Rituals at the Kshetra
It is said that during the ancient times, Bhootakola would take place all through the year except for the season of ‘aati’. However, that extent of grandeur was lost with time, and contemporarily only performed during the ‘sona’ period of the year. The shrines that are shut down during the former season are opened again during the beginning of ‘sona’ and the deities are acknowledged with a burning lamp every first Tuesday of the season.
Next comes the puddarda kola, which is an equivalent to a harvest festival conducted at the Thodar Guttu. The deity of Shri Kshetra Gopinatha Kodamanithaya of Marur is delivered material acknowledges as a sign of respect at this point. Also, the palace of Hosangadi is approached personally, invited to the upcoming ceremony whose date will be decided by the authorities of the palace itself. They also decided upon the date for the annual ceremony at the same time.
The annual ceremony of the Thodar temple takes place during the Perarde month, which is from 15 December to 14 January. 25 days before the ceremony, senior individuals of the village come together to form a committee that shall overlook the proceedings. Once this committee is formed, there shall be no other auspicious ceremony within the village until this annual event is completed.
On the previous day of the ceremony, a bhootakola ritual takes place at Gaaligudda, where the auspicious beginning of the entire event is marked. This proceeding is known as Chappara Seve.
The next day, in the presence of authorities from the Hosangadi palace, seniors of the village pose questions to the deity that grants them permission to proceed after certain rituals are completed. Then comes the flag hoisting, after which the procession of the deity starts from Thodar Guttu and reaches the daivasthaana. Here, the members of the Balipa family are given due respects, known as arasara maryade or royal respects.
All the land over which these proceedings take place once belonged to the Marakada community. Hence, this community has been ever since performing the rituals of Bhootaradhane and is also considered with great regard in the society. As the deity of Kodamanithaya had declared it true that he is the God as well as the guarding spirit of the area, rituals adhering to both institutions take place at the ceremony. All responsibilities shouldered by respective communities of the village have been accomplished well ever since the inception of the temple. The deity that has ensured all this balance and much more for the population of Thodar is again all set to be adorned with a grand ceremony for himself and the accompanying deities of Bramha Baidarkala. Kodamanithaya is indeed the light that shines across Thodar and beyond, making the village an ideal for all else.