Padutirupathi
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Sree Venkataramana Temple, Karkala: Karkala is very famous for its Gomateshawra Betta and Jain Basadis. There are many other things which are popular all over the town. One of them is Padutirupathi Sree Venkataramana Temple. This is one of the oldest temple of Gaud Saraswat Brahmins after Sri MadhaAnantheshwar Temple Manjeshwar. A powerful shrine resembling Tirupathi.
It is the Venkatramana Temple, an amalgamation of glory, faith and architecture that strikes the mind and stands tall when Karkala is mentioned. With its hoary past, the temple is the hub of all religious and cultural activities of the Gowda Saraswath Brahmins. A place of reverence and devotion for many. There is hardly an individual in Karkala who has not adored the architecture, worshipped the gods and goddesses and appealed to them to grant their wishes. An aura in the presence of the Almighty always lingers in the garbha-griha. It is one of the biggest of such temples in the Udupi district with Lord Venkataramana as the deity.
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[edit] Etymology
This shrine lies to the west of Tirupathi while original shrine is in the east. The name itself signifies its meaning. Padu means 'West' in Kannada and Tirupathi means Tirumala temple.
[edit] History and Origin
This ancient temple of Karkala, Karnataka, India was built by Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of Karkal. They migrated from Goa after the Portuguese invaded it. They could not suffer their tortures. So they came to places like Karnataka and Kerala where they brought all their household items.
[edit] Original Installation
This temple has a history dating about 14th century when the Jain Bhairarasa Odeyars ruled Karkala and surrounding places. The Gaud Saraswat Brahmins were given land by the Jain Odeyars so that these people can lead a happy life. They also gave them lands for agriculture as these Brahmins had it as an occupation. The priests of this community namely Joishys, Puraniks and Tantris are the main people who had an existence from 14th century. The exact date of installation of this temple is still unknown as during that time there was no written material or documents.
[edit] Installation Ceremony and its History
The main attraction of this temple was its installation ceremony. The Gaud Saraswat Brahmins came to Karnataka in search of place food and shelter. They paid a visit to all the places along the coastline. Some of them settled in Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Bhatkal, Shirali and so on. Few of them went to Kerala side and settled in Ernakulam, Cochin, Manjeshwar etc. Rest of the others went to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (which was previously under Mysore State). These GSB's came and settled in Pandya Nagari of Jains between 1400 AD and 1450 AD (now been called as Karkala). They brought with them all their articles and household items which also included idol of Lord Venkataramana. The first GSB, one to enter Karkala was Soire Prabhu whose great grandson is K.Ramesh Prabhu the present trustee of the temple. They are also called as 1st citizen of Karkala. One more family who migrated from Goa along with Prabhu's were the Soma Sharma's. He was a priest in Tirupathi Temple. Prabhu's started their life in Karkala as usual how they used to live in Goa with all the rites and rituals. Also the priests joined them.
A day came when some of the GSB's came to this place wandering from place to place for shelter and food. They met the Jain kings and they told them about Prabhus, Sharmas and GSB priests. They gave these people permission to stay with them. One fine day all these GSB's came to Jain King Immadi Bhairava, asking for a land to build a temple for Lord Sree Venkataramana. This was during year 1450 AD. The Jain king pleasurely gave them the Land for the very same purpose with some black stones which were prevalent all over the area. This shows that the Jains were patronised to other religions also. The land which they gave to these GSB's was occupied by a lady of some Mutt (religious institution for learning Vedas and Puranas). The lady heeded to the people and Jains only one condition that, "There are four powerful Ganas(Lord Shiva`s Servants) who should be worshipped and given sacrifices of coconuts, green pumpkins, Turmeric and so on; unless they would get angry. Also an yearly sacrifice should be performed as no unholy things may happen in and around here".
