Kudroli Gokarnath Temple / Gokarnanatheshwara Temple - Karnataka

Address

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple / Gokarnanatheshwara Temple- Kudroli, Kodailbail, Mangalore, Karnataka 575003

Diety

Gokarnath / Gokarnanatheshwara

Introduction

The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, otherwise known as Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, is in the Kudroli area of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. It was consecrated by Narayana Guru. It is dedicated to Gokarnanatha, a form of Lord Shiva. This temple was built in 1912 by Adhyaksha Hoige Bazar Koragappa. This temple is now accepted as “Aadi” by the Billava community. The temple is 2 km from the centre of Mangalore city. The temple has Gopuram (tower like structure) decorated with murals of various gods and goddesses. Murals depict scenes from epics and legends.

Puranic Significance

The Billava community traditionally warriors (chieftains/ soldiers specialized in archery in the army) wanted to carve a niche for themselves in the realm of spirituality. They wanted to be able to personalize the spiritual offering to their deity Lord Shiva with norms in accordance to the billava tradition. It is in such a scenario that Adhyaksha Koragappa a billava leader and businessman took the initiative and sought a Guru for this spiritual quest. Adhyaksha Koragappa led a delegation of Billava elders and visited Shri Narayana Guru. He invited Shri Narayana Guru to guide the billavas to build a temple. The community found a messiah in Narayana Guru to guide them in this spiritual quest. Narayana Guru with his knowledge and experience in spirituality became the ideal guide and guru (from the south of India closest to Mangalore) for the billavas to help them build a temple of their deity, Lord Shiva. Adhyaksha Koragappa was a very well known businessman in Mangalore who had a large tile factory. He also conducted extensive trade with business enterprises in Middle East, Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, trading mainly in Mangalore tiles, copra, spices and other natural products. On the arrival of Shri Narayana Guru in Mangalore, Adhyaksha Koragappa gave him a horse-driven carriage to select a suitable place for a temple. Narayana Guru between places Mulihithilu (where a lot of linga Roopa Aradhana used to happen especially from saints of NATH tradition) and Kudroli, selected Kudroli. Koragappa family still maintains the CHAIR on which Shri Narayana Guru sat in Adhyaksha Koragappa’s house and addressed Adhyaksha Koragappa and others regarding various issues including the creation of a temple. Adhyaksha Koragappa then gave the necessary land and funds to build this temple in 1912 seeking blessings and spiritual guidance of Shri Narayana Guru. The Shiva linga was brought by Shri Narayana Guru himself.

Special Features

• Gokarnanatheshwara Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. • It is one of the recent structures in the place and is built in the Dravidian style. • A golden gopuarm which is 60 feet stands blazingly at the temple gate. • It is also known by the name “Kudroli Gokarnath”.

Festivals

The temple observes many festivals. Maha Shivaratri, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nagara Panchami, Deepavali, Navaratri, Sri Narayana Jayanthi are celebrated with traditional gaiety and splendor. It has worshipers from all over the world. The temples branches are in Mulki, Udupi and Katpady. The birthday of Sri Narayana Guru is ceremoniously followed. Navaratri: The dasara festival is celebrated with much grandeur. The dasara celebrations of this temple are popularly called Mangalore Dasara. In addition to idols of Sharada Matha and Maha Ganapati, life-size idols of Nava Durgas are installed in the premises in an attractive way during Navaratri. All religious rites are observed for the entire period. Mangalore Dasara is celebrated in a very spectacular way by worshiping the idol of Ganesh, Adhi Shakthi Maatha, Sharada Maatha, Navadurgas such as Shaila Puthri Maatha, Brahmachaarini Maatha, Chandrakaantha Maatha, Kushmaandini Maatha, Skanda Maatha, Kathyaahini Maatha, Maha Kaali Maatha, Maha Gowri Maatha and Siddhi Dhaathri Maatha. All these idols are grandly worshiped for nine days of navarathri. On the tenth day, these idols are taken in the grand procession of Mangalore Dasara throughout the city; the procession returns to Gokarnanatha Kshethra on the next day morning where all the above idols are immersed in the lake inside the temple premises.