Karkala: The Tirupati of the West Attracting Devotees

[Guest guest]

Karkala: The Tirupati of the West Attracting Devotees 

    

  Courtesy: Deccan Herald 

The Venkatramana temple of Karkala is popular with the local people, 

many find it irresistible to visit the temple daily and receive the 

Lord's blessings, writes Amrita Nayak in 'Deccan Herald'.  

Karkala, Apr 18: Each year, thousands flock Lord Venkatramana temple 

in Karkala with the firm belief in the deity's power to grant 

wishes. About 50 kms from Mangalore, Karkala is a tranquil town more 

popular for the Jain Basadi and the monolithic statue of Bahubali 

that stands majestically in the heart of the City.  

Better known as 'Padu Tirupati', Lord Venkatramana temple is 

considered the main deity of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins. Legend has it 

that a family of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins brought Lord Venkatramana's 

statue along with them while migrating from Goa. As they decided to 

settle down in Karkala, the family built a temple for the Lord and 

started worshipping him here.  

When the rulers of Mangalore attacked the temple, the priests saved 

the main idol and other valuables by throwing them down a well in 

Mulki. As things cooled down, they could retrieve the belongings of 

the temple except for the main deity. However, a person in Mulki 

found the statue in the well, which was taken as an indication that 

the Lord wanted to stay there, instead of in Karkala.  

It's said that the Lord appeared in people's dreams and asked them 

to leave his statue with residents of Mulki. He seemed to have 

reassured them that a hermit would present them his statue in which 

he resides.  

As told by him, a hermit, who was a staunch devotee of Lord 

Venkatramana from Tirupati, came to Karkala and presented the Lord's 

statue with the condition that the proceeds of the temple be given 

to Tirupathi. Heeding to the condition, people of Karkala undertake 

a pilgrimage to Tirupati each year to present the temple's proceeds.  

Since the rites and rituals at the Karkala temple are similar to 

that of Tirupati, it is regarded as Tirupati in the West (while the 

original shrine is located in the east). So, it's called Padu (or 

West) Tirupathi. A ritual called Vanabhojan is conducted each year, 

when the deity is taken to Lake Ramasamudra and is kept facing 

Tirupathi.  

This is done as the deity can't be taken to Tirupati itself, to 

comply with the hermit's condition. Presenting the offerings to 

Tirupati at Karkala itself had been an old custom. In the past, 

these proceeds were also given to Tirupati once in 12 years. 

Although this is no longer in practice, it is said that people still 

present their offerings to Tirupati here. In front of Lord 

Venkatramana's shrine lies a Hanuman temple, whose statue towers 

over 15 feet.  

It's said that this statue was found under the grounds of Anekere 

(near Karkala), when it was dug. Tippu Sultan was among the ardent 

devotees of this Hanuman; the silver ornament he had offered to the 

Lord is still seen around his neck.  

Several legends illustrate Lord Venkatramana's power to grant 

wishes. One of them happened in 1912, when the British government at 

Madras decided to make Moodbidri instead of Karkala the taluk head 

quarters, which disappointed people here. They prayed to the deity. 

When a British officer was on his way to Karkala for re-inspection 

of the place, as he crossed Moodbidri, all of a sudden his horse 

collapsed and died on the spot. Somehow he managed to reach Karkala.  

On reaching there, he paid a visit to Lord Venkatramana's temple. 

After the visit, the British officer dropped the idea of making 

Moodbidri the taluk headquarters and decided on Karkala. Such are 

the miracles of the Lord. Right outside the sanctum-sanctorum 

(garba-griha) of the temple, there are four massive stone pillars 

decorated with exquisite carvings.  

The Lord Venkatramana Temple Trust owns and manages many educational 

institutions, apart from conducting cultural activities. 

Terms of Service.