20, December 2011.
To add to
my list of Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal dharshan I planned to go
for the Tulu Nadu (Karnataka ) Paadal petra petra sthalam. When
I discussed with friends, every body suggested to add more temples during this
visit. Murudeshwar, Udupi and Dharmasthala are the temples which were added in
the list of my yathra. One of my best friend Mr C K Namdev who helped me a
lot and arranged for accommodation at Gokarna and Udupi.
I cannot forget the hospitality extended to me by his daughter during the stay
at Gokarna. I was honoured that they dined along with me and they even skipped
the usual non vegetarian sea food, since I am a strict vegetarian (
Now !!!).
The yathra went like this......
The yathra went like this......
After
reaching the Mangalore at 4.25 Hrs on 17-12-2011 ,
boarded the Mangalore Verna Passenger train to Gokarna ( 225 Kms )
starts at 06.50 Hrs. On seeing the Murudeshwar Temple Gopuram and Shiva statue
from long distance got down at Murudeshwar station and went to
temple, through auto from the main road. The auto driver charged me
only Rs 20, which is a surprise to me. Shiva statue is the second tallest in
the world ( 123 feet, 1st is at Nepal
After
having a darshan at Murudeshwar came to main road to catch the bus to Gokarna.
Since there is no straight bus to Gokarna went through Kumta. In
Gokarna temple did pooja to Mahabaleshwar as directed by the priest and able to
touch and feel the Shiva statue of very very small size (
Kottai pakku ). The fee paid to the temple was Rs 150.00. The temple
is constructed unique Kerala style with wood and
Mangalore tiles with out Rajagopuram. Amman
After the
darshan of Mahabaleshwar, left for UDUPI about 16.45 Hrs via Kumta by bus after
thanking Mr Namdev’s daughter and his son-in-law. Arrived Udupi at 00.30 Hrs on 18-12-2011 and
went to the lodge Mallika. The room was reserved by Mr Namdev’s
brother-in-law Mr Ganesh. After having a sleep
of just 3 hours went to Udupi Temple
From
Udupi there are no frequent buses. Got the bus at 09.00 Hrs and it took nearly
3 hour 15 minutes to reach the Dharmasthala temple ( 110 Kms through hill
route. The road in many places are very bad. Since the day Sunday, happened to
be a weekly holiday, very heavy rush was there. It took me about 30
minutes to deposit my Chappel and back bag. Got Rs 200 ticket and moved
through very very long QQQQQQQ and had the darshan of Sri
Manjunatha Swamy and Ammavaru. After darshan came out at 13.00 Hrs and boarded
the bus ( Near the temple entrance) to Mangalore to catch the Chennai super
fast Express Train which leaves by 16.00 Hrs. I was little upset for
not able to spend more time to see the Bahubali statue and other places,
importantly missed the free meals as every body suggested. When I reached the
station the time was 15.45 Hrs and announcement call to board the
train.
Total distance covered in the yathra is 2500 Kms in 72 hours ( 16th 09.00 hrs from Chennai Home and reached on19th Dec
2011 at 09.00 Hrs ) of which Darshan time in
the temples was around 7 to 8 hours only.
GOKARNA AND MURUDESHWAR
Total distance covered in the yathra is 2500 Kms in 72 hours ( 16th 09.00 hrs from Chennai Home and reached on
GOKARNA AND MURUDESHWAR
( The history is taken from the wikipedia website
).The origin of the name "Murudeshwara" dates to the time of Ramayana. The
Hindu gods attained immortality and invincibility by worshipping a divine Lingam called
the Atma-Linga. The Lanka King Ravana wanted
to attain immortality by obtaining the Atma-Linga (Soul of Shiva). Since
the Atma-Linga belonged to Lord Shiva, Ravana worshipped Shiva with
devotion. Pleased by his prayers, Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him
what he wanted. By this time Narada had asked Lord Vishnu to
change Ravana's mind. As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Goddess Parvati, and Lord
Shiva offers her to him. On his way back to Lanka Narada tells Ravana that Lord
had not given him the real Parvathi and that the real Parvathi was in Pathala.
So Ravana frees his companion, goes to Pathala and marries a king's daughter,
assuming her to be the real Parvathi. He then returns to Lanka, where his
mother asks him for the Linga. Ravana then comes to know of the tricks played
on him by Lord Vishnu. He therefore prays to Lord Shiva again, begging for his
forgiveness. Lord Shiva appears and this time, Ravana requests
the AtmaLinga as his boon. Lord Shiva agrees to give him the boon
with the condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If
the AtmaLinga was ever placed on the ground, all the powers would
return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on
his journey to Lanka.
Sage Narada, who came to know of this incident, realised that with
the AtmaLinga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth. He
approached the Lord Ganesh and requested him to prevent
the AtmaLinga from reaching Lanka. Lord Ganesh knew
that Ravana was a very devoted person who used to perform prayer ritual in the
evening every day without fail. He decided to make use of this fact and came up
with a plan to confiscate the AtmaLinga from Ravana.
As Ravana was nearing Gokarna,
Lord Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the appearance of dusk through his
srichakra. Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried
because with the AtmaLinga in his hands, he would not be able to do
his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesh in the disguise of a Brahmin boy
accosted him. Ravana requested him to hold the AtmaLinga until he
performed his rituals, and asked him not to place it on the ground. Ganesh
struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana
did not return within that time, he would place the AtmaLinga on the
ground.
