Mr Nathan texted me on 17th January asking if we could meet. The subsequent day, we met and he explained to me about a Saptaswara temple project which he had envisioned. He said that we have to travel to Sagara, which is in Shivamogga district. Little did I expect that the Kshetrapalaka of the land, which we visited would converse with me.
We were seven people travelling in two cars. The car in which I was travelling was driven by Mr Sudhindra, a structural engineer, who was to check the soil for feasibility of the construction. The car ride was smooth. After about seven hours of travel, we reached Sagara. We were told that we will have lunch at Kamat restaurant before proceeding to see the land. Mr Nathan pointed towards the direction of where Kamat hotel was. I couldn’t see any hotel building. After a short walk, we arrived at a shack, which was apparently the Kamat hotel. Food was tasty though! The Kamat’s were two brothers who owned the land.
The Kamats joined us in their car. The land was a ten minute drive from the hotel. The moment I walked into the land, I saw a subtle body who looked like he was wearing a feathered crown and coloured clothes that covered his waist, hips and upto half his thighs. He was seen wherever I went. I did not know who he was. Having watched Kantara and its sequel, the subtle body seemed to be someone like the people who dress up to invoke the deity in them.
The six of us walked the stretch of the land and finally reached a large patch of land where the temple was to be planned for construction. Mr Nathan asked me whether I could check for the energy of the place.
I walked to a shaded place, removed my shoes and closed my eyes in meditation, and soon after, I saw the person again, and this time I came to know from my inner vision that he was the Kshetrapalaka (local guardian of the land). Kshetrapalaka are local versions of vishnu or Lakshmi who are believed to protect the land. They are worshipped in traditional ways. The Kshetrapalaka used the term “Palela Pindi”. I did not know what this meant. I heard this term several times. I opened my eyes and went to the others who had gathered there and narrated what I had heard and whether they had any idea about it.
The Kamats had not heard this term. Then Mr Sudhindra opened the browser on his mobile and typed Palela Pindi, and the information filled the screen. There it was. The dish is made by grounding roasted, popped grains or pulses, blended with jaggery and spices. And the Main Ingredient: Primarily made from Jonna Pelalu (popped Sorghum/Jowar) or sometimes puffed rice/corn. It is primarily an Andhra delicacy, which is also used in the South and North Canara districts.
So, it was decided that the Kamats would offer Palela Pindi to the Kshetrapalaka. I will update after the offering is done.
– Dr Mahesh Krishnamurthy