India is a land of temples. It is said that, Indian is a born philosopher. To this perhaps it may be added that Gowda Saraswath Brahmin is a born worshipper. It is because of this attitudinal inherence the Gowda Saraswats on their exodus from Goa constructed Temples wherever they settled. This was to meet the cultural, social and spiritual needs independently. The GSB settlers in and around Udupi, thus were compelled, being anxious and enthusiastic to construct a temple at Udupi. As if by God’s grace at this juncture the gift of land by late Smt. Kaveri Amma alias Sathyabhama Amma (Sridevi Nayak) through an endowment deed on 11.7.1883 was of great avail. By the gift it was intended that Pooja (scriptural form of worship) to her family Deity “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha” be performed on installation at the proposed temple along with the temple Deity. For this purpose she gifted two sets of properties to meet the expenses of Poojas to “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha” and the temple Deity separately.
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| Shri Lakshmi Narasimha vigraha from SLVT, Udupi |
The names of the 9 members of GSB Community articulated in the original gift deed of Smt. Kaveri Amma are:
- Sri Chinivartha Ananthayya Shanbhag – Shroff and Land Lord
- Sri Ananthayya alias Sheshagiri Pai – Land Lord and Merchant
- Sri Ammembal Krishna Pai – Advocate
- Sri Kumble Subba Rao – Advocate
- Sri Vasudeva Prabhu – Advocate
- Sri Haradi Upendra Pai – Taluk Supervisor
- Sri Krishna Padiyar – Merchant and Land Lord
- Sri Manjunatha Anantha Baliga – Land Lord
- Sri Shroff Venkat Rao – Shroff.
Later these became the hereditary trustees vested with powers of construction and administration of the Temple. They being ardent devotees of Lord Venkatesha, with the assistance and co-operation of the members of the community and also of a group of dedicated and devoted volunteers, expeditious construction of a Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbha Griha) made of granite stone and copper plated roof was accomplished. For this the foundation stone had been laid by H.H. Srimad Bhuvanendra teertha Swamiji of Sri Samsthan Kashi Math.
The idol of Sri Venkatesha was sculpted by the then celebrated sculptor of Karkala Sri Laxman Shanbhag. Standing on a one foot pedestal the idol is of 3 feet height. The serenity of beauty on the countenance is divinely spectacular. The hinder arms holding conch and disc (chakra) and the frontal arms showing assurance of security (Abhayahasta) and the other scretched upto knee (depicting that the ocean of life will be knee deep to His worshippers)
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| Shri Venkatesha |
The installation ceremony of the idol was performed by Srimad Varadendra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Kashi Math on 29.4.1896 (Shalivahana Era – 1818), “Durmukhi Samvat”, “Vaishakha” month – 2nd of dark half) with the participation of thousands of devotees.
Srimad Varadendra Thirtha blessed the congregation and predicted that the temple will acquire unexampled prominence and will foster enormous spiritual advancement in future. The enchanting “Namaskara Slokam” (the verse describing utmost obeisance) composed by the scholarly Srimad Varadendra Swamiji is on the pillar on the left hand side of the sanctorum. This supplicatory verse eulogises Lord Venkatesha as the God of Gods and destroyer of sins and can be deciphered in its replicated form, rendered in a very intelligent manner.
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| Maala bandha, as described, on the left pillar. |
the wondrous Lord of Veṅkaṭa, incomparable in splendour;
the abode of auspiciousness,the destroyer of the fears of the gods, beginning with Vāsava (Indra),
the bringer of prosperity,whose neck is beautiful like a conch.
the supreme refuge, exceedingly beautiful, clad in a white garment;
the lotus-eyed Lord, the skilful destroyer of the wicked and their evil deeds,
the Lord of the earth, who bears the bird-banner / the emblem of Garuḍa.
The below inscription is on the right pillar, and it is a commemoration plaque.
Translation
"Salutations to Guru Śrīmat Bhuvanendra Tīrtha.
In the Śaka year counted as Nāga-Abja-Nāga-Avani (1818), in the Durmukhi naama Samvatsara, in the month of Rādhā (Vaiśākha), on Wednesday combined with Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa Dvitīyā, during Yugma Lagna (Gemini ascendant);
In the temple constructed by the Gauḍa Sārasvata Brahmins at Raupyapīṭha (Udupi), may Lord Śrī Lakṣmī Vēṅkaṭēśa, consecrated by Śrīmat Varadēndra Tīrtha, bestow auspiciousness and well-being upon all people."
This foundation plaque commemorates the installation (Pratiṣṭhā) of the deity Lord Śrī Lakṣmī Vēṅkaṭēśa at the Śrī Venkataramana Temple, Udupi by Śrīmad Varadendra Tīrtha Swamiji on April 29, 1896 (Śaka 1818, Durmukha Samvatsara, Vaiśākha Kṛṣṇa Dvitīyā).
Note - Nāga-Abja-Nāga-Avani (1818) - This is called a Bhuta Sankhya, a code to indicate the Shaka year in a reverse order. The digits are derived from a lookup, a sample of which is given below;
Srimad Varadendra Teertha camped at the temple after the installation ceremony and regulated the routine of the temple. His Holiness selected suitable priests from respectable families and entrusted them with the daily Pooja duties.
Sources
1. https://www.udupipages.in/temples/sri-lakshmi-venkatesha-temple-udupi/
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