Why Koragajja is famous and he is being Worshipped in coastal Karnataka

 One of the most worshipped Daiva throughout Tulunadu (Coastal Karnataka and upper Kerala Region) is koragajja. Anything which is lost, any work to be done or any issue to be solved; first and foremost, people recall this divine Power.

Koraga thaniya is the historical figure and not a mythical creation. Dravidian of Indian worship their ancestors, who did extraordinary things for the greater good to their community. Due to which they were recognized and worshipped by their later descendants, This tradi

Meaning:

Koraga thaniya who is popularly called koragajja. Here "Koraga" is the community name and "Ajja" is usually called for old male elderly citizen in tulu.

Even though he attained divinity during his middle age; people started calling him Ajja because of love and affection towards him. Intellectuals who knows much more about Tulunadu culture like dayananda kattalsar tells us that koragajja is "gyana vraddha" instead of "vayo vraddha" that is why he called as Ajja.

Story:

Koraga thaniya lost his mother Maire when he was of 30 days infant. He even lost his father during his childhood. There was no one to look after him. So, He left his home town and started his journey towards south. Near kallapu; he sits under the tree were hundreds of people were passing by. Due to hunger, he eats white sand as rice, He put Careya arborea (Wild guava) as a coconut. He used to cry sometimes and sometime laugh because of his loneliness.

At that time, Bairakke baidyedi, her daughter Manjakke and her brother Chenniya were passing through this place carrying toddy (kali) in the pot. They observed the behaviour and actions of thaniya and came closer to him. The Child ran away and hid behind fence. Bairakke baidyedi requested the boy to leave the fence and allow them to go. But Koraga thaniya told that, “he doesn't have clothes on his waist, so he doesn't want to leave the fence”.

So, Bairakke baidyedi took off the cloth that was tied to the pot and gave it to Taniya to put on his waist. He tied this cloth to his waist and began crying loudly with sorrow. Bairakke felt compassion on Thaniya, and she started enquiring about him. Thaniya told that “he had lost his parents and even the members of his community; there was no one to look after him. So, He decided to go to the places where there is plenty of work to do and plenty to eat”.

Bairakke baidyedi tells thaniya to come along with her. She even told that “she has 2 children, if in case thaniya goes with them; she will treat him like her third son”. Thaniya agreed to go along with her.

Bairakke Lovingly nourished him like a son. After thaniya 's arrival to their home, the house was filled with money, and their business started to improve. Koraga Thaniya learns the work related to his family. He started to make basket,handmade bamboo stuff, and he used to sell it.

(we can see this during koragajja the kola, the basket is usually hanged on the shoulder of koragajja during kola)

One day, Nema was organized For Marlujumadi, Maisandaya, Kinnikodangade Daivas, which was relating to Bairakke's family. Coconut leaves, tender coconuts and banana plants had been allocated for this event from bairakke’s house. Things were so heavy that, it needs to be lifted by at least 7people. But there were no one to take these things from Ansuru barike.

Bairakke baidyedi requested thaniya to carry them to the temple. Thaniya decided to lift the things alone which was supposed to be lifted by 7 people. But he demanded to serve him a meal of 7 people. (It had toddy, rice and the curry of 30 mackerel fish). Bairakke happily agreed his demand.

After eating, thaniya raised the stuff alone that was supposed to be lifted by seven people. he walked down the yard ; looked back and he began to weep telling Bairakke that. "You have been nourishing me just like my mother, don't expect that the one who went showing his back today might return by showing his stomach."

Bairakke tells that “son, from the day you came with us; we had good fortune. if you do not want to lift those items. Keep it down”

Thaniya replied that “the promise which is given by me will not be taken back, just like that; burden which I lifted will not be kept down”.

He started his journey towards the temple.

Chief of the temple noticed thaniya bringing things from far distance. Later, he orders Thaniya to keep the thing near the temple and told him to stay away from the temple strain.

Thaniya felt bad on this behaviour. He questioned that “things which was brought by me was useful, but not me? Instead, you made me to stand far because I belong to lower community”.

Thaniya’s words were ignored by everyone present there.

Thaniya quietly went and stood near the temple’s strain and started to see up. He noticed the branches with fruit which is used for pickle. He recalled the words told by his mother that; the pickle is empty in the house. Thaniya decided to pluck the fruit.

He climbed and kept his foot on temple’s strain. Still, he was unable to reach the branch so he kept one more foot on temple’s kalasha. The divine inside the temple vanished him in anger. From then thaniya attained divinity.

Later, he was worshipped as koragajja/ neecha Daiva throughout tulunadu.

(The death of Koraga Thaniya is not clear in Pardana. It might be possible that people might have killed him because he went upon temple’s strain adding to it; he belongs to lower community. Or it might be also possible that he might have slipped and fell, while plucking fruit from the branch. Since, Pardana’s are not in written format, people started to modify it depending upon their convenience. Due to this reason his later descendent started to tell that he was vanished from the grace of god.)

One day, Arasu daiva came to sarlapatta(kuthar) and they wanted to occupy their position in that place. Panjanthaya Daiva was worried about this. Because; if in case Arasu Daiva takes their position is sarlapatta the position of Panjanthya Daiva will not remain same. So, he requested koragajja to chase them away from coming to this place. Since, arasu daiva are usually offered vegetarian food. During their entry into the place; koragajja killed cow (kubalthi petha) on their way. Due to which arasu daiva might get impure if they touch it; so, they had to leave that place. Panjanthaya was happy from koragajja strategy. so he blessed that thereafter koragajja will be worshipped in 7 different stones in sarlapatta.