Epic of Siri

The epic declares Siri's divinity and also that of her progeny and she is worshipped as a Daiva (demi goddess) across Tulu Nadu region of South West India in temples known as Adi Alade.

[5] According to the legend,[6] there existed a principality of Sathyanapura whose ruler was an aging Bunt man of Arya Bannaya Bali lineage named Bermanna Alva (Alupas ?).

Annu Shetty, son of one Shankar Alva, a relative, was managing the affairs of the principality on his behalf.

Bermer, disguising himself as a Brahmin, visited Bermanna and said that his current state of sorrow was because he had neglected the worship of his ancestral deity whose temple lay in ruins in the village of Nidgal.

On the advice of Brahma n in disguise, Bermanna went to Nidgal, renovated the temple of his ancestral deity and conducted puja ceremonies.

Kantha Poonja, a minor Bunt Feudal Lord of Basrur Beedu fiefdom longed to marry her.

On the day of the baby shower (Bayake), Siri refuses to accept the saree brought by Kantha Poonja, saying that it had adorned a prostitute first.

Bermanna Alva tries to pacify the couple and then takes her back to Sathyanpura for the delivery as per prevailing custom.

Through her divine powers she also burns down the manor of Majaluttu Beedu which was now under the possession of Annu Shetty.

Soon she leaves Satynapura accompanied by her infant son Kumara and a maid servant Daru and proceeds towards the forest of Bola.

Soon she meets the twin kings of Bola, Kariya Kaasinghe and Boliya Deesinghe who on hearing her tragedy sympathise and accept her as their foster sister.

This marriage turns out to be a happy one and she gives birth to daughter name Sonne after which she breathes her last before which she declares that anyone who worships her will have abundance in their life and will be cured of various diseases.

After they leave, Bermer comes to their house disguising himself as a Brahmin and opens the lock to remove the Chenne Mane game (a Tulu variation of mancala).

These Temples are the venue for the annual festival held in her honour called Siri Jatre and also the Daliyopaliyo – a mass possession cult of women associated with her.