Karnataka: 'Sparsha Pooja' Of Gokarna Mahaganapati Stopped For Devotees
Under the new rules, devotees can continue to have darshan but will no longer be allowed to touch the idol or perform any form of worship involving physical contact: Reports
KARWAR: For centuries, devotees arriving at Gokarna have observed a cherished ritual. Before offering prayers at the famed Atma Linga at the Mahabaleshwara Deva Temple, they would first step into the nearby Shree Mahaganapati Temple, gently touch the ancient stone idol and seek blessings. Many would also perform Jala Abhishekam (offering water) or Panchamrutha Abhishekam to the deity.
That centuries-old tradition has now come to an end.
Concerned that decades of continuous physical contact by lakhs of devotees have caused visible erosion to the idol—particularly around its shoulders, hands and chest—the Department of Religious Endowments has prohibited devotees from touching the Mahaganapati idol (Sparsha Pooja) in a bid to preserve one of Karnataka's oldest Ganesha sculptures.
The decision was taken at a meeting held three days ago under the chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Religious Endowments Sudha Talwar after officials noted the increasing wear on the ancient stone idol.
The restriction has been enforced with immediate effect.
Under the new rules, devotees can continue to have darshan but will no longer be allowed to touch the idol or perform any form of worship involving physical contact. The temple has also suspended the traditional Kotte Kanaja and Sakkare Kanaja sevas, special offerings unique to Mahaganapati.
Officials said that in 2015 the Commissioner’s office had sent a letter asking to stop the Sparsha Pooja by the devotees, but it was not enforced. However, now the decision has been taken.
Residents of Gokarna say the move has been under consideration for several years.
"This is actually not a new move. Around six or seven years ago, the department had initiated a step by prohibiting abhishekam to the idol and permitted only Pada Abhishekam. But over time, the restrictions gradually eased, and the old practice resumed. This time, the department appears determined to enforce the decision strictly," a local resident told Deccan Chronicle.
He clarified that the change would not affect the temple's traditional rituals.
"All the customary poojas will continue as before. The archaks of the temple, who have been offering Pooja to the deity, will continue to perform them. The only change is that devotees will no longer be permitted to touch the deity," he said.
Apart from its religious significance, the Gokarna Mahaganapati idol is regarded as an important piece of Karnataka's early sculptural heritage.
According to the late historian P Gururaj Bhat in his book Studies in Tuluva History and Culture, the idol dates back to the 6th century AD and belongs to the earliest phase of Ganesha sculpture in the region.
Bhat classifies it among "icons without a headdress and with two arms," representing the early phase of Ganesha sculpturing.
He identifies its defining features as the standing posture, bald head, absence of ornamentation, two arms, the lack of a prabhavali (decorative halo), and the distinctive dent on the head, traditionally associated with the legend of Ravana striking Ganesha. He groups the Gokarna idol with other early Ganesha sculptures found at places like Idagunji, Kirimanjeshwara, and Urva.