Captured at Kunder Moolsthana, Hejmadi, Udupi. The deity worshiped here is the snake Cobra. According to the Mythology, during the Parushuram yug, the origin of different sects of the same caste/religion was via the birth of the 'Nagdevta' for each sect [like Kunder, Puthran, Amin, Kotian, Karkera etc] and the generations from the original Nagdevta turned into the present human form.
So every year, people from the Udupi and Mangalore districts keep a meet where these "Points of Origin" are honored.
During these meets, there is are many rituals to be followed. Then an elderly priests worships the Deity after which the Deity enters the head priests body[i am a rational thinker, though i do not believe in all these, information should be passed].
The deity loves the buds of the Areca nut plant. So all the devotees see to it they place it in front of the deity.
It takes about 2-3 hours for the whole priest event. By the priest event i mean about the Deity entering and exiting the priest body.
The head priests then talks to the people who organize the meet. Then people who have certain problems come to the Deity and ask for solutions.
Then there is a ritual of donating certain things like rice, coconuts etc which is equal to their body weight.
A 'pooja' is held in the adjacent room where they make a Rangoli of the deity. It's called 'Aslesha Bali'.
The priests then give away the offerings called 'Tanu Tambila' and after all is done the devotees go to the lunch hall.
With the completion of Lunch, the event comes to an end. Though reading is Fun for some, i feel experiencing all this is a totally unique thing :)
PS: This is the 'Kshetra-rakshak' of the Kunder-Moolsthana temple.