267. SRI MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE,
267. SRI MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE,
GOKARNA - THIRUKOKARNAM
Now this
place is called as Gokarna. This is 267th Paadal Petra Shiva
Sthalam and only one sthalam in Thuluva Nadu on the sea shore. Thirugnanasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
( Entrance of the temple)
Sri Aathma lingeswarar
Consort : Sri Gokarneswari, Sri Thamragowri
Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple architecture is similar to Kerala style architecture with wood and mangalore tiles. Moolavar is facing west and there are entrance on the south and west side. Ambal is facing east, in a separate sannadhi. Moolavar is very small and can be touched through a hole like avudayar below the ground level. Devotees can do abhishekam and pooja to the moolavar through their own hands.
Consort : Sri Gokarneswari, Sri Thamragowri
Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple architecture is similar to Kerala style architecture with wood and mangalore tiles. Moolavar is facing west and there are entrance on the south and west side. Ambal is facing east, in a separate sannadhi. Moolavar is very small and can be touched through a hole like avudayar below the ground level. Devotees can do abhishekam and pooja to the moolavar through their own hands.
Sannadhi
for Thathreyar and Adi Gokarneswara, Vinayagar, Mahisasura Marthini. There is
a Vinayagar sannidhi on the east side of the temple and there is a scar on his
head due to Ravana’s hit.
Brahma,
Agasthiyar, Kamadhenu, Markandeyar, Saraswathy, Vasistar, Ravanan,
Nagarajan worshiped lord shiva of this temple.
HOW
TO REACH :
Gokarna
is on the train route Mangalore to Goa and about 5 KMs from Railway station.
Buses
available from Udupi and Mangalore.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The
temple web site : CLICK HERE
Contact: Administrator,
Shri Samsthana Mahabala Deva,
Post: Gokarna, U.K,Karnataka
Phone : +91
9482331354 / 08386-257956
E-Mail : info@srigokarna.org
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Contact: Administrator,
Shri Samsthana Mahabala Deva,
Post: Gokarna, U.K,Karnataka
Phone :
E-Mail : info@srigokarna.org
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
( Moolavar vimanam - View through shades )
( Side entrance of the moolavar sanctum )
( Vinayagar temple on the main temple street - Marks of Ravana's hit on the head)
( Aadhi Sankara's mandapam on the sea shore )
( A small temple on the hill )
( Temple car / Chariot )
Entrance arch of the Temple about a KM on the main road - Opposite is the
Murudeshwar railway station - Built by Tamil sthapathy where Temples name is
written in Tamil- Latter learned that Mr Ganapathi Sthapathi's Son in law had
done this project.
( Rajagopuram is of a unique construction - The Rajagopuram has Lifts to climb to the top )
( Moolavar Vimanam - A Tamil Nadu type architecture / Dravida )
( Temple complex view )
( Entrance of the Rajagopuram )
( Second tallest man made structure of Shiva Statue in Asia )
( Stucco sculptures under the basement - Ravana asks brahmin boy ( Vinayagar ) to keep the Siva Lingam )
( Ravanan hit Vinayagar on head )
( Ravanan tried to lift Shiva Lingam - Shiva lingam has become like cow's ear ( GOKARN ))
SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE -
HISTORYMalpe .
When the meditating Sri Madhvacharya sensed this by his 'aparoksha' or divine
gana thirushti (knowledge), he got the ship safely to the shore by waving the
end of his saffron robe and pacifying the storm. The pleased captain of
the ship offered Sri Madhvacharya anything in the ship in return. Sri
Madhvacharya asked for the sandal wood piece containing the statue of Sri
Krishna. Later as the story goes, Sri Madhvacharya took it to the lake,
purified it and installed it in the mutt.
( Temple complex view with Temple Tank )
( Fire wood chariot )
( Temple chariot )
( Rajagopuram in front of kanakakindi statue )
( Temple entrance arch )
( Temple complex view )
( 5 tier Rajagopuram )
SRI MANJUNATHA SWAMY TEMPLE AT DHARMASTHALA
HISTORY : Initially
this place was a small village by the name Kuduma in Mallarmadi and
was situated in Belthangady. In this village resided a Jain Bunt chieftain,
Birmanna Pergade, along with his wife, Ammu Ballalthi. The house they lived in
was known as Nelliadi Beedu.
Legends foretell that
the four guardian angels of Lord Dharma disguised themselves as human beings
and visited the chieftain’s house. They were searching for a place where Dharma
could be preached and it could be propagated and continued. The Pergade family
received them with due respect as is shown to visitors. The Dharma Daivas
were very pleased with the hospitality shown by Birmanna Pergade and
appeared in his dreams that night. The guardian angels informed the chieftain
the purpose of their visit and requested the Pergade couple to vacate
their house and follow the path of Dharma and also worship the Daivas. The
Pergade couple vacated the house at Nelliadi Beedu and built another house for
themselves. Till date, the worship of the Dharma Daivas continues in this house.
Again the Dharma
Daivas appeared in the dreams of the chieftain and instructed him to build
separate shrines for the four Daivas. You will find that the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple has
four separate shrines dedicated to the four Dharma Daivas. Pergade was also
directed to choose two persons of noble descent who would act as the oracles of
the Dharma Daivas. Pergade chose four worthy persons who would assist him in
performing his duties as an Executive Head of the four shrines.
The Daivas promised
that the Pergade family would get abundant resources in the form of charity and
fame through the Kshetra. Brahman priests were invited to perform the
rituals after Pergade constructed these shrines. The priests requested Pergade
to also build a Shivalinga besides the Daivas. Annappa Swamy, the servant of
the Daivas, was subsequently sent to Kadri, near Mangalore, to procure a Shiva
Lingam. Shortly afterwards the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple was erected around
Shiva Linga.
( Temple entrance is like a palace, no Rajagopuram like in Tamil Nadu )
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