The GSB's and Jain King openly said yes to lady and then temple was being built. Initially a huge platform was built and four pillars were made to stand in the four corners. Entangled coconut leaves were made as a roof for it. The idol was installed inside and prayed for the betterment of people. The compound wall was in its progress for building up the blocks. One fine day Soma Sharma returned to Karkala from Tirupathi with another idol of Lord Sree Venkataramana which was given to him by the Tirumala priests and this was at the end of 14th century. He installed this idol with the previously installed idol of Lord Venkataramana in the newly built stone platform.
During 1500 AD, some dacoits attacked Karkala and started thefting all the gold and silver ornaments & idols. Karkala GSB's got scared about these bad events. They made up their mind and took all their precious articles with the two idols and ran away to some other place. They asked the Jain kings to protect their area. The Jain King promised them and gave 100% moral support. Karkala GSB's reached an area called Mulki where threw all the materials they had with them in a well. Here in Karkala there was a huge fight going on between Jain rulers and the dacoits. At last the dacoits had to run away from Karkala since they had been defeated. As the happenings cooled down Karkala GSB's returned to the well and tried to retrieved all the idols and articles. But in vain they could not retrieve the idol which Soma Sharma had brought with him. They got depressed and returned to Karkala. One fine morning, a Mulki person was passing near the well and found something shining material. He went down and tried to look at it. At his site it was the same idol which Karkala people were searching for. He thought Lord must have made his mind to stay in Mulki, so he took it and made a plan install it in Sree Veera Vittal Temple of Mulki established by Soira Vittal Bhat.
As soon as Karkala GSB's received this news in few days, they rushed to Mulki. But by that time Mulki people had installed it in the temple. Karkala GSB's stayed there and slept the whole night. That night the idol (Lord Venkataramana installed at Mulki) appeared in their dream and said "You all please go to Karkala and stay there, dont get frustrated or depressed because of this event. I will come again to your place and stay there; a Saint from Tirumala Tirupati will be coming to Karkala with me. There will be Sampurna Sannidhi(meant that the idol would be having powerful grace of Tirupathi) in me. Install it with the idol which you have at present in your temple." The very next morning they met Mulki residents and said about all the dream and went back to Karkala with a hope that Tirupathi Sreenivasa would come.
Days and months passed by GSB's waited. All of a sudden one day a person arrived to Karkala with a bag on his shoulder and dressed in the form of a hermit. He asked for a place to take rest with GSBs over there. They gave him a small place to stay. The person was old in age. He had some idol of Lord Vishnu which he used to take it with himself for a piligrimage. That night when everyone was in deep sleep a strange dream appeared for the GSB's and the saint. Lord of Tirupathi was the main character in the dream. For GSB's the dream was, "Devotees of mine i have already come over here as i promised. The saint who came to this place has come Tirumala and the idol which he has is mine. You take the idol from him and nstall it but as per my instructions.During the ceremony a cow and her calf should be left for feeding after pooja. The place where the cow drops her milk after milking the calf will be my scared place. Do all these things first and then rest leave it to me."For the saint the dream appeared as, "Oh Saint you have travelled much in your life and now its time for you to take rest in your life. I like this place very much and want to stay here for the rest of the time. The people from whom you asked the land are in need of me as i had promised them that i would come from Tirumala Tirupathi and stay in this place. So please hand over me to them." The saint agreed to Lord's wishes and very next morning went to GSB people to hand over the idol with one condition. His condition was,"Any offerings given to Lord almighty would be taken to Tirupathi occasionally and Lord would be taken to Tirupathi once a year". They agreed to hermits condition and installed the idol as per Lord's instructions. This installation was on the day 25th April 1537.
Slowly and steadily the temple got built up with its Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum). The whole temple got renovated in the year 1699-1700. Then Parivar Devas like Lord Mukyaprana, Lord Gaurda, Lord Lakshmi and Lord Ganapathi were installed after 2 years of renovation. Days and months passed and number of devotees entering this gradually increased due to the divine environment of this place. In any other temple one can find Hanumantha, Ganapathi, Lakshmi and Gaurda as parivaar deities, but Karkala temple has a little change. Since the pooja performing priests are from Shirali mahamaya temple they have to worship Goddess Lakshmi and then Lord Maha Ganapathi. After that they can enter the main sanctorum.
