Yermal is a village located between Padubidri and Uchila on the Udupi – Mangalore highway in Udupi District of Karnataka. It has an ancient and beautiful Sri Janardana Temple. According to the temple authorities, the main idol of Sri Janardana is supposed to have been obtained from the lotus hands of Sri Madhvacharya!
The temple also has the idols of Mahaganapati and Vaaraahi Gangapati. The Vaaraahi Ganapati idol was discovered by the temple people while on a mission on Vaaraahi.
Sri JanardanaMahaganapati
Vaarahi Ganapati
The temple is in an extremely healthy condition and has been renovated regularly. Lots of spiritual activities, such as Rashi Puja, Nagamandala and others are regularly conducted in the temple.
The annualfestival of the temple is held for a month during the Vrischika Masa. During this time, Bali Utsava is held during the second fortnight.
Garbha Gudi
Tirtha Mantapa
There are pancha bhutas that are being worshipped in the temple, including Rakteshwari and Dhoomavathy. There is a “Naga Bana” also in the temple premises where numerous naga kallu (stones) have been placed by the devotees. It is a very sacred Naga Bana.
Bhuta SthanaNaga Bana
The address of the temple is
Sri Janardana Temple, Yermal Village, Near Padubidri, Mangalore Udupi Highway, Udupi District, Karnataka – 574119
The annual utsava at Nellitheertha Sri Somanatheshwara Temple will be held from 8th to the 13th of January 2012 this time. It is from the Shukla Chaturdashi of Dhanur Masa to the Chaturthi.
The program details are in this pdf file. Please download and read details.
Co-inciding very nicely with the upcoming Paryaya of Sri Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji, Shirooru matha has come out with a new website. The site, though under construction, is very appealing and has lots of information already.
The section on the Guru Parampara is quite detailed and gives accurate dates of the lives of the various Swamijis who have adorned the Peetha.
Sri Sri Shirooru Swamiji is very well known for the excellent alankaras he does to Lord Krishna at Udupi. We can all hope to get the pictures of the alankaras in the new website from now on.
This is a placeholder article because when I visited the Mrutyunjaya Rudra Somanatha Temple at Bola on the Karkala – Udupi highway, the temple was closed. I spent some time waiting for the temple authorities to turn up, but had to get back after waiting a while. Someday I will get back and get inside the temple and collect more information. For now, all I have is some pictures taken outside the temple.
Bola templeTemple entranceEntranceKatteView from templeNaga banaNaga katteScenery around templeScenery
Pavanje is one of the most well known villages in Tulu Nadu. It has a rich history associated with its temples and village itself. It is also one of the few villages in Tulu Nadu which has three well known temples. Pavanje has a Durga Parameshwari Temple and a Subramanya Temple but the most famous amongst the temples is the Mahalingeshwara Temple. It is the latter temple that I am writing about here.
The main deity of this temple is of course Sri Mahalingeshwara. The temple also has a Mahaganapati temple but the Ganapati idol is located outside of the main temple complex, just to the right. Such a placement is very rare in Tulu Nadu temples. In most other temples, the Ganapati idol is found right next to the main Garbha Gudi.
The temple authorities did not allow me to click the photos of the idols. But a photo was available in the temple office. Am reproducing the same in this article.
The village Pavanje and the temple have a recorded history of more than 600 years. There are several inscriptions and other archaeological evidences of the temple in and around Pavanje. The Kings of the Hoysala kingdom and later the Vijayanagara kings were great patrons of this region. Several grants have been made to this temple by them. The grants made in 1397 A.D and 1438 A.D have been recorded through inscriptions at the temple.
The temple itself is built on top of a hillock right next to the Pavanje river. This river merges with Shambhavi river a little further down in Mulky and merges into the Arabian Ocean. The temple is constructed in typical Tulu Nadu style and offers a panoramic view of Pavanje and surroundings.
The main Bhuta of this temple is Jarandaaya. The Jarandaaya daiva sthana is located at nearby Haleangadi. Other Bhutas include Rakteshwari and Koddabbu.
There is a Naga Bana associated with the temple and also a “Brahma Sthana”. In fact, the Naga and Brahma worship of Pavanje is very well known in this region.
Name: Pavanje Sri Mahalingeshwara Sri Mahaganapati Temple
Specialities: During the annual festival, there is a custom that no other auspicious event should be conducted in the village. Though this is prevalent in many other villages, it is still very strictly adhered to in Pavanje.
Also, the villagers of Pavanje do not leave the village once the Jaatre starts. Even if they have to leave the village for emergency purposes, they make it a point to return before the temple flag is brought down on the last day.
Today, the 13th of August is celebrated as Sri Krishna Janma Ashtami, as per the lunar calendar. Under this system, Lord Krishna’s birthday is celebrated on the 8th day of the second half (Krishna Paksha) of Shravana Masa.
