Walukeshwara - Tracing Forgotten History

Time erodes everything. Re-search is a continuous process and aims at re-finding and preserving items and ideas which need to be passed on for times to come.

People in Mumbai who have looked up the history of Walkeshwar/Walukeshwara, would probably be aware of a few things and few people, especially Shri. Rama Kamath, who re-built the temple which is called Walkeshwar today.

The objective of this research is to exhume some forgotten details of importance about the episode of Walukeshwara in the history of Mumbai. archive.org and a couple of other sources have helped trace the missing links and build a fair picture of what will be seen in this article.

Walkeshwar - The present temple

I was curious about Shri. Rama Kamath - what was his Gotra, his Kuladevata etc. as any grounded fellow Saraswat would be. A visit to the temple, close to Shri. Walkeshwar Kashi Math, made me discover these inscriptions, which are not too old, but have crucial pointers.

 

Translation - During the period of the Shilahara rule in the 12th Century C.E. , a Shiva temple was constructed by a leader of Gomantaka Dwijas (Dwijas from modern Goa), named LakshmaNa (Prabhu), hence the temple was known as LakshmaNeshwara. Eventually the temple was attributed to the son of Sumitra i.e., LakshmaNa.

With the passage of time and arrival of the cruel firangis (Portuguese) in Mumba Island (Mumbai), it was destroyed and reduced to a pile of stones. 

Eventually, Mumbai was passed on to the East India Company (referred as the English Trade Group). A pious, good natured person named Shri. Rama Kamath, from Saraswata kula and Gaargya Gotra; a great businessman and the Treasurer, Commander of the Army of the East India Company; who consecrated the temple of Samaliyalal (Krishna in Gujarati) and Venkatesha in Fort. 

Three years after the Vikrama Varsha named Nanda, he performed the Jeernoddhaara (re-consecration) of this Shiva Temple (in 1715 C.E.), which is has attained pious fame today as the Walukeshwara. 

In front of whom the whole World appears as a speck of sand, my humble prostration to Walukeshwara (The Lord made of sand), who is the ocean of kindness and peace.

Notes - 

1712 C.E was Nanda naam samvatsara, 3 years post that is 1715 C.E.

The spot where the temple currently stands was Lakshmaneshwara and not Walukeshwara. But it has gained that name over time.

Original Walukeshwara temple was present in the spot where current Raj Bhavan stands. The ruins were moved to museums in London, before constructing a house, by the East India Company. This is currently the residence of the Governor.

Samaliyalal is one of the old Gujarati names for Krishna, which is associated with his complexion - Shyam. Saanvariya is the equivalent which we all are aware of.

The Samaliyalal temple is a separate temple which was a community one, supported by members of GSB and Gujarati community. Venkatesh temple was basically the family shrine of Shri. Rama Kamat. With time, his estate was eventually dissolved and the family deities came to stay along with Samaliyalal. Kalikaala was prabala and the temple premises were appropriated by a Gujarati Pandit. This was eventually reclaimed and given back to GSB samaj due to efforts by the community, spearheaded by my grandfather, Shri. Hariappa Shenoy.

Today its a small temple, which needs urgent repairs. 

Ancestral Musings

There will always be questions about our ancestors for whom we will never have definite answers. But when we start asking questions, its as though they start speaking to us through the medium of how things are in this world.

I was always curious about the story of my great grand father, Shri Madhav Shenoy (Shanbhogue), son of Ganapayya Shanbhogue, Kaup. I remember my father telling me about what he had heard, that Madhav had a small shop and was not very well to do. He must have been married to Laxmi Shenoy at a young age and had two sons Hariappa and Anant. He passed away soon.

Considering Hariappa was born in 1913, and also a story about the couple having a daughter as their first child, assuming that Madhav was 21 when he married and had his first child in 1911 (2 years before Hariappa), Madhav would have been born between 1880 to 1890. Now Hariappa came to Bombay at the age of 13 i.e. in 1926. This was the time when Laxmi and her two sons were living in a corner in Lakshmi Venkatramana Temple in Kaup. Assuming that Madhav passed away when Hariappa was 10 would mean that he must have been less than 35 years old at the time of his death.

