How Christian Village becomes  a Hindu Village    

Sri Saidatta Manasa Swamiji went to a village in Agency to do Prana Pratishta in 2020. On that day he went around some nearby villages. One of the villages he visited was NAGARAMPALEM. When he approached the village, he found one Church at the entrance of the village.  As he kept walking, he also saw two more churches  - one in the center of the village and the other at the end of the village. Thirty five (35) families live in the village. All of them were converted to Christianity. As he kept going around, he was feeling some vibrations. Then he felt possessed by the Goddess and talked loudly to the people around him that they are facing so many problems in the village because they neglected their Ishtadevata / Grama Devata and failed to worship her for their welfare, health, and  progress. Swamiji was possessed / entranced  by some divinity and fell unconscious on the ground. They brought water and sprinkled it on him. Then he got up. In that trance, Swamiji said that he is Poleramma for this village. They have neglected the Grama Devata. They used to worship her, and she used to protect them. Then the Christians came along and converted them with some incentives. Then men started drinking creating many family problems. Swamiji in that trance stage said that they should worship Poleramma to resolve some of these problems. The villagers were following Swamiji out of respect for the last one year and asked him where Poleramma can be found in the village so that they can resume their dharma of worshipping. Many elderly people remember the promises they made at the time to Poleramma. He reminded them about the promises made at the time were not fulfilled. Now they agreed and for the last year they are worshipping.

                 Swamiji said that the only way to get rid of their problems is to worship the Devi as promised by their elders and also the present generation.  The villagers asked Swamiji where to find Grama Devata. He pointed to a nearby NEEM TREE and said that they should consider this tree as Devi and do the worship services. For the last one year they started worshipping the tree applying turmeric and kumkum and tying clothes and threads for her blessings. We can see how they are worshipping the Neem Tree, how they decorated and how they offered prasadam.

Grama Devata – Who are they and what is their Significance?

Grama Devata means Village Deity, it is specific to that village. It is supposed to guard the village from evil spirits. They are supposed to protect the villagers from any impending dangers by preventing evil forces or evil spirits entering the village. In Valmiki Ramayana we learn that Hanuman flew to Lanka by crossing the ocean to find Sita who had kidnapped Ravana. But Lanka is guarded by Lankalakshmi who is the city’s guardian deity. She blocked Hanuman from entering the city. Hanuman entered the city by striking a blow to the deity.

               These Grama Devatas are usually located at the entrance of a village or the gate of a big city or empire. They are usually female deities who are invoked by the prayers. People seek their blessing when they plan to travel to other places, or when they have special celebrations in their houses. In earlier days when the economy was based on agriculture, they used to worship different manifestations of Panchabhutas and the king of crops they grow.    Grama Devata's names reflect the crops, trees, and water the villagers depend on. If their main crop is Gongura, they may call the gram devata as Gogulamma, if they depend on jonnalu (sorghum), they may call her Jonnalamma. If water was important for continued water supply, they may call her Gangamma. In honor of the natural elements, they may worship Suramma (symbolizing Sun God) or Irukulamma (symbolizes sun and moon). Nagulamma to prevent unexpected snake bits. Like this Grama Devatas have their history as to why they named the Grama Devatas the way they selected the names.

               Madhavi and Bhagyasri (2021) studied the prevalence of Grama Devatas and concluded that “the grama -devatas are regarded as a more powerful help in trouble and are more intimately concerned with the happiness and prosperity of the villagers. The normal function of a Grama – Devata is guardianship of the village, but they are also believed to ward off disease and calamity.”

               The villagers usually celebrate Grama Devata in a particular month each year on a large scale. During this time nearby villagers are also invited. Activities like animal sacrifices, drum beats, dances, precessions, body decorations and singing are common.

NEEM TREE

For immemorial, Hindus have been worshipping nature and treat it as embodiment of divinity. Trees, plants, flowers, leaves, and fruits have been considered as sacred and worshipped or used to worship the divinity in these elements.  Tree worship continues to be prevalent even in modern days because of their nature and qualities and their association to different Gods and Goddesses

Neem Tree (margosa tree, vepa chettu, veppa maram, etc.) is connected with the goddess Sithalamma (small fox deity), and snake worship. Neem tree leaves are eaten by mixing with pepper, sugar to ward off sickness. In some parts of India, the neem tree is thought to be a goddess named Neemari Devi. The famous deities in Puri Jagannath Temple are made from Neem tree. In one of the myths, the Sun God Surya is said to have sought refuge from demons in a neem tree. Thus, it is believed that anyone who plants three neem trees lives after death in Surya Lok (Sun World) for three epochs and never goes to hell. It is considered as “sarva roga nivarini” – the healer of all ailments.

NEW TEMPLE PLANNED – DONATIONS APPRECIATED

               Now they built a small shed and installed Poleramma Vigraham next to the Neem Tree and doing bhajans and worshipping and offering food.  Swamiji promised that we will raise some funds to build a small prayer hall with six pillars, a floor, and a roof.

               It is estimated to cost about 3 lakhs. Donations are accepted.

We would appreciate your donation to continue annadanam to the needy, poor, Archakas/Priests in Villages.

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