Udupi

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Udupi is known all over the country for the 700-year-old Sri Krishna Temple built by the exponent of the Dwaita philosophy, Sri Madhwacharya. Near the Krishna Math are Sri Ananteshwara Temple and Chandramouleshwara Temple. The ashta maths, established by Sri Madhwacharya, are located in Udupi. The Pajaka Kshetra, about 9 km from Udupi, where Sri Madhwacharya was born, is also an important pilgrim centre.

Sri Mookambika Temple at Kollur, Sri Annegudde Vinayaka Temple at Kumbashi, Sri Durgaparmeshwari Temple at Kamalashile, St. Lawrence Church at Attur, the 42-foot Bahubali figure, Chaturmukha Basadi and the 52-foot Manasthamba in front of the Neminatha Basadi at Karkala are the other famous pilgrim centres. Experts suggest that a train service — "Temple on Wheels" — be introduced connecting these centres. http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/25/stories/2004092513470300.htm

 

 

UDUPI, SEPT. 24. Vishwesha Tirtha of Pejawar Math on Friday said the Sri Krishna Temple was attached to the ashta maths (eight maths) and not the Endowment Department. The swamiji was reacting to the statement of the former Minister, H. Vishwanath, who said the Government should not hand over the temple to the maths. The swamiji told The Hindu over phone from Mumbai that as per the law temples attached to the maths were outside the purview of the Endowment Department. The matter had been brought to the notice of the Government. The Krishna Temple had been included in the list of temples under the Endowment Department by oversight. The Supreme Court judgment on this said that people should be allowed to have "darshan" of the deity. He said the administration of the temple could be handled by the math. He had spoken to Mr. Vishwanath on the issue. The latter would meet him in Bangalore, the swamiji said. Lakshmivara Tirtha of Shiroor Math said here that the affairs of Sri Krishna Temple were being handled by the swamijis of ashta maths. Even if the Government appointed an administrative officer for the temple, the details of accounts could be provided to the officer while the swamijis could carry on their work. But he (the swamiji) would not allow the appointment of an administrative officer, the swamiji said. Vishwapriya Tirtha of Paryaya Admar Math refused to comment on the issue as he had not seen the judgment of the Supreme Court. `Kanaka Gopuram'

Vishwesha Tirtha said that some elements were bent upon creating a gulf between the maths and the Kuruba community on the "Kanaka Gopuram" issue. The swamiji said the gopuram was less than 100 years old while the "Kanakana Kindi" and the "Kanaka Gudi" were 400 years old. There was no connection between the gopuram and the saint composer, Kanakadasa. The "Kanakana Kindi" was intact. The new gopuram being constructed by Paryaya Admar Math had been named "Kanaka Gopuram." With this there would be another memorial for Kanakadasa in Udupi. Mr. Vishwanath had not understood the issue properly. He had explained the matter to Mr. Vishwanath, the swamiji said. War of words

Lakshmivara Tirtha said that he was saddened by the demolition of the earlier "gopuram." He supported the Kuruba community's stand on the issue and would join them in their struggle. The swamiji said he used to get up early in the morning and do a "namaskara" to the earlier "gopuram," which had images of deities from "krita", "dwapara" and "treta yugas". The demolished "gopuram" was constructed in 1910-12, but the stone "mantapa" below the "gopuram" (which was also demolished) was constructed in 1510-12 during the Vijayanagar rule. A replica of the stone "mantapa" was found in Hampi. By demolishing the "gopuram" and then the stone "mantapa," an unnecessary controversy had been created, he said. The Paryaya Admar Math should construct the new "Kanaka Gopuram" and "mantapa" out of granite. If they were constructed out of concrete, he would demolish them during his Paryaya (Shiroor Math's) and construct a new one out of granite. He said the Admar Math had destroyed the garden built by Palimar Math near the "gopuram" in the process. Vishwapriya Tirtha of Paryaya Admar Math said the stone "mantapa" was less than 100 years old and not 500 years old. The math had taken permission from the Udupi municipality for the construction of a new "gopuram". The new "Kanaka Gopuram" and the "mantapa" would be built out of brick, the swamiji said.

 

http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093011720300.htm

Swamiji receives threatening letters

By Our Staff Correspondent

 

UDUPI, SEPT. 29. Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math on Wednesday said he had received threats to his life because of his stand on the "Kanaka Gopuram'' issue. The swamiji told presspersons here that he had brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh. He said that in the last 15 days he had received three letters threatening him. He believed that this threat was because of his stand on the construction of the "Kanaka Gopuram'' on the Sri Krishna Temple premises here. The swamiji said that he wanted the "gopuram'' to be constructed out of granite and that he was not in favour of it being constructed out of concrete. A granite "gopuram'' could be built on the lines of the one built at the temple at Srirangam in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu. The swamiji said some local persons were behind the threat to his life. He did not rule out the connection of the underworld and these threats. He said the earlier "gopuram'' was a perfect one. Why did the Paryaya Admar Math demolish the earlier "gopuram''? Udupi was a peaceful place and the Kanaka Gopuram Samiti was creating all kinds of trouble. Vishwapriya Tirtha Swamiji of the Paryaya Admar Math was was not involved with these controversies, he said. He said important changes in the Sri Krishna Temple should be done after consulting the swamijis of the Ashta Maths. The swamiji said he was behind the Kuruba community in the "Kanaka Gopuram'' issue as it was fighting for a good cause. The former Minister and Kuruba community leader, H. Vishwanath, would visit the Shiroor Math here on Friday to hold discussions with him on the issue, the swamiji said.