[edit] Deities
This is an ancient and renowned temple belonging to Gowda Saraswat Samaj. From the records available it can be noted the reinstallation ceremony was performed in the year 1537 A.D. The Presiding Deity 'Lord Shri Srinivas' and the 'Utsava Murthy' Shri Venkatraman both are two names of one and the same deity. Lord Venkatraman is known as "Bhakta Vatsala", and any prayer offered with devotion is always answered. Instances of miracles in answer to the Lord here are cited by many.
The Garbha Griha has a Gold-Plated Simhaasanam for the deities to reside on. The doorway is guarded by two Dwarapaalakaas Jaya-Vijaya. The whole sanctum-sanctorum is made of black stones with brass pltaes attached to the walls and copper plates attached to the roof.
[edit] Rites and Rituals
Since this temple is related to Tirumala it follows the same rituals as in Tirupathi Temple. In the morning at 6:00AM (in some cases it is 5:30AM during Ashwija Month) the temple doors are opened with Dwara Pooja and Suprabhatam. Dwara Pooja is performed for the door keepers Jaya-Vijaya (in Vishnu Loka they represent DwaraPaalakaas).
Suprabhatam is a special slokha recited to wake up the Lord from his sleeps. Then after the end of Suprabhata Nirmala Visarjana (removal of old flowers and decoration of new ones to deities) is performed with Ganji Naivedyam (serving of rice and rice item foods, including Navaneetham-mixture of butter, til and sugar) at about 6:30AM. At 10:00AM Panchaamrutha abhishekha is performed for the Saligrama. This abhishekha is a typical one as performed in Tirupathi. In Tirumala this is performed on Lord Venkateshwara's Stone Statue and to honour the same here it is performed on the Saligrama.
In the afternoon at 12:00PM Naivedyam is performed wherein several items are served for the lord in a huge plate and utensil made out of copper. Once the Naivedya is over little bit of rice is served in small utensils and is kept in front of Parivar Devas while one is offered to Sree Veeramaruthi Temple. After this Maha Puja is performed at 1:00PM, this is called here as Raajopchaara Puja. The temple doors are closed after this for Vishrama Seva.
Late in the evening at about 6:00PM, temple doors are again opened with lighting of oil lamps. A special shlokha is sung called as Deevtige Salaam Shlokham. Recorded cassetes of bhajans are played on loud speakers at this divine time of sunset. At 6:30PM people from all over the town come to temple to sing the hyms of Lord Almighties and this goes on until 8:00PM.
At 8`O clock again Naivedyam is offered with Mangalaarthi. Once Mangalaaarthi finishes night Utsava is offered, this is usually an outing to the town except on Amavasya and Ekadashi. Once Utsava returns to temple there are five rounds inside; first one being Vaadya Sutthu(Instrumental), second and third is Rigveda and Yajurveda Sutthu, fourth is Sangeetha Sutthu (Yakshagana's Thaala Maddhale) and last one is Sarva Vaadya Sutthu. After the utsav ends with Vasantha Puja (Lord is given Uyaala Seva with recitals of shlokhas) deities are put to sleep which is known as Ekaantha Seva (11:30PM or on festive days depends on time taken).
[edit] Income and Economy
The income for this temple mainly comes from the Kaanikas(money) given as offering to the Lord. Also the temple has some rental houses and some lands given on lease, so economy of this temple gets higher through this manner. Halls built by this temple are given for some occasions and their rents also adds to the income. But the most important fact is that the work done by any devotee over here is never a paid one but done by his/her own budget. Some of them give funds for this temple and some of them give yearly donations. Some devotees also keep longtime funds.
