Karkala Sri Venkataramana Temple – Karnataka

Address

Karkala Sri Venkataramana Temple – Karnataka

Karkala Town, Katkala Taluk,

Udupi District,

Karnataka 576102

Moolavar

Sri Venkataramana

Introduction

Location:

• Located in Karkala Town, Katkala Taluk, Udupi District, Karnataka.
• Known as Padu Tirupati or Western Tirupati due to its association with Lord Srinivasa, a form of Lord Vishnu.
• It is an important pilgrimage site, especially for the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins.

Puranic Significance:

• The Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, who had to emigrate from Goa to Karnataka after the Portuguese invasion, settled in Karkala during the 14th century when the region was ruled by Jain Bhairarasa Odeyars.
• The community requested the Jain king’s permission to build a temple to house the idol of Lord Venkataramana. The king granted their request and also gifted them land.
• The original temple was constructed, and Lord Venkataramana (a form of Lord Srinivasa) was installed as the deity.
• The Second Lord Venkataramana idol was later brought by Soma Sharma, a priest from Tirupati, gifted by the priests at Tirumala. This idol was also installed at the temple.
• However, the temple faced a series of misfortunes, including being plundered by dacoits. The idols and temple ornaments were hidden in a well in Mulki by the Brahmin community.
• A villager discovered the second idol, and it was temporarily installed at the Veera Vittala Temple in Mulki.
• Later, a hermit arrived in Karkala, fulfilling the Lord’s promise, and brought with him a new idol of Lord Venkataramana, which was also installed at the temple.

The Return of the Lord:

• After a long period, the Lord appeared in dreams to the priests and the hermit, directing them to install the idol in the temple and make arrangements for the annual offering to be sent to Thirumala.
• The idol brought by the hermit was installed with due ceremony, and the Padu Tirupati temple was re-established.

Special Features:

• The temple follows the same traditions and rituals as those of Tirupati since the idols are considered forms of Lord Srinivasa.
• The temple is closely associated with the worship practices of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, and the traditions closely mirror those of Tirupati.

Festivals:

• Vanabhojana: A major festival where the temple’s Utsava idols are taken out in procession facing Tirupati. This symbolic procession is in line with the hermit’s wishes and is typically celebrated in November-December.
• Rathotsava: The annual six-day festival held in honor of Lord Srinivasa, typically celebrated during April-May.

Century/Period

1800 Years Old

Managed By

Government of Karnataka

Nearest Bus Station

Karkala 

Nearest Railway Station

Udupi

Nearest Airport

Mangalore

Location on Map

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