Now how did Laxmi and her two sons stay in the temple? If Ganapayya was a big seth, why this situation of his kin. To this, a point mentioned by Shri Panduranga Shenoy, my uncle, in 2024 came to help. He said that the original home of Ganapayya Shanbhogue was located where we have our Naga Gudi today. It was known as the Hod Ghara (big house). Laxmi and her sons had left that place and started living in the temple premises. I had visited Vaman Shenoy's home in that location in 2007. As on date, there is a new Naga Gudi (earlier it was a small shrine on the side of the property and had to be relocated due to issues with drainage flowing from the side of it. I had thrown a stone at it as a kid and my mother had asked for apology to the Naga Devata).

While i visited Mumbai in the same year for Ganeshotsava, Jaya Akka, also in the lineage of Ganapayya, told me more about the Hod Ghara. She said it was a grand structure with wooden staircase and a sort of a wall supported bridge also. Till the time it collapsed in 70s or 80s, it was a place where all important cooking used to happen for religious functions in the Ganapayya Shanbhogue extended family. One corner of the home came into the share of Ganapayya's youngest son, Keshava Shenoy.

So how did Laxmi and her sons go out of the home? A young widow is an easy target for lechers and most seemingly this may have happened with her, prompting her to take the step of leaving the home. She was known as a rude and sharp widowed lady, a quality she would have acquired to protect herself. She used to do odd jobs to survive. She got lands in her husbands share, but seemingly these lands were mortgaged to a Jaina Money lender, based on my deduction from an account shared by Shri Raghuram Shenoy, my uncle staying in Kaup. He had said that the Daiva Gudi and the attached lands were released by our Grandfather, Hariappa Shenoy, once he got funds from his hotel and catering enterprise in Mumbai.

The Daiva Gudi was originally built by Ganapayya, the land lord. Post this, Hariappa was the son of soil who gained wealth and acquired the lands again. He reconstructed the dilapidated structure. Fast forward in 2006, the descendents of Ganapayya were not willing to contribute, despite the Daiva telling all of them to come together. They were saying that this was Hariappas property and only his kin should be concerned about it. Later on, all came together and put in their money, by some unknown divine work.

As per an account by Vrinda Shenoy, wife of Raghuram uncle, - Laxmi Shenoy used to serve food to young girls during Mahalaya Paksha, on a certain tithi (Panchami mostly), in remembrance of her first daughter who had passed away when young. I had not known of this, but knew that even my grand mother, Smt. Narayani bai, wife of Hariappa Shenoy, also had a daughter as her first child, who had passed on. If memory serves me right, Hariappa and Narayani were married in 1937, so Hariappa would be 24 when he got married. Narayani was born in 1918 and was 19 during her betrothal. I too have a daughter as my first born, who we got after a lot of sleepless nights, which seems to be some divine co-incidence.

Grandfather came to Bombay as a boy of 13 and worked hard in Vasudev Ashram. His skills of 8 years of hard work and kindness from a customer paved the way to him becoming a Hotel Owner, a confectioner, a Congress party worker and a GSB samaj leader. He used to get up late and work late until night, and his kids would hardly see him. Particulary favourite of his was his 4th son Pundalik, who recounted visiting Chowpatty with him on Narali Poornima, when Hariappa used to offer milk and coconut to the Chowpatty sea.

How did the family come to Mumbai? Until 1940s, it was all about working in the city and sending money back home to Kaup (i am not sure about the channels but those were days when migrations were a norm and someone was constantly travelling). Their surviving first child, Kamalaksha was born in 1940, post which Narayani had her fears of Hari having an affair in Mumbai, like all other hotel wallah's. Most probably Hari had a mistress. So Narayani boarded a steamer without prior intimation and came unannounced. Hari had to make temporary arrangements in the kitchen of his cousin brother, Chardappa Shenoy, who used to stay in Babulnath in a 1 room kitchen setting. Couple of months in the future, our current residence in Mumbai was vacated by the occupants and Hari moved in with Narayani and his kid, after bribing the rent collector for a good sum in those days. Since then, the 1 room house has been the fort of the Shenoy's in Mumbai, which came in my father's share eventually.

