In some families, Mitthari is offered on Tuesdays and Sundays. Olden days, some dresses of the departed men and women used to be kept on these occasions. A few families practice this custom daily and many families during festivals and celebrations, by offering food to the ancestors as Mithari/Mishri/Agal before the family takes the food by the family and prayers are also offered. Elders who are no more but had contributed for the welfare of the family is remembered. In a way, nature worship and Vedic worship are practiced without any conflict. Once in two years Dakke Bali is performed by the devotees by offering of lot of flowers, fruits, tender coconuts etc. There is no Hundi and the Prasad are only flowers offered in this holly place and the sand within the prencit. The place of worship is a natural forest and no sitting arrangement and all devotees irrespective of their status has to sit on the sand floor. Here except stone carved Nagadeva images no temple is built. A famous place known as Brahmasthana at Padubidri is unique place where Nagadeva and Parivara Daivas are worshipped within a Bana, a virtuallly unspoiled forest. Naga Banas in the States of Karnataka and Kerala can be cited as important places of nature worship. A tree known as Kaverida Mara (its leaves and fruits are bitter) is the sacred tree planted in front of Shree Mahasathishwari Mahastri Amma Temple, Kodi Kanyana. In a way, coconut tree is also worshipped as Kalpavraksha which fulfills many needs of our people. In Moolasthans, Tulsi, Ashwatha tree, Sampige tree, Ranjeda tree (a fruit bearing tree) etc. Tulsi Katte is erected before the Daivasthana and in many a case, Daiva Darshan is also held before the Tulsi Katte. Every Bhajana Mandira has its Tulsi-Katte. Lighting a mud lamp (Thibile) and singing Bhajans before Tulsi Katte is being practiced even now. Worshipping Sun God (Surya Namaskara) is also done in front of the Tulsi Katte which is a normal practice in Mogaveera house hold. Panaka Pooje used to be held in front of Tulsi Katte. Ancient system of Panawoo Kattunu, depositing money in a box, for various temples including Thirupathi is done in front of Tulsi Katte. Watering Tulsi plants in the morning and performing Surya Namaskara is the daily routine followed even today. This is practiced by all the communities residing in coastal villages including Mogaveeras. It is also believed that cremation near sea shore and letting the ash (last remains of dead) into sea is the most sacred way of performing last rites. One of the most prominent nature worship is that of the sea after the monsoon by all the members of the community by offering milk and coconut with prayer to allow them to venture into sea for fishing. Mogaveeras consider sea as their God (Ganga Maatha) and hold in awe for its vastness and at times its ferocity. In other words, means of living and life sustaining sources which were beyond their comprehension became the objects of worship. It explains why large numbers of trees (Aswatha), tombs (representing dead person), animals (bull), serpents, rivers, sea etc. This fear of unknown had driven these people to worship everything which they could not compredend. The fact to be noted is that fishing, particularly, in the sea and in the rivers, instilled fear of the unknown in the hearts of these fishing communities. To understand the background, one should appreciate the facts that fishermen (Mogaveeras) in the begining lived near water resources, such as, lakes, rivers which were surrounded by large variety of vegetation. The fact is that all the four forms of worship now co-exist. Finally, pure Vedic pattern of worship was practiced in the Mogaveera temples. Still later, due to influence of Vedic culture, a mixture of nature worship, Dravidian worship and Vedic worship prevailed. In the Dravidian way of worship, nature worship was also included. It was followed by the Dravidian way of worship because of the locality in which the community lived. In the beginning, common to all civilizations, worship of nature was an accepted religious practice. Mogaveera religious practices can be broadly divided into four catagories.
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