The Palayachyuta Stotra, also known as Krishnaashtaka or the Krishna Stuti is another great composition by Sri Vadiraja Swamy. It has only 9 stanzas and very easy to chant. It praises Lord Krishna as the one adorning Udupi (Raupyapeeta pura).
This stotra praises Krishna starting from his face and then goes on to describe his neck, hands and so on. It may be recalled that the first stotra of Sri Madhvacharya’s Dwadasha Stotra praises Vishnu starting from his feet and moving upwards. Therefore, some people consider it equivalent to a Mangalarathi if the first stotra of Dwadasha Stotra (Vande Vandyam….) and the Palayachyuta Stotra are narrated one after the other.
I have uploaded the Kannada transliteration of this beautiful shloka to my mantras page.
In addition, I have also uploaded a second version of Sri Rama Raksha Stotra in the same page.
It was Sri Madhvacharya who revealed for the first time that the Valmiki Ramayana was NOT the first Ramayana. The Mula (original) Ramayana was narrated by Lord Hayagriva himself to Brahma and comprises of 100 crore shlokas!
No, this is not the name of a temple 🙂 I am writing today about another unique aspect of temples in Tulu Nadu. Almost all the temples here have “Bali Kallu” or “Bali Stones”. These are small stones laid around the sanctum sanctorum and the outer perimeter of the temple.
Bali Kallu
In front of the Dhwaja Sthambha
These stones are representative of the various GaNas present in the temple. I have seen these Bali Kallus in almost all temples in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. They represent the various Grahas, Matrukas, Adityas, Rudras, Kshetrapala and so on.
Kallu - inside temple
Multiple deities
During the annual festival in temples, a majority of the ceremonies concern these Bali Kallus. It is said that the festival is actually meant to please these lesser deities as they are the ones who really take care of the Grama (village) for one whole year. Hence, there is a system of bringing the God’s idol out for “Bali” or rounds during the festival and during these rounds, the various Bali Kallus are offered Puje. In some sense, it is equivalent to the boss of the organization (Lord) offering annual bonuses to the employees (gaNas).
Avahana mudras are to be shown everyday during Puje. They are ritualistic methods of inviting God to “place” himself in the idols so that we get the opportunity to worship him. These mudras are not shown to Shaligrama and Balamuri Shankhas because HE resides in them always.
I have uploaded the Kannada transliteration of Dashavatara Stotra by Sri Vadiraja Swamy at my mantras page. Just like all his other compositions, this one is a pleasure to recite. Even for someone like me who is a novice with music, I find his compositions very rhythmic!
Along with this, I have uploaded two other stotras at the same page.
Sri Krishna Dvadasha Nama Stotra – from the Aranya parva of Mahabharata
Seemanthooru is a small village near Mulki, close to the Mangalore – Udupi Highway. The village is close to the Mulki railway station. The name Seemanthooru is an offshoot of “Shrimantara Ooru” which means “land of the rich!”. Seemanthooru was indeed the land of the rich. I was recently discussing the history of another temple – Atturu Bailu Ganapati devasthana and the priest there mentioned that they (priests) were originally from Seemanthooru and hundreds of years ago, they came down to Bailu.
Seemanthooru has a Janardana temple. It is known as the Sri Adi Janardana Devasthana. It has a very interesting story behind why the temple is called as “Adi” Janardana temple.
Sri Adi Janardana
Sri Janardana
Speciality: The Seemanthooru Janardana temple was established by Bhagawan Parashurama. It is one of the several temples in the Tulu Nadu region that was established by Parashurama. According to Shastras, temple idols established by Rishis and Aparoksha Gnanis (realized souls) never get “damaged”. A few hundred years ago, the idol of Janardana was damaged ( I believe the hand got broken). A few villagers got together and made a new idol and established the same, after which the temple and village declined. Upon enquiring with scholars, it emerged that the original idol still has the full Sannidhana and hence the problem. The idol was repaired and placed back. The original idol is now known as “Adi Janardana” and the new idol is also within the same temple. Hence this unique temple has two Janardana idols!
PranganaTirtha Mantapa
Another unique feature of this temple is that it is one of the very few temples in Tulu Nadu that does not have a Ganapati idol! When I checked this with the priest, he mentioned that Seemanthooru Janardana is the “Akhilanda Koti Brahmanda Nayaka” and hence there is no other idol! Now, note that several Vishnu temples in Tulu Nadu do have Ganapati idols and hence Seemanthooru is really different.
Garbha Gudi
Temple entrance
Name: Sri Adi Janardana Devasthana.
Location: Seemanthooru, Mulki, Dakshina Kannada.
Main deities: Adi Janardana, Janardana
Bhutas: Rakteshwari
Address: Sri Adi Janardana Temple, Shimanthur, Post Panjinadka – 574 195, Mulky, D.K
Contact: By snail mail.
Telephone: 0824 – 2294745
How to get there: From Mangalore, reach Mulki using the Udupi highway and then turn right towards Kinnigoli. About 2kms later, you will find a temple arch. Turn left and travel 1km.
Annual festival: For 6 days starting Kumbha Masa Saptami (late February – early March)
Once, when Sri Vadiraja Swamy was visiting Pune, an assembly of scholars had gathered there and had adjudged Bana’s “Shishupala Vadha” as the best Sanskrit work ever. Swamiji asked them to wait for some time and offered to bring to them something better than Bana’s work. In 19 days, he then composed “Rukminishavijaya”, his magnum opus. The scholars voted it as the greater work, paraded it on an elephant and hailed Sri Vadiraja Swamy as “Kavi Kula Thilaka” (The gem amongst poets)!
Lord Bhimasena believed that the prime duty of his avatar was to destroy evil and that this was a service to God. Hence, he offered his “killing” of Dushashana and Duryodhana to Lord Krishna by reciting the Manyu Sukta and Vrushabha Sukta respectively!
Anandatirtha Prathishtana 