So what about the mistress? Narayani had got her father to also come to Mumbai who helped sort the matter and Hari promised never to get into those zones ever. It seems in those day's, people were more relaxed than today in these matters. Hari's brother Anant too had  a wife back home, but he was busy in enjoying himself with ladies in Mumbai. Hari helped him start something of his own, but every time Anant used to destroy it (in the words of my father, he used to set it on fire). Father recounts seeing Anant bappa once in embrace of some unknown lady in a gully. He seemed to have become a purohit in some temple and raised his kids Narayana and Ashok. Narayana was a straightforward man, but Ashok was known to be another crook, Govardhan Shenoy (another cousin) being his chaddi buddy.

Father had told of an incident when someone had seen a cockroach in the kitchen and made a hue about it. In order to keep all customers and others from panicking, Hari had taken it up crushed it and thrown it away saying it was just a red chilli. Quick thinking saved him the day:)

How did Hari become a confectioner? Hari had a business named Hurricane Products (remembered as Haricane by his sons who could not even remember the spelling correctly). The main products were candies and toffees and it had business in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat. Hari had acquired the premises for Central Health Home in 1942, when people were leaving Bombay due to the uncertainties of WW2. He started a thali place there where lunch was served. Afternoons were free and Hari started experimenting with confectionery, he learnt with the help of Muhamaddan confectioners in Null Bazar area (there are still couple of them there like Zahoora). One thing led to another, and eventually he acquired a place near JJ hospital and established Hurricane products. This was closed after his demise.

He visited Varanasi once in 1948 and second in 1958, on the return of which he got embroiled in a cruel twist of fate. Due to animosity between the CA and Hariappas brother in law, the CA exposed some accounting issues to the authorities which led to an arrest warrant for Hariappa. On return he was welcomed with a prospect of spending time behind the bars. Already a respected fellow, stressed out and not in the pink of health meant that he was not equipped to deal with this shock and sufferred a heart attack. He spent some days in the hospital and passed away.

Father was not aware of the details of grandfather's passing (or maybe he hid it from us). He used to attribute Hari's early passing away to his erratic work schedules, bad nutrition and habit of smoking beedies. Father had told about spending some days with Hari in the hospital and also having picked some money from his pocket as a child. But not much of interaction ever happened between father and son, as was a norm in those 7 kids on an average days.

On the day of his passing, father and Pundalik mhant were so hungry that they purchased samosa from Dave's shop and were eating it, while everyone else was looking at the naive kids, not knowing what to day. Narayani had also attempted suicide by ingesting powdered diamond on that day, due to the utter shock of her predicament, but was saved by quick thinking relatives.

The Brother in Law and team had a plan to send Narayani and her children back to village, a kind of back to square one scenario, which was prevented by the intervention and encouragement of Chardappa Shenoy, Hariappa's cousin, who pushed Hari's eldest son, Kamalaksha to swift and intelligent action in driving the entire Bro in Law gang out of the concerns of Hariappas flourishing business. 

Beyond this, Kamalaksha kept the fire burning, ensured his siblings got education. Eventually by God's grace and Hari and Narayani's punya that all turned out well.

There are so many shades to a person's character because a person is after all a frail human being, victim of his life conditions. Someone may label my grandfather as a womanizer (due to the mistress episode), or a cheat (due to the cockroach or the fatal accounting errors). My aunt had once labelled him as a humbug, as Hari had promised monetary compensation to a squatter aka tenant on one piece of land he had reclaimed, but did not respect the promise made. What is of importance is to remember a person's greatness, emulate the good things he did and learn from his mistakes.

The amount of apathy, difference in accounts, lack of knowhow of history of a great man who passed away in 1958 is so much that i believe that History is always about speculation. We may say that the written word saves us from much trouble, but how much of the written word is true can never be substantiated. The reason why we peek into the past to it see patterns of thought and action which may bless us or wreck us, so that we can learn from it and set our future course. If the history of my ancestors is worthless, so is the history of the World. In other words, it is equally important for all descendants to record their ancestral history as much as possible. It should not be a subject of debate but of deliberated reflection.

