Faith and tradition: The ‘Sacred Kick’ of Chinnahothur
Priest kicking devotees with feet.
Kurnool: In Chinnahothur village, Aspari mandal of Kurnool district, spirituality takes a physical—and highly unconventional—turn. During the annual festivities at the 500-year-old Sri Siddarameswara Swamy temple, devotees gather not just for prayers, but to receive a ‘sacred kick’ from the temple priest.
This unique tradition, held every April 4 during Rathotsavam (chariot festival), is rooted in ancient lore. Legend has it that Veerabhadra Swamy, the fierce son of Lord Shiva, became angry after some devotees committed mistakes during a divine ritual following the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in ancient times.
He manifested through a priest to discipline devotees. What began as an expression of divine wrath has evolved into a coveted blessing; participants believe a blow from the priest while he is in a trance-like state grants moksha (liberation) and fulfills heartfelt wishes.
Following the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati, the priest emerges in a state of divine possession. Carrying idols and a trident, he performs a vigorous dance through the crowd, occasionally striking devotees with his feet. Far from being viewed as an assault, the act is embraced with deep reverence. The celebrations culminate in Vasanthotsavam, a vibrant spring festival of colored water, proving that in the tapestry of Indian faith, the path to the divine can take truly extraordinary forms.