The temple also owns Gold, Silver articles which were given as gift to the Lord Almighties. The wooden, golden and silver Vahanas in the temple were also given as gifts to the temple for utsavas. Many people have given barren and agricultural lands to this temple for the daily serving of food to the Lords.
[edit] Festivals
The Lakshadeepothsava, the festival of lights, known for its festivities is one of the famous festivals of the temple. It is believed that the Gods move eastwards once in a year in the direction of Tirupati. The idols on the way back to the temple adorn the Manna Gopura where the devotees could have a glimpse of the lord from very near. The annual chariot festival rathosava and Chakrotsava is held thrice a year.
[edit] Paryaayothsava
The right to perform the pooja alternates between two families, the Puraniks and the Joshys. A family of Tantris performs all religious activities in the temple other than the poojas. Each one of their sons and grandsons gets the right of the temple every year but according to ancestral tree. After every yearly pooja gets ended he has to put one part of whatever profit he gets at feet of Lord Almighty.
The priest performing the pooja for the current year is given Sailgrama of Lord Vishnu and told to perform the rites and rituals in a truthful manner. Any sort of repairs and donations during his pooja period will be taken as his own service.
[edit] Laksha Deepotsava
This is a magnificent festival of Karkala where several people of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada come to watch this spectacular glimpse. It starts from Tulasi pooja and ends on Karthik Bahula Shrashti. Lord Almighty sits on different vahanas for about 10 days. Once a year during Karthik Bahula Panchami in a grand ceremonious procession in the afternoon, Lord Sreenivasa is taken out in golden mantap and Lord Shri Venkatramana in the pallanquin for Vanabhojana which literally means an outing to the forest in a magnificent Hagalu Utsav, in the eastern part of Karkala. Since Tirupati is in the east, Lord Srinivas is supposed to have been taken to Tirupati. Incidentally, this is the only day in a year when the Lord Srinivas is taken out of the temple. Thus the word given to the Saint is symbolically kept up year after year. During this festival several people from all the communities come here and watch with great enthusiasm. This festival signifies the yatra of Tirupathi once in a year. In the night chariot utsav is held for Lord Sreenivasa and pallanquin utsava for Lord Venkataramana.
[edit] Rathotsava
Once a year from Vaishak Shuddha Paadya to Lord Shri Venkatraman is taken out for 5 days in a grand annual festival called Brahmarathotsava. Incidentally, this is once in a year when Lord Venkataramana sits on the Brahma Ratha, thus keeping the honour for Sri Mallayyapaswami of Tirumala Tirupathi. The presiding deity over here Lord Srinivas is called the Lord of Tirupati by the devotees, as the daily poojas here are almost like the ones offered at Tirupati and also in honour of him in Tirupathi Brahmotsavam is celebrated for 9 days with Yagna, Utsava and many other sevas. The same form of Yagna rituals are performed but for 5 days in Padutirupathi. Therefore for this reason Karkala is also known as "Padu Tirupati" (Western Tirupati).The first day starts with Prarthana, Yagna, Dwajarohanam, Sutthu Bali (yearly sacrifice for Ganas), Santharpanam (mass feeding), Katte Puja (Lord triping to devotees to sit on Tulasi), Chakra Utsavam (Sudharshan Chakra), Silver Garuda Utsavam and Vasantha seva. On second day; Yagna, Sutthu Bali, Santharpanam, Katte Puja, Chakra Utsavam, Wooden Hanuman Utsavam and Vasantha seva. Third day; Yagna, Sutthu Bali, Santharpanam, Katte Puja, Chakra Utsavam, Wooden Garuda Utsavam and Vasantha seva. Fourth day; Yagna, Sutthu Bali, Santharpanam (special one since applying of sandalwood to men and kumkum to women), MrigaBete Utsavam and Katte Puja on Golden Mantap, Teppotsavam, Chakra Utsavam, Small chariot Utsavam and Vasantha seva. Final day;Prarthana, Yagna and Poornaahuti, Chakra Utsavam, Ratharohanam, Santharpanam (for 13000 GSB's), Rath Utsavam(3:00AM) and Vasantha seva. On the last sixth day, Avabrutha Utsavam(5:00PM) to Lake Ramasamudra, night utsavam and vasantha seva.