Paitruka

Gotra-Pravara: Vaasistha-MaitraaVaruna-Kaundinya

Kuldeva: Ramnath Shanteri Kamakshi, Ponda (originally Lotavali)

Lakshmana Shanbhag (Mid 18th Century)

Resident of Mulki/Kadekara (disputed)

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Rukmayya Shanbhag (Late 18th Century)

Migrated to Kapu (Udupi) and founding father of Kapu Shenoy Family. Prospered in Kapu. 

Became the Patel and the descendants of his first son are still holding the position.

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Ganapayya Shanbhag (Mid 19th Century)

Inherited/acquired lands and build our Daiva Gudi to Pilli Chamundi. 

Might have been involved in litigations and lost his property, as seen from most of the descendants having migrated to Bombay.

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Madhava Shanbhag (Late 19th Century)

Had a petty shop. Died in penury, probably brought by property division or personal issues, leaving behind 2 young sons. Inherited property having the Daiva Gudi, which was mortgaged to Jaina money lenders.

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Kaup Hariappa Madhav Shanai (1913 - 1958)

Migrated to Bombay as a boy, worked hard and became a hotelier, confectioner and politician. 

Re-acquired mortgaged lands in Kapu and rebuilt Daiva Gudi. Did great service to Kashi Math Samsthan and helped countless people.

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Prabhakar Shenoy (1947 - 2021)

Graduated in science, became self-employed in his surgical business. Fought for the dharma always. Talented writer, speaker and singer. Led a life of hard work, respect and raised his family with honesty.

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Shrinath Shenoy (1988 - present)

Trained to be an engineer, worked in Pune and moved to Udupi, the story continues…:)

Memorable events related to food

Manipal - late 1990s

Between 1997-2000, our families had a chance to come together due to thread ceremonies of all male cousins. We had a gala time every summer vacation and the food memories from this time were beautiful.

The gobi manchurian, parcelled in banana leaves and brought home by uncle from a restaurant named Dwadashi in Kalsanka, Udupi. (closed now), was loved by all, due to its unique taste and aroma which is hard to find these days. We also had savoured a lot of Gud Bud ice creams in these days at multiple places, most notable one being at Lakshmi Soda Stall in Karkala. They used to prepare their own ice cream and it was fabulous in those days. Also to mention the soda sherbet, made with freshly prepared soda right out of the machine.

One day, the senior folks had also pulled off a tandoori party, grilling chicken on top of Srikar mam's terrace. It was a bit over charred, and not sufficient for our hungry bellies, but a memorable experience indeed.

We had also tasted Chole Bhature for the first time when all ladies of the house worked hard and prepared it under Meera Baliga akka's guidance.

The most fabulous Biscuit Ambade were enjoyed during the year of Pratap's thread ceremony, the ranpo maam had made such amazing light and crispy ones that i ended up eating 6 big ambades.

NSS Camp

We had been to the same village in 2007. The village is named Songarh and located in Raigad District, MH. The quality of food served in 2008 was on the other end of the scale compared to the one in the previous year. I remember seeing the men prepare the food on openfires, chopping cabbages with steel glasses etc. to prepare the stir fry, which was very lovely. Also got a taste of bhareli vangi made with small brinjals cooked on coal fire.

From the camp in 2007, only two food experiences are worth sharing. One is the amazing kanda poha made by he ladies in Kasarmalai. The poha was well made, fluffy and topped with freshly grated coconut and fried peanuts. We even got second helpings, which made us very happy, hungry that we were after having walked a good deal that morning. Another was the amazing chai and Parle G biscuits we had in a dhaba when Shantaram, Parikshit, Nikhil and I had gone to a nearby village for a small demo in the village school.

Here, one of the teachers had asked us what was being served to us for food and remarked that the non-veg is made very well in these sides, particulary Kombdi Wade - Chicken curry served with fried rice wadas. Interestingly in my last NSS camp of 2009, i tasted his in a village near Sai, located on a hilltop, which was a memorable experience in the cold winters of December.

