Stories the Quilts Tell

Quilts are made of old and new clothes, with various themes and designs. They are used all over the world by people of different times and climes to keep cozy and warm. These days  the quilts are used as curios and wall hangings. In India, the land of innumerable Gods and deities, the quilts associated with saintly people have attained divinity! There is a story or history behind such quilts, which draws devotees.

Two hundred years ago, a pious and God-fearing couple lived in the Sheshagiri village near Hanagal (in present day Dharwad district of theKarnataka state). They undertook several pilgrimages to holiest of Hindu places in South India, traveling by foot or bullock-cart. When they became old, and could no longer travel, they wanted to preserve their  holy memories. But the couple were illiterate and could not write. So they found a solution -- the old man cut clothes, old and new, of various color and sizes, and his wife started sewing various scenes of festivals and temple buildings with full regalia.

She created chariots (more), palanquins (more), temple processions,  holy animals (more), and symbols associated with various holy places and deities. She depicted scenes from Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata as well. The quilts hand made by this elderly couple became a medium of expression  of their unstinted devotion to God and their efforts to seek Him. When their end came, they left a message that these must be preserved.

The descendants of the couple kept the words. On a particular day of the year, called Sarvapitra Amavasya or the "Fortnight of the Mahalaya new moon", the carefully preserved quilts are taken out and are worshipped. People from adjoining villages come seeking blessings of these "divine quilts". The family members narrate events and incidents connected with the quilts and have kept the unique tradition alive.

Quilts as offerings to God seems to have percolated to other areas near Hanagal. There was a saint, Siddharudha Swamiji of Hubli monastery, whose only material possessions were quilts that he used to sit, meditate and sleep. His followers offer quilts to in his memory even today.