Staging of ‘Chamundeshwari Devi Mahatme’ Yakshagana tomorrow

Mysuru: Karavali Samskruthika Chavadi, Hootagalli, has organised Yakshagana show titled ‘Shree Chamundeshwari Devi Mahatme’ at Ganapathi Temple ground near Saraswathi Convention Hall in KHB Colony, Hootagalli, on Aug.5 at 6 pm.

Sri Mahalingeshwara Pravasi Yakshagana Mandali of Puttur, will stage the show.

Devi Mahaatmya (Devi Mahatme) is a 700-verse poem and a part of Markandeya Purana. Devi Mahatme has been a popular story on which many Yakshagana troupes stage their shows.

The story of Chamundeshwari Devi Mahatme – Mahishasura:

The second chapter of the Devi Mahaatmya is entitled the extermination of the Mahisha’s army and the third chapter deals with the slaying of the demon Mahisha. Mahishasura was a buffalo-headed demon. He was granted a boon whereby he would be protected from anyone. Intoxicated by the above gift, he set out to conquer the world. Mahishasura defeated Indra, the king of the Gods. Indra implored Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha to help him. The Divine Trio amalgamated their Shakti (power) and created Durga. Ma Durga fought Mahishasura for 9 days and beheaded him on the 10th day. The nine days are those of Navaratri and the 10th victorious day is called Vijayadashami. A point to note is that as Mahishasura was attacked, the latter would change its forms to elephant, bull, buffalo, until ultimately it is killed. The buffalo also represents the animal instinct in a human being. Goddess Durga is powerful enough to control the Evil that comes in disguise.

Dr. Shridhar Bhandary, who heads the troupe, says that they have been performing in city since many years following support by a vast group of Mysureans like Srinivas Rao of Madhu Nivas Hotel, Dayanand Shetty of Kamadhenu Hotel, Dr. Sudheer Shetty, Dr. B. Satish Rai, Anand Rao, Srinivas Rao and Prashanth Kunjal. More than 200 students are trained in Yakshagana under Dr. Bhandary all over India. The organisers have solicited the presence of art-lovers in large numbers to encourage the artistes who perform to the sound of the drum and the song in the open ground.