Delhi-Sonepat-Chandigarh - 2012

This was the first time i travelled by Rajdhani express for Mitesh Sharma's wedding. The food was amazing on the train, along with the company.

Once we reached Hz. Nizamuddin station, we headed to Shashi's place where we had awesome noodles and manchurian prepared by his neighbour. Then we headed to Nishant Trisal's place in Rohini, via the Delhi Metro. Nishant's mom had made a lovely Kashmiri lunch for us, having palak chaman, nadru yakhni and authentic dum aloo. Also, awesome rajma curry and shahi paneer with the best paneer i have ever eaten. Superb rice and soft phulkas to eat these with. We were served kahva after the lunch and it is one of the most memorable experience i have had in this life.

In Chandigarh, the food was standard. For the reception in Sonepat, i enjoyed golgappa with varities of pani to be eaten with for the first time. The Soya Chanp kababs was out of the world and i was shocked that it was not chicken.

We also visited Delhi in that year and enjoyed deep fried parathas with banana chutney and lassi at Chandni Chowk, Kachaalu chat at Palika bazaar and amazing rasgulla and rasmalai a haldirams, chandni chowk.

Maitri Farms - 2015

During my first week on the farm, the helper was away due to his father's demise. We had to work on the farm in the day and cook at night. This was my first experience cooking on wood fire. I helped Jeetu, a villager who was there to help us, prepare a delicious stir fry with dried prawns. Then Shreesh, the farm owner, and I worked together to make the chapatis. Those were huge chapatis and fulfilling on our empty bellies.

Each morning and evening, black tea prepared with lemn gradd and lots of sugar was served. A British guy named Zeke Marshall had mastered it. It was amusing to seee him prepare it for all of us.

Once the rains had started, Jeetu would get mud crabs aka chimbori, from his rice farm. We too had ventured out in the night to collect them from the farm we were in, and got small ones. With these, amazing crab curry was prepared one afternoon, by the helper's wife. She had one day prepared amazing chapaties, gawar beans stir fry and thecha with garlic and green chilly. It was the best item i had eaten during my farm stay.

Shri. Prabhakar H. Shenoy | The Sun which set 2 years ago

I have wanted to write about my late Pitashri, since the time of his passing away in 2021. A few lines to summarize his life for posterity and hoping that i will write about his life at length very soon.

His was the life of an upright man who never begged anyone, believed in hard work, despite being aware that one gets only what one is destined to.

In his younger days, he was a sportsman, but his heart ailment put an end to it. Also made it hard for him to secure a job, which paved the way for him becoming a self made business man, who also helped set businesses for others as well.

He had an active life, despite his heart issues, major surgeries, falls etc. He lived a life more active than an average youngster of today. 

He was skilled in both speech and writing and had a beautiful handwriting carefully cultivated. I have always been proud that my father wrote beautifully, in neat cursive style, and his signature was gold standard for me.

He was adept at bonding with kids and telling them stories, but when enraged, the same kids would shit in their pants looking at his gaze. Same goes for erring adults whose evil intentions were kept in check by his aura and efforts.

He was ably supported by a just, sweet dharmapatni, who helped him run his home and took great care of his health and nurtured 3 kids with love. She prayed hard, saved money, fed him good, healthy food and provided the oil to smoothly run the machinery of their lives.

He had been cheated amply by those he trusted and believed in, but rewarded amply by the Almighty. Yet he was a man of few needs and lived simply till his end, never trying to indulge in luxury or showoff.

Our Yoga Guruji, Shri. Mahavir Sainik ji, had mentioned to me with tears in his eyes, first time we met after the passing away of dad, that my father was a mad man for the world, whose goodness and sanity could only be identified by another mad man like him. By mad man, he actually meant a very grounded person who was easily misinterpreted in popular understanding.

My father believed in the inherent goodness of people, and had consideration for their comforts and pains as his formula while dealing with them. He never called anyone when he felt they may be ill disposed and considered about time of the day when they may be having lunch or sleeping, unlike most people who are only bothered about their objective while calling on phone.