[edit] Apart from all this
Special programmes are held in temple for the betterment of people. During Sharavana month special darshan is provided for public with mass feeding. Karthik Deepotsava is special for Karkala localites where they have special sevas offering to deities as their ancestral routine. Vishwaroopa Darshana is held once a year to resemble Padutirupathi as Tirupathi, also special laddus which are made in Tirumala are given to public. The gold, silver & wooden "Vahanas” and also the other paraphernalia of the temple, speak volumes about the glory and the greatness of this temple. As a part of cultural activities the temple organises concerts in Classical Music & Dance and also Hari Katha & Spiritual Discourses etc regularly in the temple.
[edit] Special Features
[edit] Shilpi Gopal Shenoy's Granite Pillars
GSBs of Karkala love their Lord as a member of their family. Wherever they are, during the annual celebrations they flock to Karkal back and participate in the festivities. The temple has four granite pillars with beautiful, artistic and intricate carvings by the Late Shri Ranjal Gopal Shenoy, a master sculptor called the Shilpi who had won many national and international awards. His giant Buddha is adorning one of the places in Japan also. The pillars suggest the great heights the GSBs can reach if they make up their mind. This temple is a success story of combining religion with social and cultural and educational activities.
The four pillars erected at the Garuda Mantap of the temple are architectural miracles. Each pillar narrates a different story. Small creatures like honeybees, spiders and butterflies are meticulously carved on the pillar. The movable chains carved out of a single stone are examples for the fineness and dexterity of the work. The brain behind the wonderful carvings is the well-known sculptor Renjala Gopala Shenoy who specially selected the granite from Nellikar, a village near Karkala taluk for the purpose.
[edit] Persons with Notable Achievements
Late Dr. Shilpi Gopal Shenoy's grandson and son of Late Sri Manjunath Shenoy, Shilpi Radha Madhava Shenoy carries on the tradition of his grandfather of making idols from stone and other intricate carvings. His workshop is close to S. V. Temple, Karkala where several stone sculptors work under him. This is worth a visit. There are about 50 cashew industrial units, in and around Karkala. The famous Bharath Beedi industry was started in Karkala by Late Manjunath Pai, now handled by Ganapthi Pai and its branch is now functioning here. Shri P. Vaman Prabhu, a Konkani writer and winner of Dr. T. M. A. Pai Foundation Award for his work "Konkani Raghuvamsha" hails from Karkala. Bola Cashews are very famous all over the world and currently Surendra Kamath, Prabhakar Kamath and Ramanath Kamath are handling the business. Poornima Panduranga Prabhu is a famous social activist of Karkala who gave jobs to people by starting Poornima Textiles. Shilpi Shamraai Acharya, Shilpi Divakar Chiplunkar, Shilpi K R Acharya and Shilpi Padmanabh Acharya are famous for their various sculptres in stones, gold, silver and wooden materials.
[edit] Religious Attractions
[edit] Sree VeeraMaruthi Temple
Built in North Indian style, this is a very powerful shrine. Everyday tender coconuts are offered to him for abhishekha. On Saturdays Sindhura Lepana is applied as a service. The Veeramaruthi Temple built opposite the main temple on the northern side of the road, is another attraction of the town with its fifteen feet monolithic idol of Lord Hanuman. It is said to have been installed in the 16th century during the Bhairava regime. Fascinated by the size of the statue, Tipu Sultan is believed to have sent enough silver to prepare a full cover for the Hanuman idol. However to later turned out that it was not enough for a cover and only a silver necklace could be made out of it. The silver necklace made then still adorns the idol.