 

Seer appeals for end to controversy

 

http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/03/stories/2004100310830300.htm

By Our Staff Correspondent

 

UDUPI, OCT. 2. Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math today said that some sections of the media were bent on creating a gulf between the Ashta Maths and the Kuruba community on the `Kanaka Gopuram' issue. He told presspersons here that the earlier gopuram was less than 100 years old. There was no connection whatsoever between the gopuram and the saint-composer Kanakadasa. The two old memorials connected with Kanakadasa were the `Kanakana Kindi' and the `Kanaka Gudi.' The Kanaka Mantapa built within the Sri Krishna Temple premises during his Paryaya (2000-02) was another memorial to Kanakadasa. Talks held

During his Paryaya, he had held wide-ranging talks with the Kuruba community and solved all the controversies connected to Kanakadasa amicably. This had led to a period of friendly relations between the Sri Krishna Math and the Kuruba community. But some groups and some sections of the media, especially some Bangalore-based Kannada weeklies, had "created a connection" between the gopuram and Kanakadasa. They were trying to instigate the Kuruba community against the Ashta Maths. The Kuruba community should understand this matter. The new gopuram being constructed by Paryaya Admar Math now had been named `Kanaka Gopuram.' With this there would be another memorial to Kanakadasa in Udupi. The seer said he would not give any opportunity for injustice to Kanakadasa or the Kuruba community. If such an incident were to occur, he would be the first to protest against it. He was always ready to talk to representatives of the Kuruba community.

 

 

 

http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/05/stories/2004100512690300.htm

 

Seer's statement on Kanakana Kindi, gopuram confusing'

By Our Staff Correspondent

 

UDUPI, OCT. 4. Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math on Monday said the statements of Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math on Saturday on the "Kanakana Kindi" and "Kanaka Gopuram" were confusing. He told presspersons here that it was well known that the window (kindi) on the outer wall of the Sri Krishna Temple was called "Kanakana Kindi" while the window at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple was called "Navagraha Kindi." Dignitaries such as the former Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, various Chief Ministers and others had been told that the window at the sanctum sanctorum was called Navagraha Kindi. The people of Udupi were puzzled by the "confusing statement" of Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji, he said. Statement

He said the Pejawar seer's statements on "Kanaka Gopuram" had done nothing to clear the air on the issue. He had thought that the Pejawar seer would set the matters right. But nothing of that kind had happened. He said the demolition of the earlier "Gopuram" had been taken up when the swamijis of five of the Ashta Maths were out of Udupi. The Paryaya Admar Math was not constructing the gopuram out of granite but of concrete. When he called on the Pejawar seer during his recent visit to Udupi, Vishwesha Tirtha had told him that he was saddened by the demolition, but had reconciled to it. Why then was the Pejawar seer taking an ambivalent stand on the issue? he sought to know. He said the Shiroor Math had the stone bed, a bell, and a conch used by the saint composer, Kanakadasa. He would show these items to the members of the Kuruba community, he said.

 

http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/09/stories/2004100911550300.htm

 

Row over temple connected to `gopura', `kindi' issues

By Our Staff Correspondent

 

UDUPI, OCT. 8. The issue of ownership of the Sri Krishna Math has become a matter of controversy following the objections raised by the former Minister H. Vishwanath. But the genesis of the ownership debate appears to be connected to the "Kanaka gopura" and "Kanakana kindi" issues. Kanaka gopura

The Kuruba community opposed the demolition of a "gopura" above the "Kanakana kindi". Vishwapriya Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Admar Math had said that the "gopura" was demolished as it was in a bad shape. However, the issue gained Statewide importance and the members of the Kuruba community protested against it. The swamiji then said that the new "gopura" would be called the "Kanaka gopura." He also convinced a delegation led by the former Minister, H.M. Revanna, about the intention of the Paryaya Admar Math. The foundation stone for the "Kanaka gopura" was laid by the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, K.H. Muniyappa, on August 19. Krishna Temple

However, things did not end there. Mr. Vishwanath, at a press conference in Mangalore on September 23, quoted an order of the Supreme Court and said that the temple did not belong to the maths but to the people. He said that the Ashta Maths could not claim ownership of the temple and that they only had the right to perform puja. Talking to The Hindu on September 24, the senior-most seer among the Ashta Maths, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, said that the Sri Krishna Temple did not come under the purview of the Endowment Department. He said that the issue of keeping the temple out of the purview of the Endowment Department was now under the consideration of the Government. The Supreme Court in its judgment had stated that while the Sri Krishna Math was a temple, the areas surrounding it were a part of the Math. Since the general public could have a darshan of the deity, it was a temple, but for other purposes, it was a math. He said that the Supreme Court had treated it as a temple, but under the administration of the math. He said that the new Endowment Act of the State Government had kept the temples connected to the maths outside the purview of the Act. The Sri Krishna Temple was connected to the Ashta Maths. Kanakana kindi

By then there was a new controversy, this time over the "Kanakana Kindi." Vishwesha Tirtha said on October 2 that the windows both on the outer wall of the temple and the wall of the sanctum sanctorum would be called "Kanakana Kindi." The swamiji alleged that the members of the Kuruba community were being misled by a section of the press, who wanted to create a gulf in the good relations between the "Ashta Maths" and the Kuruba community. This was contested by Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math, who said that the Pejawar seer was making confusing statements. He said that VIPs and dignitaries had over the years been told that the inner window (at the sanctum sanctorum) was "Navagraha kindi."