He was very fond of singing old hindi songs, bhajanas and blessed with a beautiful voice and skilled on the harmonium. His guidance and training set the basis for the music we are able to create and enjoy.

Prabhakar and Suman · Prabhakar - Jalte Hain Jiske Liye

Over the years i had realised how good looking he was and he was becoming more sweet like a ripening mango, as he grew older.

We have served him from the time we were kids and my times spent massaging his feet and talking to him about everything under the sky are the times i miss the most. I can recall his face and his voice, whenever i feel like hearing or seeing him.

I am sad about how destiny planned his end, and wished that it could have been a better ending, but believe that he cleaned up all his karmic baggage he had to burn in this lifetime.

He will surely have a great next janma, in a healthy body, happy, virtuous and wealthy family.

The Sun set 2 years ago, but left enough light to guide us for the rest of our life. Miss you Annu...:(

Thayumanavar Shloka. For the Garbhini...:)

हे शंकर स्मरहर प्रमथादिनाथ

मन्नाथ साम्ब शशिचूड हर त्रिशूलिन् |

शम्भो सुखप्रसव कृत् भवमे दयाळु 

श्री मात्रुभूत शिव पालयमाम् नमस्ते ||

Audio

Translation

Hey Shankara, the Lord of the Pramatha GaNas, and who takes away all pain on simply thinking of Him.

The conquerer of Manmatha (Man naatha), Saamba, wearing the crescent moon (Shashi) on his matted locks bundled into a bun, and holding a Trishoola

Hey Shambho, the kindest one, please grant me an easy delivery.

I pray thus to Shiva, who came in the form of Mother (Taayumanavar), to protect me.

Application - 

1. Imagine getting this shloka from Shiva Himself, as a Guru before starting. 
2. Recite this on Mondays, 11 times, praying to Lord Shiva to protect you and your unborn child.

Notes:

• Pramatha GaNas - The retinue (gaNas) of Shiva who can cause pain and suffering. Invoking Shiva as their lord, so that the unborn is protected from evil influences, attributed to these gaNas.
• Manmatha - Kamadeva, who was burned down by Shiva.
• Saamba - Amba Sameta, Sa Amba - The one with Amba i.e., Parvati Mata. Shri. Krishna also had a son named Saamba, born to his queen Jambavati, and acquired post intense tapas to Shiva.
• Taayumanavar - A form of Shiva worshipped in Tiruchirapalli. 
• The legend of the temple is here, hence association with easy delivery. Matrubhoota Shiva is a Sanskritized name for Tayumanavar. Taayi is mother. 

A beautiful Krithi on Matrubhoota Shiva, the lord of Tiruchirapalli, by Kum. Sivasri Skandaprasad. 

This krithi has a reference to the story. (vaiSya jAti strI vEsha dharaNaM)

Daiva Gudi | The Shanbhogues/Shenoys of Kaup

Shri. Ganapayya Shanbhogue(Ganapati Shenoy) was a wealthy man in Kaup, a small penta (market) in South Kanara. His father, Shri. Rukmayya Shanbhogue, moved to Kaup from either Mulki or Kadekara and settled here with his family This Rukmayya is the individual from whom today's Kaup Shenoy's trace their descent from. How i descend from Rukmayya Shanbhogue

Among the sons from Rukmayya's second wife, Ganpayya had acquired wealth and status through hard work and Gods grace, in this land of the Tuluvas which had been kind enough to accomodate his persecuted Konkani Saraswata Bandhavas. Ganapayya held a good deal of lands and was a devout and proud man. 

One day, while returning home, he heard a voice as though someone was following him and trying to speak. He disregarded it as machinations of his mind due to the approaching dusk, but it continued and increased with the passage of time. With his awareness of the adrusta jagata, he reached out to a daivagya who, with the help of his incantations, revealed that Vyaaghra Chamundi or Pilichandi, the sthaana devata or Daiva of the lands he had acquired, was asking for a shrine for him and his 12 parivara daivas, as a token of gratitude for taking over the lands which the Daivas had been protecting from Ages. Ganapayya complied, demonstrating sensitivity to both divinity and local practices of the Tuluvas, and built a Daiva Gudi, which became a center of reverence for all his descendents, till this day. 

