Jumadi
Encyclopedia
Jumadi, also known as Dhumavathi, is a deity worshiped particularly in the Tulu Nadu
region of Karnataka
and Kerala
in India. Shrines dedicated to Jumadi can be found all over Tulu Nadu and Kerala.
and his consort Parvati
to descended from mount Kailasa to vanquish the demon. On their way, Parvati felt uncontrollably hungry. Shiva tried to satisfy her through various means but she could not be satisfied. At last, Shiva told Parvati to eat him to satisfy her hunger. Goddess Parvati tried to swallow Shiva, but Shiva would not go beyond her throat. At that moment Shiva and Parvati merged together and were transformed into Jumadi, a male-female form. Jumadi had the face of a man and the part below the throat was that of a woman. In the throat of Jumadi was the sacred lingam
and Jumadi wore a crown of nagas (snakes). Jumadi vanquished Dhumasura and thus became known as Dhumavathi – "the vanquisher of Dhumasura". Later, Jumadi took various other forms to vanquish other of Dhumasura's demon associates.
Jumadi is considered a rajan-daiva (kingly spirit) and hence many members of the Bunt community
have Jumadi as their family deity. Jumadi is worshiped by the people of Tulu Nadu irrespective of caste. In some shrines, Jumadi is offered only Satvikka
offerings: fruits, milk and other vegetarian foods. In other shrines, Jumadi is offered the blood of a rooster
who represents Dhumasura. Later, the rooster is eaten by the devotees as Prasad
, or given to the pambadas – the spirit impersonators.
Tulu Nadu
Tulu Nadu is a Tulu-speaking region spread over to parts of present Karnataka and Kerala States of India. It consists of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the northern parts of the Kasaragod district of Kerala up to the Payaswini River...
region of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in India. Shrines dedicated to Jumadi can be found all over Tulu Nadu and Kerala.
Legend
It is believed that there was great a demon, Dhumasura, who use to eat human beings. He had caused entire civilizations to vanish. He had a boon whereby he could be killed only by a person who was a man and a woman at the same time. Devotees prayed for Lord ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and his consort Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
to descended from mount Kailasa to vanquish the demon. On their way, Parvati felt uncontrollably hungry. Shiva tried to satisfy her through various means but she could not be satisfied. At last, Shiva told Parvati to eat him to satisfy her hunger. Goddess Parvati tried to swallow Shiva, but Shiva would not go beyond her throat. At that moment Shiva and Parvati merged together and were transformed into Jumadi, a male-female form. Jumadi had the face of a man and the part below the throat was that of a woman. In the throat of Jumadi was the sacred lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
and Jumadi wore a crown of nagas (snakes). Jumadi vanquished Dhumasura and thus became known as Dhumavathi – "the vanquisher of Dhumasura". Later, Jumadi took various other forms to vanquish other of Dhumasura's demon associates.
Worship
Jumadi is worshiped by various names like "Marlu Jumadi", "Kantaru Jumadi", "Sarala Jumadi", "Maley Jumadi and "Panch Jumadi", in honour of the various forms Jumadi took to vanquish all the demons. The first person to worship this form of Shiva and Parvati became the bunta spirit, who is also worshipped along with Jumadi. The worship of Jumadi is considered incomplete without worshipping the bunta spirit. One of the major shrines of Jumadi is in Padre.Jumadi is considered a rajan-daiva (kingly spirit) and hence many members of the Bunt community
Bunt (community)
Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...
have Jumadi as their family deity. Jumadi is worshiped by the people of Tulu Nadu irrespective of caste. In some shrines, Jumadi is offered only Satvikka
Sattva
In Hindu philosophy, sattva is the most rarefied of the three gunas in Samkhya, sāttvika "pure", rājasika "dim", and tāmasika "dark". Importantly, no value judgement is entailed as all guna are indivisible and mutually qualifying...
offerings: fruits, milk and other vegetarian foods. In other shrines, Jumadi is offered the blood of a rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
who represents Dhumasura. Later, the rooster is eaten by the devotees as Prasad
Prasad
Prasād is a mental condition of generosity, as well as a material substance that is first offered to a deity and then consumed...
, or given to the pambadas – the spirit impersonators.
See also
- Ardhanarishvara
- Bhuta Kola
- BuntsBunt (community)Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...
- DhumavatiDhumavatiDhumavati is one of the Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses. Dhumavati represents the fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother. She is often portrayed as an old, ugly widow, and is associated with things considered inauspicious and unattractive in Hinduism, such as the crow and...
, a Tantric form of Parvati where she is described to have eaten Shiva - NagaradhaneNagaradhaneNagaradhane is a form of snake worship which, along with Bhuta Kola, is one of the unique traditions prevalent in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada , Udupi and Kasaragod alternatively known as Tulu Nadu- Origin of Nagaradhane :...
- TheyyamTheyyamTheyyam or Theyyattam or Thira is a popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala state, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area Theyyam or Theyyattam or Thira is a popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala state, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu...
- Tulu naduTulu NaduTulu Nadu is a Tulu-speaking region spread over to parts of present Karnataka and Kerala States of India. It consists of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the northern parts of the Kasaragod district of Kerala up to the Payaswini River...