Many people, including yours truly, follow the Solar calendar in celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, which is called as Krishna Jayanti. This year, Sri Krishna Jayanti falls on September. As per Jayanti Nirnaya written by Srimadacharya, Krishna Jayanti is to be celebrated on Ashtami day when Rohini nakshatra occurs at midnight. The same combination occurs on September 11.
Anyways, it is just another opportunity for prayer to Lord Krishna. May HE bless us all!
Visiting Nandalike was a very interesting experience. I had not planned to cover this temple in my trip this time. I traveled a long way to visit and cover a Shiva temple located close to Nandalike. After searching that temple for over an hour, I discovered that it was closed. There was no one nearby and so I could not enter the temple. I was hugely disappointed. After spending some time looking for the temple folks, I gave up and starting driving back. On the way, I saw a temple arch to my right. My watch showed that I had about 20-25 mins of time before it got completely dark which meant no photos. I instinctively turned right and continued to drive in spite of encountering a very bad stretch of road for about 2 kms. In the end, I reached this temple and to my utter surprise found that this was a Shiva temple as well. Truly, my joy knew no bounds!
Nandalike is located on the Padubidri – Karkala highway and has an ancient and beautiful Shiva (Mahalingeshwara Temple)
Sri MahalingeshwaraSri Mahaganapati
It was only after landing at this place that I realized the great history and tradition of this place. In terms of folklore, history and legend, perhaps there is no other place that is as rich as Nandalike. One of the first things I realized is that I would be able to cover only a miniscule amount of what is available here. I instantly promised myself that I would come back here and spend more time to cover all the other important places. This article therefore, is only limited to the Mahalingeshwara Temple.
The temple is built in typical Tulu Nadu style and has “Gudis” for Mahalingeshwara, Mahaganapati and the Daivas. The temple has been renovated and is very well maintained. The priests and administrative heads of the temple were very co-operative and encouraging.
Garbha GudiTheertha Mantapa
Nandalike has a huge number of Daivas. The speciality of this temple is that almost all the Daivas have their own separate abodes. In my next visit, I certainly plan to photograph those individual Gudis. The main Daivas are Uri-Brahma, Veerabhadra, Nandigona, Kumara, Abbaga-Daaraga, Khadgeshwari, Rakteshwari, Annappa, Kshetrapala, Bhutaraja and Gajamalla.
There is a lot of folklore and local legend associated with these Daivas. In fact, the legend has it that the Daivas came to Nandalike first and then they were followed by Sri Mahalingeshwara.
PranganaEnclosure for the temple well
The main Mahalingeshwara Temple was established by the great Dvaita Saint Sri Vadiraja Swamy of the Sode Matha.
There is a Ashta Lakshmi temple nearby. The temple also has a Mahanagaraja Swamy Sannidhana right next to the Mahalingeshwara Temple.
Near the temple is the house of the local rulers, the Heggades and the Pergades. This is known as the “Chavadi Aramane”. The descendants of this family reside here even to this day and oversee the smooth functioning of the temple and festivals.
Chavadi Aramane
The temple is located amidst lush greenery. In fact, two sides of the temple are surrounded by a beautiful moat. The pond belonging to the temple is also extremely well maintained.
Temple pondMoat around temple
Name: Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple
Location: Nandalike, Udupi, Karnataka
Dieties : Sri Mahalingeshwara, Ganapati
Main Bhootas : Uri Brahma, Rakteshwari, Abbaara – Daaraga, Veerabhadra, Annappa, others
Specialities: The chavadi (hall) in the nearby palace is a very revered place. During the annual festival, disputes between locals are settled here in the presence of the Pergade/Heggade family elders. People lying here are known to have encountered great mishaps in their lives.
The palace has a rich history of its own. The place is definitely worth a visit as a tourist destination, in addition to a spiritual center.
Another highlight about Nandalike is that the great 19th century Kannada poet Muddana was a native of this place.
Within Tulu Nadu itself, one of the most fascinating regions, especially when it comes to Temples, is the Karkala taluk of Udupi district. Just along the Padubidri – Karkala stretch, there are tens of ancient and fascinating temples. In my earlier visits to the region, I had covered a few like Palimaru, Mundkur, Inna and others. This time, I visited another of the beautiful temples in this stretch – the Belmannu Durga Parameshwari Temple.
Belmannu is a small village that lies almost exactly midway between Padubidri and Karkala. It is about 12-15 kms from Padubidri after turning right on the Mangalore – Udupi highway at Padubidri. Belmannu has a Durga Parameshwari Temple. The temple is located at the village Belmannu and one has to turn right at the village and travel a short distance to reach the temple. The most fascinating part of the temple is its location. When I was driving to the temple, I almost felt as if I was in the middle of a thick jungle. The amount of greenery surrounding the temple is unbelievable. As a matter of fact, the Durga Devi of Belmannu is known as “Vana Durga” or the “Durga of the Forest”!
Sri Durga ParameshwariSri Ganapati
Along with Sri Durga Parameshwari, the temple also has the idol of Sri Ganapati. The temple has an amazing serenity about itself that is quite unique. The temple structure itself, looks to have been renovated a few years ago and looks very good. The Prangana is very huge and is fairly well maintained. The priests of the temple are always from the Bhargava Gotra.