[edit] Sree Kalabhairava Gudi
Built in honour of lord Kalabhairava swamy some 50 years before. He was serving as the humble servant at the feet of Lord Almighty. But from 1970 onwards he discontinued because of Kaliyugs effect. This small temple is situated at the banks of Sri Pushkarni. We can remember about Tirupathi Pushkarni where Lord Varaha Swami temple is situated. Several people come to Kalabhairava Swamy to offer their requests over here. He never keeps any one in darkness or in light, but keeps saying that "Time has to prevail over you until that My Lord cannot grant what you want,dont at all try to be possessive about your wishes else its result will be painfull for your lifetime".
[edit] Sree Padmavathi Temple
This temple was built in the year 1963 by His Holiness Varadendra Swamiji of Kashi Matt, Varanasi. This temple is related to Sree Venkataramana Temple as Lord Lakshmi Venkatesha visits this temple yearly 5 times. Navarathri is celebrated with great pomp and joy;all 9 days there are special bhajans held, poojas performed, kumkum archanaas to Goddess and special recitals held by Sree Venkataramana Temple Bhajana Mandali at 9;00PM. On the Prathista day(December) of Goddess Padmavathi, a special evening golden Mantap utsav is held from her abode to Venkataramana Temple. Special poojas are offered to her in the temple and she makes her way to her abode in the night. As in the past it was said by Lord that "The town will make a progress only if Goddess herself makes a self visit to the temple." For this reason it is made a ritual of Goddess Padmavathi visiting the town once in a year accepting aarthi and fruits offered to her.
[edit] Sree MoodaGanapathi Temple
Situated at Bandimutt near Taluk office area, every Sankashti is celebrated with several people coming over here. Ganesh Chathurthi is also celebrated.
[edit] Sree Devaki Krishna Ravalnath Temple
The temple with a man sized idol of Sri Swamy Ravalnath was consecrated in February 1974 by Sri Srinivasa Prabhu the oracle of the temple. In a separate temple a man sized stone idol of Sri Devaki holding the baby krishna has been installed and it was consecrated by H H Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji in 1981. The The oracle is organised every full moon day. The idols of the temple were carved by the famous sculptor Renjal Gopal Krishna Shenoy. The three anniversaries of the temple as well as Navarathri festival is celebrated annually. Shri Chandika Yajna is also organised annually.
[edit] Educational Institutions
[edit] Organisations
[edit] GOWDA SARASWATHA BRAHMIN SABHA (G. S. B. SABHA), KARKALA
Established on : 14th August of 1977 by G. S. B. Youths.
Activities : Every year when the Annual General Meeting is held in September, a local GSB celebrity with a notable achievements in any field is honoured. During August, freeships of about Rs.20,000/- are granted to about 130 school and college students. Scholarship distribution function is held every year during August. They distribute Rs. 18,000/- every year to about 130 students of High Schools and Colleges. Cloth is distributed to more than 100 children and 80 elders on Chandramana Yugadi. Medical Aid and aid for marriages is also given in all deserving cases, wherever requests are made. Then books are distributed to more than 200 students every year during June and July.
Membership Strength : Patrons 105, Life Members 110, Ordinary members 200.
Address:GOWDA SARASWATHA BRAHMIN SABHA (G.S.B.SABHA)KARKALA,
Near Shri Venkatramana Temple, Karkala - 574104,
Udupi District, Tel. : (08258) 21978.
[edit] Other Important Religious Sites in Karkala
- Gommateshwara Betta.
- Chathurmukha Basadi.
- Hiriyangadi Basadi.
- Padmavathi Kere Basadi.
- Shree Ananthashayana Temple.
- Shree Mariamma Mukhaprana Temple.
- Shree Mahalingeshwara Tenmple.
- Shree Umamaheshwara Temple.
- Shree Krishna Temple.
- Shree Siddhivinayaka Temple.
- SHree Raghavendra Swamy Temple.
- Attur Church.
- Jamma Masjid Salmar.
