Yeddyurappa vs Kumaraswamy: Lie and get damned at Dharmasthala

Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha Swami mele aane (I swear in the name of Dharmasthala deity Manjunatha): These are the words Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, if both of them don't chicken out at the last moment, will have to utter at the truth test to be held at Dharmasthala in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada on June 27.

But, this is not your usual oath, like the oath our netas take while being sworn in, and which they violate with impunity. No.

According to local belief, be it BSY or HDK, whoever lies before the deity, their family and their future generations will encounter trouble every now and then. So, the stakes are high.

In fact, there is a famous saying in Kannada: Maathu bida Manjunatha, Kasu bida Thimmappa. It means that the deity Manjunatha won't forgive those who lie before him just like lord Thimmappa (of Tirupati) who will not spare those who leave without paying the dakshina (or money).

Locals from Dharmasthala cite many cases where families suffered a lot as they violated the oath taken before the deity.
Locals in Dharmasthala told DNA that one such case surfaced recently. A family had visited Dharmasthala recently to fulfil a promise their ancestors had made before the deity years ago. The family members, hailing from Bangalore, faced problems regularly in both professional and personal life. When they enquired with an astrologer, he said that it might be because the family might have reneged on a promise made before the deity."

Later, the family found about the unfulfilled promise their ancestors had made to the deity. All the members of the family did a special pooja recently and got rid of the problem. Another local belief talks of liars losing their eyesight also.

Temple officials said they get at least four to five cases for truth test every week.