Udupi, one of the coastal districts of Karnataka is a part of Parashurama Srishti. The entire region is a part created by the Lord Himself during his Parashurama avatara and hence is known as Parashurama Kshetra. Lord Parashurama after Bhoo parikramā (circumambulation of the earth in search of Ksatriyas), resided here and the land was reclaimed by the ocean. Revisiting the history of a region helps us understand the significance of local religious practices and temples associated with it. Nāgārādhane (worship of the Lord in the serpent form) is an ancient practice as the reclaimed land actually belonged to the snakes which resided in the deep sea. This also protects the ecosystem.
Rupyapeeta or Rajathapeeta is the ancient Sanskrit name of the popular temple town Udupi which translates to ‘silver pedestal’. The town was also known as Shivalli which might have come from the name Shivabelli where belli in the local language translates to silver. According to some scholars, the current name Udupi might have come from the Sanskrit word Udupam which translates to ‘boat’; alluding to the idol of Lord Krishna worshiped by Shri Mādhvācārya which came in a boat to this region from Dwaraka.
The history behind the prominent temples in and around Udupi dates back to the period when this region was ruled by a king named Ramabhoja. The king had ordered to plough the fields with the intention of performing a yaga at this place. A snake died during the course of ploughing. To atone for this unfortunate incident, particularly in a region where snakes are worshiped, he built four Nāga temples.
The king installed and worshiped Lord Parashurama at the center of the town (Shri Anantheswara temple) by offering a silver pedestal. He built four Nāga temples at the periphery in intercardinal directions. The Nāga temples were built at Thangodu (NE), Muchilkodu (SE), Mangodu (SW) and Arithodu (NW). These Nāga temples seem to be like the seventh Prakara to Shri Anantheswara temple.
The subsequent inner Prakara has four predominant Devi temples at cardinal directions. The temples are at Kadiyali (N), Indrali (E), Bailooru (S) and Kannarpady (W). Though the time of construction of these four Devi temples is different, they form the sixth Prakara to Shri Anantheswara temple. The carstreet of Udupi forms the fifth Prakara which has eight prominent Madhwa mathas headed by Sri Madhvācārya’s direct disciples. The temple of Shri Anantheswara has four Prakaras inclusive of the sanctum sanctorum. A pilgrimage to these ancient sacred temples around Shri Anantheswara temple within an area of 10 kms of Udupi town closely resembles Srirangam’s saptha prakara parikrama.
Shri Anantheswara temple: Lord Ananthapadmanabha is worshiped in one of the oldest temples here in Udupi in the form of a Linga. The temple shrine resembles an elephant’s back (Gajaprushta) form of architecture (approx. 7th century). The temple was recently renovated. However, the huge granite slabs still stand strong in the test of time. The temple is closely associated with Shri Madhvācārya as his parents had worshiped Lord Anantheswara and performed payovrata (the penance of consuming only one serving of milk a day) as documented by Shri Nārāyana Panditācārya in Madhwavijaya. The same deity in idol form of Ananthapadmanabha is being worshiped in Shri Mādhvācārya’s birthplace Pajaka kshetra. The temple has also witnessed epistemology in the form of teachings on dvaita philosophy by Shri Madhvācārya. The temple also has a stone slab where a seated Shri Madhvācārya disappeared from as his disciples saw the rain of flowers indicating his departure to the north of Badari Ashrama (Badrinath).
Kadiyali Shri Mahishamardhini Temple: This is one of the oldest Devi temples in Udupi located close to Shri Anantheswara temple (about 1.6 kms away). Dr. P. Gururaj Bhat a popular historian predicts that the temple might have been constructed after the 9th century. The main (moola) idol symbolizes the form taken by Devi to end the demon by the name Mahishasura (in buffalo form). The idol has four arms with chakra (rotating disk) at the top right hand and shanka (conch) at the left top hand. Trishoola (trident) at the bottom right hand which is upright and holds the tail of buffalo in her bottom left hand. However, the worship and adornement of the idol are performed to her original form of Laxmi with chakra-shanka-abayahasta according to Madhva Shastras (Tantrasara). The outer sanctuary of the temple is undergoing renovation. The temple also provides annadaana on Fridays to devotees.
Indrali Shri Panchadurga Parameshwari Temple: The temple is located in the calm foothills of Manipal (ancient name Vedadri). The temple is close to the Udupi railway station located between Udupi and Manipal. During the treta yuga, sage Cyavāna’s hermitage was present here and was called Vedachala back then. There is a Mukhyaprana shrine now at that place. Indra’s wife Indrani performed penance here on the form of Laxmi and was blessed to witness five Laxmi forms of Mahanaryani, Mahamaya, Mahalaxmi, Mahamaheshwari and Mahadevi. The temple has Pancha lingas symbolizing these five forms of Laxmi and also has a lake close by. The devotees can see the west-facing deity with chakra-shanka-abaya hasta. The temple also has a Ganapathi idol placed on the right of the Durga Parameshwari idol. The temple might have been constructed in the 11th century.
Bailooru Shri Mahishamardhini Temple: Bailooru temple is located about 3 kms from Shri Anantheswara temple. This recently renovated temple may have been constructed in the 13th century. The deity of Mahishamardhini is similar to Kadiyali temple with expression of the idol being calm (shanta swaroopa). But, here the Trishoola at the bottom right hand of Devi is piercing Mahishasura’s (buffalo) neck while her right leg is pushing Mahishasura downwards. The idol also has a prabhavali engraved from the same stone. The temple premises houses the familial deities and a Vishwambara roopi Ganapathi shrine. The adornment is according to the original form of Laxmi with chakra and shanka weapons (Ayuda).
Kannarpady Shri Jayadurgaparameshwari Temple: The temple is close to Panvel-Kochin highway that passes on the utskirts of Udupi. The legend of this place takes us back to 5000 years. However, no written inscriptions reveal the time of construction. The temple is expected to have been worshiped by kings of the Alupa dynasty who ruled this region. The front entrance of the temple has a pond called Kanva teertha named after sage Kanva. The idol here is of Jayadurga with chakra shanka on the rear hands, abaya hasta on the front right hand and left hand in an upright position. The idol has Simha (lion) engraved from the same stone at the bottom which continues to be the prabavali from behind. During festive seasons, the decoration of Jayadurgaprameshwari with a sword in right and trishoola in left hand along with chakra shanka on the rear hands can be seen. Simha (lion) the ride (vahana) of Durga is placed at the bottom of the idol. The temple is under renovation.
There are other prominent Devi temples near Udupi like Bhagavathi Shri Durga Parameshwari temple, Puttur where Durga is in linga form and Ambalapady Janardana-Mahakali temple where the Mahakali idol is a wooden sculpture.
Shri Durga Devi temple, Kunjarugiri near Pajaka kshetra (birthplace of Sri Madhwacharya) is also one of the ancient Devi temples.
A seeker of Madhva philosophy. Hails from Rupyapeeta (Udupi).
|| विष्णो: सर्वोत्तमत्वं च सर्वदा प्रतिपादय ||
(Hari sarvothama Vayu jeevothama tatva)