Gokarnanatheshwara Temple
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The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, otherwise known as Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, is in the Kudroli area of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. It was consecrated by Narayana Guru. It is dedicated to Gokarnanatha, a form of Lord Shiva. Compared to the other temples in and around Mangalore this temple was built recently.
History
The Billava community was traditionally suppressed by the upper caste treating them as untouchables. It is in such a scenario that the community found a messiah in Narayana Guru. Narayana Guru has been regarded as the uplifter of the downtrodden and a visionary social servant.
Learning about the work undertaken by Narayana Guru in establishing social equality through his temples in Kerala, a prominent Billava leader from the community Adhyaksha Koragappa visited the Guru in 1908. The delegation appraised Narayana Guru about the problems faced by the Billawas. This is wrong information. I am a great grandson of H. Koragappa and am planning to sue people who have defamed my great grand father. Shri Koragappa went alone no community elders accompanied him. This is family tradition in our family. I have documents to prove this. Also part of the reason was that Shri Koragappa's son-in-law H. Somappa was very ill and he went to Shri Narayana guru for his blessings to cure his son-in-law. The temple pond in Kudroli had a marker in marble in memory of H. Somappa. In the "modernization" of the temple this plaque was thrown away. This desecration is not forgotten and people losing elections happened after this terrible act. The samadhi of both H. Koragappa and H. Somappa with appropriate markers lies in our family plot in Gori Gudde in Attavar, Mangalore. The plot and samadhi of Adhyaksha Koragappa is in terrible condition, the great builder of this magnificent temple lies in a forlorn, forgotten piece of land, and history is changed by envious and devious people. We shall not forget this injustice. My great grandfather was a great devotee of Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and Bhagawan performed several miracle at the home of Adhyaksha Koragappa. The first meeting of Bhagawan Nityananda and Adhyaksha Koragappa is described in the book Avadhoot Bhagawan Nityananda, on page 31. The book is authored by Swami Vijayananda of Nityananda Dhyana Mandira, Bevinakoppa. Till Shri H. Somasunder, Adhyaksha Koragappa's son was the president, matters were carefully addressed, but now it has become a tourist temple, with no sanctity.
Narayana Guru visited Mangalore on invitation from this delegation( this is nonsense, there is no proof, what are the names of the other members of this so-called faltu delegation, only Adhyaksha Koragappa went) and ascertained for himself the exactness of the prevailing situation. After visiting, Narayana Guru selected the place in Kudroli and advised the community elders about a suitable location to build their temple; work began under his direction. Adhyaksha Koragappa ensured smooth progress in the temple's construction.
Gokarnanatha Kshethra, Mangalore, foundation stone was originally laid by the couple Siri Amma Poojaarthi and Chennappa Poojaary in 1908. They were foster parents of Koragappa Poojaary. Chennappa Poojaary is the son of Ugga Poojaary who was responsible to build Brahma Baidarkala Garadi Kshethra, Kankannady, Mangalore in the year 1882. Later the divine Shiva Linga was consecrated by Narayana Guru in Gokarnanatha Kshethra.[1]
Narayana Guru formally consecrated the temple in February 1912 with the establishment of sacred Shiva Linga, which was brought by him. He named this place as Gokarnanatha Kshethra. 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 Ganapathy, Subramanya, Annapoorneshwari, Bhairava, the Nava Grihas (Lords of nine planets), Shanishwara and Krishna are installed at the Kshethra. This has helped devotees worship at all these sannidanams (abodes) and seek blessings and solace for their problems. Adhyaksha Koragappa then donated the land needed for the Kshethra. He was also chosen as its first administrative head. As per his will only a member of his family can become the administrative head.
The temple was renovated in 1989 under the leadership of B. Janardhan Poojary and under the guidance of Somasunderam, son of Koragappa( there is no proof of this fact). Sthapadi K. Dakshinamoorthy was the architect who designed and built the present temple in the Chola style of architecture from its original Kerala style. The new gopuram is 60 feet in height and very beautiful. The renovated Gokarnanatha Kshethra was inaugurated by the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, shortly before his assassination during an election rally. A marble statue of Narayana Guru was erected at the entrance of the temple in 1966 and a crown studded with precious gems was given by the devotees later. It's estimated the renovation cost Rs. 1 crore, and now it has become one of the largest temples in Mangalore.[2]
Later in the year 2007 Bhagwaan Hanumaan Mandir was built in the Gokarnanatha Kshethra premises at the entrance under the leadership of B. Janardhan Poojary. Bhagwaan Hanumaan Mandir in turn adds beauty to the Kshethra.
Festivals
The temple observes many festivals. Maha Shivaratri, Navrathri, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nagara Panchami, Deepavali, Dasara, Sri Narayana Jayanthi are celebrated with traditional gaiety and splendour. It has worshipers from all over the world. The temples branches are in Mulki, Udupi and Katpady. In addition to idols of Sharada Matha and Maha Ganapati, life-size idols of Nava Durgas are installed in the premises in an attractive way during Navaratri. All religious rites are observed for the entire period. Tableaux form a special part of the festivities and are taken around the main thoroughfares of Mangalore. Idols are then immersed in the well-decorated temple ponds in the presence of devotees.
The dasara festival is celebrated with much grandeur. The dasara celebrations of this temple is popularly called Mangalore Dasara. Mangalore Dasara was started by B.R.Karkera.
The birthday of Sri Narayana Guru is ceremoniously followed. The Kshethra also follows the ritual of feeding devotees who visit it daily. Community Sri Satyanarayana Pooja, Sri Shani Pooja, free mass marriages and distribution of scholarship to deserving students are traditions, too. Today, the Kshethra attracts devotees from all religions and communities. The Billava community has come of age. The Kshethra can be rightly called the melting pot of all religions symbolising unity in diversity.[1][2]
Mangalore Dasara is celebrated in a very spectacular way by worshiping the idol of Ganesh, Adhi Shakthi Maatha, Sharada Maatha, Navadurgas such as Shaila Puthri Maatha, Brahmachaarini Maatha, Chandrakaantha Maatha, Kushmaandini Maatha, Skanda Maatha, Kathyaahini Maatha, Maha Kaali Maatha, Maha Gowri Maatha and Siddhi Dhaathri Maatha. All these idols are grandly worshiped for nine days of navarathri. On the tenth day, these idols are taken in the grand procession of Mangalore Dasara throughout the city; the procession returns to Gokarnanatha Kshethra on the next day morning where all the above idols are immersed in the lake inside the temple premises.
Location
This temple is situated in Kudroli area (about 5 km from the City Bus Stand) in the city of Mangalore.
Controversies
Shri Janardhan Poojary perfomed Urul seva( rolling around the temple) so that Mrs Sonia Gandhi can be cured, and she can also win the General elections of 2014. Since Shri Poojary is also very much part of the administration of this temple, it would appear that the temple administration has injected politics into religion. Shri Poojary also had widowed, Dalit women as archakas. This would be reformist, except the women were not competent to perform puja and after a short time the archakas ran away, exposing the whole exercise as a cheap political gimmick. In the interview Janardhan Poojary admitted that he is dictatorial and takes decisions without consulting anyone. The reference is below.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=197933
See also
References
- ↑ The information is referred from the original record of the Gokarnanatha Kshethra.
- ↑ Kudroli Sri Gokarnatheshwara temple
External links
