At the beginning, members of our Samaja were living in Tumakuru and Tiptur districts in places such as Seebi, Kibbanhally, Devanuru, Kollur, Lakkenahalli Madaknalli, Harnalli, Gubbi, Bettadahalli, Honaganahalli etc., by working as farm laborers, coolie, estate work etc., When a severe drought occurred in those places, some of them sold out their farmlands and spread away to Bangalore, Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh and Malenadu, in search of livelihood and a few of them settled in Shivamogga district. Those who came to Shivamogga, took houses for rent on Big Brahmins Street here and worked as coolies for livelihood.
With the passage of time, they spread to Durgigudi, the present Hale Gonigara Beedi, where they bought houses, and they also spread to Sominakoppa, Bommanakatte, Kallalli in the present Vinobanagar, where they bought farmland and lived on agriculture as their primary livelihood. A few others lived by selling flowers and some became contractors, some adopted masonry, carpentry and so on. Some of those who were still living in Tumkur district took note of the way their community people were getting on in Shivamogga and they too diverted themselves to the present Savar Line Road, Kamakshi Road, where they purchased series of houses and started living in those houses.
While some took up contractor-ship, some others took up carpentry. A few handfuls of people embraced IV Grade Government jobs. A few others became sellers of flowers and fruits. Along with these business ventures, a few started earning through livestock. They served holy cows and buffalos, sold milk and secured their livelihood.
Quite a few people were buying jute plants, which was being grown abundantly in the surrounding places, converting them into fiber and into jute bags or jute clothes, which became their livelihood. Thus, jute production (Gonitattu) became a major source of livelihood and it was since that day that the title GONIGARU was added to the name of the community Sadhu Shetty.
The jute required for jute fabric was being stacked in the form of heaps in the plain lands, the humpy-dumpy rocky hillocks in Hosamane.
The stack was dropping every now and then. This created suspicion in the minds of people. Pondering over the instance for some time, one day, they stacked a huge heap at that place. But, when they came back next morning, they were wonderstruck to see that the heap had dropped yet again.
Members of the Samaj who were piling up the hay (Banave) called for a joint meeting of all the community people, including the leaders of each sect, and explained threadbare the instance that was being experienced by them. All the Shetty leaders jointly reviewed the place. While the exchange of thoughts and views went on among them for a while, a decision was then taken to consult a Brahmin astrologer in that regard. Immediately, without wasting any time, they went to a Brahmin and enquired with him about the state of things. The Brahmin priest slung the sling-stones (Kavade), observed everything slowly and finally averred that it appears that a power had emerged at the place where the stack was dropping. He asked the community leaders to cleanse the place and review or excavate; then, if you have the mind and ability, build a temple there and if you consecrate a Power Deity there and offer Puja regularly to her, there is no doubt that your community will experience all round progress and prosperity. This is what my knowledge of astrology has empowered me to predict now, the priest said like Brahmavani (Word spelt by Lord Brahma, which cannot be altered by anybody).
Taking the Brahmin’s words for granted, the same day, all the community people assembled at the place where they were arranging the jute stack. The place was plain and humpy-dumpy as well. When they dug the place, they found a stone resembling a Linga in a pit. All those present were astonished to see that. Immediately, water was brought in an urn and was poured on it. The place was cleansed; turmeric and vermilion were offered; flowers were offered. A person belonging to Vammi Gotra, who was available there, was asked to offer worship and Mangalarati. A shelter was created for that Linga shaped stone. Later, one after the other started coming to that place every day. They offered Puja by chanting:
Om DurgE smrutA Harasi BheetimashESha jantOho ||
Swasthai smrutAmati mateeva shubhAm dadhAti ||
DAridryaduhkha bhayahAriNi kA(ss)twadannA ||
SarvO(s)pakAra karaNAya sadA(ss)rdryachittA ||
As the days passed by, all those offering puja to that deity experienced a lot of prosperity in their business and their wealth was getting enhanced. For those working as coolies Chanted In that profession, a reasonable remuneration in the form of daily wage or coolie was available. It was also a boon for Zamindars. In all, the conditions of the people of our Samaj, who settled here, began improving day by day.