Shivamogga: Curative rituals begin after elephant incident during Dasara celebrations
Priests have started performing homas and havanas at two temples following an incident where a howdah elephant ran amok.
A series of curative rituals organised by the Shivamogga City Corporation began on November 3 at the Kote Seetharamanjaneya Swamy temple and the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple. According to The Hindu, these rituals follow an incident during the Dasara procession on October 21.
During the procession, the elephant Somanna, which was carrying the howdah with the idol of Chamundeshwari, turned back on the path and ran helter-skelter. While a portion of the howdah and some vehicles were damaged, no casualties were reported.
Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple priest Shankarananda Jois said that the Deputy Commissioner wrote to the Endowment Department for suggestions following requests from the public. Jois added that they met the seer of the Sringeri Mutt and consulted religious texts to find remedies to prevent such incidents from recurring.
On the first day, Mahasankalpa, Vishwaksena Puja, and Navagraha Puja were held at the Kote Seetharamanjaneya temple. Rituals at the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple included Mahaganapati Puja, Mahasankalpa, Punyahavachana, Ritvigvarana, Kushmanda Prayashchitta Homa, and Shannarikela Ashta Dravya Mahaganapati Homa.
Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa and City Corporation Commissioner Mayanna Gowda participated in the morning mahasankalpa. The priest stated that the homas and havanas will continue until November 7.