Pili Chandi Daiva Mask (silver)

Generations passed on, the lands changed hands by inheritance and the land having the Gudi went out of the entitlement of the Shenoy's. It had come in the share of Ganapayya's son Madhava and was lost due to some debts owed to a Jaina moneylender. Madhava did not have a paisa to his name. He died after a few years in marriage, leaving his wife Lakshmi and two young sons, Hari and Ananta, in penury. Lakshmi used to stay with her sons in a corner in Kaup Venkatramana Devasthana, the center point for all the Amchigele mandali in Kaup pente. She brought up her kids, doing odd jobs like cleaning utensils and helping around. 

Smt. Kaup Laxmi Madhava Shenoy

Hari(appa), the elder son, realised that it was time he had to take on responsibilities of the elder one, and at the age of 13, moved to Bombay, the hub of all commerce and possibilities. He worked in Vasudev Ashram, a successful eating place in Bombay, established by Vasudev Shenoy, Hari's distant cousin. Here, young Hari worked very hard to earn money, experience, network and respect. He was involved in both unskilled labour as well as skilled tasks like cooking and learning the nuances of the food business. His public relations and skills honed over 8 years of service, won him the admiration of many of Vasudev Ashram's customers, particularly of one Mr. Koppikar/Koppalkar. Looking at Hari's acumen, he told him of an opportunity to run a canteen at Nair Hospital, which was under Mr. Koppikar's cousin, who had some difficulties managing it. After getting an approval from Vasudev Anna, Hari started a fresh venture of applying his cooking and administrative skills and run the canteen at Nair hospital. 

Business was brisk and Hari was enterprising enough to sell packed eatables prepared in the canteen kitchen, which was a hit with employees of the hospital. Here, Mata Lakshmi started smiling on Hari and poverty slowly started becoming a thing of the past. (check ps for the brief story of Hari from here on.) 

Shri. Kaup Hariappa Shenoy

Having acquired wealth, he came back to his homeland and acquired the lands lost in debt. The Daiva Gudi built by Ganapayya, two generations ago, was in shambles and Hari renovated it and provided the needed Gaurav to the Daivas who had been kind to him and his ancestors. He provided land and ample resources to a Tuluva named Shri. Kotian to sustain himself, so that he could take care of the affairs of the Gudi, the cultivable lands and himself. Each year, he was provided with ample resources for the regular pooja and other responsibilities of the Gudi.

Fast forward to the 90s. The cultivable lands and the one with the Gudi was usurped by Shri. Kotian and his descendants, thanks to the land reforms act of Smt. Indira Gandhi. Over a period of time, the Daiva Gudi was again an old building in the need for repairs and the Daivas were constantly bringing this to the attention of those who had stayed back in Kaup, during the Darshana sessions in the Hale Mariamma Temple close-by. Anyone considering to take the onus was bogged down by the seemingly impossible task of bringing all the descendents on common ground and getting their help to fund and complete the renovation. The cycle of time had done its damage, not only to the Daiva Gudi, but also the faith and sense of gratitude towards the lands which had given our ancestors a new lease of life. 

Having taken over the lands in an unrighteous manner, Shri Kotian eventually suffered losses in life. It is noteworthy that the Daiva still considered the descendants of Shri. Hari Shenoy as the true Dhani (land-lord) and would always ask for their presence in all darshana sessions. Hence, in order to mitigate the issues, Shri. Kotian had to bring it to the attention of Shri. Hari Shenoy's descendants, most of whom were away from Kaup, as their presence and contribution was equally required.

Finally in 2005, Shri. Raghurama Shenoy, Hari's 2nd son, being a resident of Kaup, determined that this item had to be completed. He was amply supported by his siblings in Manipal and Mumbai as well as Shri. Nagesh Shenoy and Shri. Ramaraya Shenoy, his paternal uncle and cousin, who shouldered much of the responsibilities in supervising and getting the reconstruction efforts completed in a satisfactory manner. In this manner, the stage was being set for the families coming together and completing the task.

