divine deity. Notable figures such as Dr. Prasanna Hebbar and P.G. Jaganivasa Rao, along with members of the temple committee, namely Vinaya Suvarna and Subhash Rai Bellippadi, attended and honored this auspicious event.
Devotees’ Role in the Seva
Devotees can now engage in the spiritual practice by acquiring a special receipt from the temple's dedicated counter. The ghee lamp station, situated on the left of the Satyadharma Nadeya, enables worshipers to light meticulously prepared lamps and present their prayers. The pure kumkum, which is favored for its divine purity over chemical substitutes, is provided for the devotees to offer during the ritual. The temple's Chief Priest, Vedamoorthy Vasantha Kedilaya, underscored the supremacy of the ghee lamp service, asserting its promise of bestowing wealth, health, and spiritual satisfaction according to ancient sacred texts.
Spiritual Significance of the Seva
“Lighting a ghee lamp before Lord Shiva is of paramount importance, akin to presenting bilva leaves to the deity," asserted Vedamoorthy V.S. Bhat in a recent interview. According to him, this ritual not only dispels negative vibrations but also fulfills the aspirations of the devotees and amplifies the divine presence. Echoing the sentiment, Eshwara Bhat Panjigudde stated, “These spiritual services are designed to confer divine grace upon humanity, which aligns with our temple’s storied tradition of nurturing spiritual advancement."
This addition to the temple's religious practices is set to enrich the spiritual experience and is anticipated to attract a multitude of devotees to Puttur during the Nagara Panchami festivities. The unveiling of these new sevas underscores the religious institution's dedication to diversifying its spiritual offerings.
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