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In
Brief:
Sri Narayana Guru (A social reformer and a saint) constructed
this temple in 1912. This temple is situated at Kudroli,
which is about 3 Km away from the main city area of Hampankatta.
The original temple structure was in Kerala style, which
was replaced, by Chola style during recent renovation in
1991. The main deity of the temple is Lord Sri Gokarnanatha
(another form of Lord Shiva). Navarathri Utsava (Dasara
festival) is very famous and is one of the main tourist
events in this temple. A grand procession of Goddess Durga
takes place during this festival, which attracts many tourists
and devotees from distance corners of the state and is very
popular like Mysore Dasara. Billawa Community manages this
temple.
 
History:
The Billawa Community was being traditionally suppressed
by upper caste treating them as 'untouchables'. It is in
such a scenario that the community found a messiah in Sri
Narayana Guru. Sri Narayana Guru who hailed from Kerala
has been regarded as the up lifter of the downtrodden and
a visionary social servant.
Learning
about the work undertaken by Shri Narayana Guru in establishing
social equality through his temple in Shivagiri, Kerala,
a prominent Billawa leader from Mangalore, Sahukar Koragappa
visited the Guru along with the leaders of the community
in 1908. The delegation appraised Sri Narayana Guru about
the problems faced by the Billawas in administering the
community temple at Mangalore.
Sri
Narayana Guru visited Mangalore on invitation from this
delegation and ascertained for himself, the exactness of
the then prevailing situation. After visiting the place,
Sri Narayana Guru himself selected the place in Kudroli
and advised the community elders about a suitable location
to build their temple and the work began under his direction.
Elders such as Sahukar Koragappa took the initiative in
ensuring smooth progress in the temple's construction.
Sri
Narayana Guru himself formally consecrated the temple in
February 1912 with the establishment of sacred Shiva Linga,
which was brought by him. He also named this place as Sri
Gokarnanatha Kshethra. Sri Narayana Guru advocated that
all God's creation had the right to worship the Almighty
and preached that people irrespective of the caste, creed
or religion must worship one divine force, known by different
names.
As
per the Guru's advice, idols of Lord Ganapathy, Lord Subramanya,
Goddess Annapoorneshwari, Lord Bhairava, the Nava Grihas
(Lords of nine planets), Lord Shanishwara and Lord Shri
Krishna has been installed at the Kshethra. This has helped
devotees worship at all these sannidanams (abode) and seek
blessings and solace for their varied problems.
Sahukar
Koragappa then donated the land needed for the Kshethra.
He was also chosen as its first administrative Head and
did a good job.
Renovation
(Golden Era):
In 1989, as per the divine orders, it was decided to renovate
the Sri Kshethra. A project to this was formed under the
leadership of then managing President H.C. Somasundaram
and Vice President A. Vishwanath. Mr. Janardhana Poojary,
former Union Minister of State, laid the foundation stone
for the Rajagopuram (main tower) of this Kshethra. Ever
since all efforts have been made to raise the stature of
this Kshethra to world renown under the leadership and guidance
of Mr. Poojary.
Leading
industrialists of Billawa community settled in Mumbai along
with the prominent members of various communities have contributed
a lot to the overall development of the Kshethra. The joint
efforts ensured the renovation work was completed in mere
thirteen months and it was duly inaugurated on 8th February
1991.
The
Kshethra's brilliant architectural work is the result of
intricate planning and dedicated efforts of the renowned
South India based sculptor Mr. Dakshina Murthi. Mr. Murthi
too took up the task of selecting the right kind of stone
for the rajagopuram and idols to be installed therein, which
was brought from places near and far such as Karkala in
South Kanara, Vellore and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. Nearly
150 sculptors and around 700 laborers toiled hard to complete
the renovation work. It is indeed a miracle that all though
this massive renovation and reconstruction work, by the
grace of the divinity of the Kshethra, not even a single
accident or mishap had happened during the entire construction
period and even till this day.
The
Brahmakalsotsava of the Shri Kshethra was carried out under
the spiritual guidance of His Holiness Sri Sri Bharathi
Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sringeri
Peetha. A team of Vedic scholars assisted Swamiji in this
religious ceremony spread over 5 days. The Swamiji in the
gracious presence of His Holiness Swami Geetananda of Sri
Shivagiri Mutt and Mr. Rajeev Gandhi then the Member of
Parliament of India carried out the Kalashabhisheka and
Kumbhabhishekam. Mr. Rajeev Gandhi inaugurated the renovated
Kshethra in the presence of thousands of devotees.