The entire group of Shri. Ganapayya Shanbhogue's descendents eventually came together and jointly funded the renovation, along with Shri. Kotian and the construction was finally was completed in 2006. This was followed by many grand festivities. The Daivas were finally happy, having achieved their status, and brought the families close by. 

Many helpless souls of family members and non-family people who had passed on and taken shelter in the dilapidated daiva gudi, were identified with the help of Prashna Margam, conducted by Padubidri Sharma Master, and they were released and provided solace with the help of many rituals like Narayana bali, Tarpana etc.

The approach road to the current Gudi

The current Gudi

Daivas placed inside (representation, from another Gudi)

We as a family realised that our relations which our native lands should always be remembered and cherised, and the Daivas and Nagas are not just superstitions but actual deities with whom, our lives are entwined for generations to come. 

P.S. - Hari was married in 1937 to Smt. Narayani bai (nee Kum. Sumitra Kamath). They together had 7 sons and 1 daughter; first child was a daughter who passed away as an infant. He started living in Babulnath in 1942, having spent some days in the kitchen of Chardappa anna, when Narayani decided to come to Bombay un-announced in 1941.

Hari became a successful hotelier post 1940s, having acquired a place to start New Central Health Home in Girgaon as well as a hotel in Fort, the latter being inaugurated by Pandit Nehru himself. Hari also ventured into confectionary in 1951 and was the proprietor of Hurricane products, a confectionary unit close to JJ Hospital, which did brisk business in Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. 

New Central Health Home, Girgaon

Pamphlet of Hurricane Products, with information about Pt. Nehru inaugurating the new hotel in Fort, Mumbai

In the social sphere, he was a secretary of Kashi Mutt Sansthan. He visited Varanasi twice in his lifetime, to supervise restoration activity on the Kashi Muth premises, despite health issues and mounting responsibilities. He was a lover of Bhajana singing and among the founding fathers of Shravana Bhajana Saptaha in the premises of Walkeshwara Kashi Muth. 

He was also instrumental in starting a primary Kannada School in Banam Hall Lane, Girgaum, Mumbai, after a long struggle with the BMC.

During a litigation, he came in contact with Mr. Bijoor, who informed him about an old Balaji Temple in Fort, which belonged to the GSB Samaj, but was appropriated by other community members. He worked hard at restoring its ownership to the Kashi Muth Sansthan, which had been encroached upon, with the blessings of Srimad Sukratindra Tirtha Swamiji of the Sansthan. This temple was built originally by Shri. Rama Kamath, the legendary figure in Bombay's history, who reconstructed the present Walkeshwar Temple and donated land for Kashi Muth, Walkeshwar in 1715.

More details about this temple - Shamalia Lal Balaji Temple, Fort 

Balaji Temple, Fort, Mumbai

Srimad Sudheendra Tirtha, the former Mathadhipati of Kashi Muth, held Hari in high regard, and would always remember him whenever we used to visit His Holiness for mantrakshate. 

Politically he contested elections, provided his time, network and resources for canvassing leaders of Congress like S.K Patil, Morarji Desai etc. All these hallowed leaders were present in his funeral, when he passed on untimely in 1958. Around 3000 people are said to have attended his last journey to Chandanwadi/Sonapura Smashaana Bhoomi where he was cremated.

Author: Shrinath Prabhakar Shenoy, Hari Shenoy's grandson.

Sources: Shri. Kamalaksha Hari Shenoy, Late. Shri. Raghuram Hari Shenoy, Shri. Pundalik Hari Shenoy, Smt. Jayanthi P. Shenoy and Late. Shri. Prabhakar Hari Shenoy

Online Resources - 

https://www.bantwalbaliga.com/showtree.php?tree=8

https://www.geocities.ws/mks_us/family_tree.html

http://www.gsbkonkani.net/TEMPLES/FORT_TEMPLE.htm