Art & Culture    
Two Nights with the Spirits
Bhuta Nrtya in Kondla – 6
by Neria Harish Hebbar, MD

Raktheswari and Bhavana of Lower Kondla

I returned to Lower Kondla to see the main bhuta Raktheswari dance at about two in the morning..  She is another incarnation of Durga, who is a very popular bhuta in this part of the state.  The Pad-dana went on for a long time as this bhuta has quite a history.  She is also accompanied by one of her soldiers called Bhavana.  He can be characterized as the sidekick of Raktheswari, who provides comic relief during the act.  Unlike Hallathayi, Raktheswari’s hair is not tied in a braid, but left loose.  In most of the villages in Dakshina Kannada, Raktheswari is the most powerful spirit.  In Kondla, however, a less powerful incarnation of Raktheswari, namely Hallathayi, has attained a more prestigious state.  Legend has it that Hallathayi during her wanderings fell in love with Kondla and decided to settle down there.  She was more pleased when the villagers recognized her powers and built the permanent abode for her in Upper Kondla.  So Raktheswari was relegated to a lesser role to Lower Kondla with the bhuta kola (dance ritual) only once in two years.

Raktheswari, with her ornaments and open hair makes her entrance

Like Hallathayi, Raktheswari also adorns heavy silver ornaments, which slows down her movements.  But the sidekick or Bhavana has no such restrictions.  Bhavana actually translates to ‘imagination’ (kalpana,) and could all be the figment of the imagination of the audience.  Nevertheless, Bhavana provides excellent entertainment for the simple folks of the village.  He clowns around Raktheswari, stealing the coconuts as she drinks them, and generally acting nettlesome.  He not only dances vigorously to loud music, but also talks incessantly about his heroics and histrionics.  The villagers enjoy his act and encouraged by his silly dialogue, instigate him further by their comments and laughter.  He demands more coconut for all the work he has been doing throughout the year in protecting the gardens from the robbers.  At the same time he is seen stealing bunches of coconuts himself, in this act of comedy. 

Raktheswari has an enamored origin in the legend.  She was the spirit summoned by devas and rishis to defeat the demon Rakta-bija, who had become so strong that he was challenging and hectoring the gods and devas.  With his unbound power to clone himself as soon as a drop of his blood touched the ground, Rakta-bija threatened the very foundation decent life and the existence of the gods.  It was up to Raktheswari to duel with Rakta-bija and eventually annihilate him and his brood in a fierce battle.  Since then she is revered as a spirit who protects the faithful.

When the customary sentences are uttered and Raktheswari is satisfied with the coconuts and jaggery water, she promises to care for the villagers and their crop.  She assures them that there will not be any diseases or hardships they would have to face.  Then she receives the offerings from the villagers and blesses them.

– Continued 

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