Celebrations
& Poojas:
The Kshethra observes days of religious significance such
as Mahashivarathri and Maha Navarathri with traditional
gaiety and splendor. The Kshethra is renowned for its Dasara
festivities too. In addition to Sharadha Maatha and Maha
Ganapathy, life size idols of Navadurgas are installed in
the Kshethra premises very attractively in this occasion
and all religious rites observed for the entire period.
Tableaus float from a special part of the festivities and
are taken round the main thoroughfares of Mangalore. Idols
are then immersed in the well-decorated temple ponds in
the presence of devote.
Besides,
these festivals, other prominent Hindu festivals such as
Ganesh Chathurthi, Sri Krishnashtami, Sri Ramanavami, Deepavali,
Sankashta Chathurthi, is being observed. The birthday of
the founder of this Kshethra, Sri Narayana Guru too is ceremoniously
followed. The Kshethra also follows the ritual of feeding
devotees who visit it on daily. Community Sri Satyanarayana
Pooja, Sri Shani Pooja, free mass marriages and distribution
of scholarship to deserving students too is a tradition
of this Kshethra.
Today
the Kshethra attracts devotees from all religions and communities
and in the guideline of Sri Narayana Guru's preaching the
Kshethra can be rightly called as the centre point of all
religions symbolizing "Unity in Diversity".
How
to reach the temple:
From the main bus stand (State Bank bus stand) of Hampankatta
of Mangalore city, one can reach the temple by catching
city bus (nos. 1, 13, 13A) and getting down at Kudroli stop
(in front of temple Main Gate). It is just half an hour
journey by bus. New visitors can reach by hiring auto-rickshaws,
which may cost around Rs.15/-.
Postal
Corresponding Address:
Shree Gokarnanatha Kshethra
Kudroli,
Mangalore - 575003
Karnataka -
INDIA
GRAMS: SHIVALAYA
Phone: 91-(0) 824-494040, 495740
SEVA
LIST:
1. Shiva Pooja 25-00
2. Maha Pooja 75-00
3. Maha Rudrabhishekha 500-00
4. Trikala Pooja 75-00
5. Swayam Archana 20-00
6. Bhilwa Patra Archana 15-00
7. Kalashabhisheka 50-00
8. Shankabhisheka 50-00
9. Ksheerabhishekha 50-00
10. Thylabhishekha 50-00
11. Kalasha Snana 25-00
12. Pancha Kajjaya 5-00
13. Rudrabhishekha 20-00
14. Kartika Pooja 20-00
15. Kumkumarchane 20-00
16. Laddu Prasadam 5-00
17. Hannu Kai 10-00
18. Aarati 2-00
19. Japa 15-00
20. Dharabhishekha 20-00
21. Other regular Poojas 25-00
22. All Poojas in one time 250-00
23. Pushpalankara Pooja 50-00
24. Durga Namaskara Pooja 20-00
25. Uma Maheshwari Pooja 30-00
26. Appada Pooja 25-00
27. Modaka Pooja 70-00
28. Naga Tambila 20-00
29. Satya Narayana Pooja 60-00
30. Satya Narayana Pooja (outside Kshethra) 200-00
31. Panchamrithabhishekha 25-00
32. Sahasra Nama Paarayana 25-00
33. Nivedya Pooja 20-00
34. Guru Pooja 30-00
35. Bhairava Tarpana 60-00
36. Swayamvara Pooja 100-00
37. Nava Griha Pooja 50-00
38. Nava Griha Maha Pooja 101-00
39. Shani Pooja 25-00
40. Shani Katha 175-00
41. Shani Abhishekha 101-00
42. Vaidika Vivaha (outside Kshethra) 350-00
43. Gana Homa 250-00
44. Gana Homa (outside Kshethra) 350-00
45. Samudra Pinda 300-00
46. Maha Thila Homa 150-00
47. Dhuva Homa 250-00
48. Rudra Homa 750-00
49. Nava Griha Shanti Homa 750-00
50. Sudharshana Homa 750-00
51. Chandika Homa 1,000-00
52. Shashwatha Pooja Nidhi 500-00
53. Shashwatha Pooja Nidhi (Patrons) 1,000-00
54. Anna Santharpana Shashwatha Nidhi 10,000-00
It
is hereby requested to donors and devotees whoever wishes
contribute to Shashwatha Anna Santharpana Nidhi may donate
Rs.10,000/- at temple office by cheque/DD/cash and get receipt
for the same.
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