Jangaon: Devotional frenzy marks Vana Kondaiah Jatara

Jangaon: The Pottigutta Thanda, the otherwise sleepy village that nestled at the foot of the Vana Kondaiah hillock, has come to life on Monday with a large number of devotee congregations chanting 'Govinda-Govinda' offering obeisance to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.

The annual Brahmotsavams of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, which commence on Holi festival, extends till Ugadi, the Telugu New Year. It's an indigenous jatara with people, especially from the erstwhile Warangal and Nalgonda districts converging at Vana Kondaiah hillock near Kadavendi under Devaruppula mandal, 30 kilometers from Jangaon district headquarters, with pomp and gaiety.

The Brahmotsavam has a fascinating tradition. The festivity begins with priests offering silk robes made of handlooms to the presiding deities.

The devotees join the procession as the Padmashali community members belonging to Kadavendi village weaving a piece of cloth on a maggam (handloom) placing it on a bullock-cart. This practice is to ensure fresh cloths for the Lord.

Speaking to The Hans India, the temple priest B Sampath Kumaracharyulu said: "With the help of philanthropists, we were able to provide some amenities for the comfort of devotees.

Five years ago, an arch was constructed at the foot of the hillock with the assistance provided by the sons of erstwhile temple development committee member Nalla Mallaiah in remembrance of their father." The stairway was constructed with the help of Anil Kumar Joshi Guruji of Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Minister for Panchayat Raj Errabelli Dayakar Rao, who trekked the hillock to offer prayers to the Lord on Monday, assured of allocating Rs 20 lakh for the temple development.

According to local lore, nearly 150 years ago, Vana Kondaiah, a cattleman of Madhapuram village, used to visit the hillock regularly. One day, he stumbled upon Lord Narasimha Swamy consuming milk from a bovine on the hillock.

The Lord told him not to reveal it to anyone. Further, the deity cursed the cattleman of dying if he reveals it to others. A few days later, Vana Kondaiah died after he had revealed what he had seen on the hillock to his neighbours.

Following which, the locals named the hillock after Vana Kondaiah. Since then it has become a practice for the locals to organise Brahmotsavams beginning with Holi to Ugadi to appease the Lord Narasimha Swamy.