Garbha GudiTirtha Mantapa
Information about the temple and its history was not easy to accumulate, partly due to the absence of the temple administrators during my visit, but I hope to obtain the same some other time. The main Bhuta at the temple is Rakteshwari. In addition, there are also many other Rajan Daivas at the temple.
The PrakaraAnother view of the Prakara
The annual festival happens around March-April and is held for 5 days. It starts on the day Sun enters Aries (Mesha Sankramana)
Name: Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple
Location: Belmann, Karkala Taluk, Udupi District
Main deities: Durga Parameshwari, Ganapati
Bhutas: Rakteshwari, many others
Temple entranceTemple arch
Address: Belmannu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Belmannu Village, Padubidri Karkala Road, Karkala Taluk, Udupi District, Karnataka
Contact: Sri B M Krishna Bhat, Managing Trustee, Ph: 9241943581
Today is Ashaada Shukla Ekadashi – the beginning of Chaturmasya. Today is also the day when most Vaishnavas (Madhvas, specifically) take the “Tapta Mudra Dharana“. I managed to get the Mudras from Puthige Matha, Bangalore. The Mudras were given by Sri Sri Raghumanya Tirtha Swamiji of the Bhimanakatte Matha.
This time, the administrators of the matha had made very good arrangements. First of all, the Sudarshana Homa ended right on time at 6:45AM and the mudra dharane started exactly at 7AM. Also, the people who assembled were made to stand in a queue right from the beginning. Usually, people rush towards the Swamiji resulting in a traffic jam 🙂
As usual, there were a bunch of “devotees” trying to use their “influence” to avoid the queue but the administrators were politely refusing their requests. The whole event was disciplined and systematic, which made me very happy.
I know I begin almost every article on a Temple by saying its an “extra-ordinary” or “unique” temple 🙂 but trust me, that’s exactly what they are! As I continue my discovery of Tulu Nadu, my awe for this great great place only keeps increasing.
This time, I managed to cover Athuru Bailu, a tiny hamlet near Kinnigoli-Mulki. Athuru Bailu has an ancient Maha Ganapati temple. Believe it or not, this temple is actually just the God worshipped at the home of the Udupa family of Athuru Bailu! The sanctity of this place is so high that the nearby villages consider it as a temple. People who pass by the Udupa home, stop by, get into the ‘temple’, offer their prayers and only then do they move on.
MahaganapatiTemple entrance
The temple, its idol and the Udupa family have a recorded history of more than 700 years! Two Udupa brothers came down south from Kandavara in search of a better place to reside. They came along with their diety – the Mahaganapati. Local legend has it that when the two brothers were walking near Athuru, a cloud was following them to protect them from the heat. Villagers saw this and reported it to the local chieftain. He requested them to stay back in his village and asked them to choose any place they liked. When they came to the place where the temple is currently located, they found a mongoose and snake co-existing. They instantly chose the place and the temple has existed ever since.
Udupa House 1Udupa House 2
Out of the two brothers, one of them settled down in nearby Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple. In fact, the Udupas of Bailu played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Bappanadu temple. Even today, during the annual festival of Bappanadu, a customary felicitation of the Udupas is done as a mark of respect.
Along with the Mahaganapati, Bailu also has the Panjurli Bhoota. It is believed that Annappa Panjurli Bhoota came down to Bailu from Dharmasthala when one of the Udupas had gone there for a visit. Trust me, the Panjurli of Bailu is one of the most powerful Bhootas in Tulu Nadu. Even to this today, during the Bhoota Kola, there is a segment when Panjurli ‘demonstrates’ his power by throwing the Udupas up from their seats and knocking them unconscious. No one except Panjurli is able to wake them up! Watch this youtube video to see what I am talking about.
Panjurli SthanaTemple
The Athuru Bailu Udupa family is one of the most well known families of Tulu Nadu. They are the official astrologers for even the Kateel Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple! The almanac they bring out is the most widely circulated almanac in the entire Tulu Nadu region, and has been published for over 100 years now.
How to get there: From Mangalore reach Mulki and turn right towards Kinnigoli. About 1km before Kinnigoli town, turn right towards Balavina Gudde. Athuru Bailu is about 5kms from this junction. Locals will accurately guide you to the temple once you take the turn.
Specialities: “Appada Puje” is very famous in Bailu. Locals get this seve done very regularly. Appa is a special sweet dish, prepared for Ganapati in Tulu Nadu especially. In Appada Puje, a whole lot of ‘Appas’ are made and offered to Ganapati.
Ganesha Chaturthi is an important festival celebrated in Bailu. The Panjurli Kola is held about 3-4 times a year on important ocassions.
The Nandini river flows very close to the Udupa home. Every day, the priest has to compulsorily take bath in the river and only then worship at the temple.
Anandatirtha Prathishtana 