Udupi Shri Krishna Temple is a well-known historic
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple dedicated to Lord
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
and
Dvaita
Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST:Tattvavāda), is a sub-school in the Vedanta tradition of Hindu philosophy. The term Tattvavada literally means "arguments from a realist viewpoint". The Tattvavada (Dvaita) Vedanta su ...
Matha located in the city of
Udupi
Udupi (alternate spelling Udipi; also known as Odipu) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Udupi is situated about north of the educational, commercial and industrial hub of Mangalore and about west of state capital Bangalore by road.
...
in
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The Matha area resembles a living
Aashram, a holy place for daily devotion and living. Surrounding the Shri Krishna Temple are several temples namely the
Udupi Anantheshwara Temple
Udupi Anantheshwara Temple is a historic Hinduism, Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ananteshwara Parashurama (an avatar of Vishnu). The Anantheshwara temple is located in Udupi, India. The temple is a unique temple where Parashurama is worshipped ...
which is over a thousand years old.
History
![Decorated chariot, Udupi, India](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Decorated_chariot%2C_Udupi%2C_India.jpg)
The Krishna Matha was founded by the
Vaishnavite
Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
saint Jagadguru Shri
Madhvacharya
Madhvacharya (; ; CE 1199-1278 or CE 1238–1317), sometimes Anglicisation, anglicised as Madhva Acharya, and also known as Purna Prajna () and Ānanda Tīrtha, was an Indian philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the ''Dvaita'' ...
in the 13th century. He was the founder of the
Dwaita
Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST:Tattvavāda), is a sub-school in the Vedanta tradition of Hindu philosophy. The term Tattvavada literally means "arguments from a realist viewpoint". The Tattvavada (Dvaita) Vedanta sub ...
school of Vedanta. It is believed that Madhwacharya found the
vigraha
In the Hinduism, Hindu tradition, a ''murti'' ( sa, मूर्ति, mūrti, ) is a devotional image such as a statue, or "idol" (a common and non-pejorative term in Indian English), of a Hindu deities, deity or Hindu saints, saint. In Hin ...
of Shri Krishna in a large ball of ''gopichandana''. As told by Sri Madhvacharya, in his Tantrasara Sangraha, the Vigraha is placed Pashchimabhimukha (facing west). All the other Vigrahas in other Ashta Muthas face west as well. Devotees always have darshan of
Lord Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...
through the inner window, known as the Navagruha Kindi & the outer window known as the
Kanakana Kindi
Kanakana Kindi or Kanaka's Window is a small peephole in the Udupi Sri Krishna temple through which the great Indian saint Kanaka Dasa was given darshan by lord Krishna.
History
There are many popular legends regarding Lord Krishna's revelation ...
, which is decorated by an arch named after him. A statue has also been erected. A similar window covers the immediate front of the Vigraha and is called Navagraha Kindi. It is often mistaken to be the Kanakuna Kindi.
The temple opens at 5:30 hours IST. The unique feature of the temple is that the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated window with nine holes (Navagraha Kindi). The temple also offers
prasadam
200px, Prasad thaal offered to Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad ">Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad">Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad
Prasada (, Sanskrit: प्रसाद, ), Prasadam or Prasad is a religious offering in Hinduism. Most o ...
(lunch) at noon and is popularly called ''Anna Brahma'' as it feeds a vast number of devotees.
Krishna Matha
The daily
sevas (offerings to god) and administration of the Krishna Mathas is managed by the
Ashta Mathas (eight monasteries). Each of the Ashta Mathas performs temple management activities for two years in a cyclical order. They are collectively known as the ''Ashta Mathagalu'' in
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
. Each Ashta Matha has its own deity which is called ''Pattada Devaru.''
The Krishna Matha is known throughout the world for its religious customs, traditions and tenets of
Dvaita
Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST:Tattvavāda), is a sub-school in the Vedanta tradition of Hindu philosophy. The term Tattvavada literally means "arguments from a realist viewpoint". The Tattvavada (Dvaita) Vedanta su ...
or Tatvavada philosophy. It is also the center of Daasa Saahitya, a form of literature that originated in Udupi.
These eight Mathas are:
*
Pejavara
Pejavara is a village located in the Mangalore taluk of Dakshina Kannada, formerly known as South Canara or South Kanara, district of Karnataka, India. It houses one of the eight ashta mathas established by Madhvacharya, the great Tattvavāda ...
,
*
Puttige,
*
Palimaru Matha
Palimar is a village in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. It houses one of the Ashta Mathas of Udupi founded by the Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya.
External links
The Eight Tulu Monasteries of Udupi by Neria Harish Hebbar, MDaBoloj ...
,
*
Admaru Matha,
*
Sodhe Matha,
*
Kaniyoor Matha,
*
Shirur Matha and
*
Krishnapura.Matha
The expenses of Udupi Krishna Matha are borne by the voluntary contributions of the devotees and by the Ashta Mathas that manage the Krishna Matha. The contribution may be in cash or kind. The Krishna Matha, which owned large tracts of land, lost it all in 1975 due to the enactment of the Land Reforms Act 1975 by the Government of Karnataka.
The Pauli of Krishna Matha was renovated and the Brahmakalashotsava ceremony was held on 18 May 2017.
Swamijis of the Ashta Mathas
The Swamijis of the
Ashta Mathas and their successors are as follows.
Festivals
![Udupi Sri Krishna Matha during Paryaya festival](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Udupi_Sri_Krishna_Matha_during_Paryaya_festival.jpg)
During the
Paryaya
Paryaya is a religious ritual which takes place every alternate year in Sri Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi. The puja and administration of Krishna Matha is distributed among the Swamijis (seer or monk or pontiff) of Ashta Matha's esta ...
festival, held once every two years, the temple management is handed over to the next
Ashta Matha
The Tulu Ashta Mathas of Udupi ( kn, ಉಡುಪಿಯ ತುಳು ಅಷ್ಟ ಮಠಗಳು) are a group of eight ''mathas'' or Hindu monasteries established by Madhvacharya, the preceptor of the Dvaita school of Hindu thought with his d ...
, which has been entrusted the responsibility of running the temple turn by turn. Each of the Mathas is headed by a
Swami
Swami ( ; sometimes abbreviated sw.) in Hinduism is an honorific title given to a male or female ascetic who has chosen the path of renunciation (''sanyāsa''), or has been initiated into a religious monastic order of Vaishnavas. It is used eith ...
, who will be in charge of the temple during his Paryaya. The Paryaya is held on even years like 2008, 2010 and 2012. The Paryaya tradition has completed 500 years as of 2021. Presently,
Sri Admaru Math is administering the temple with Junior Pontiff Sri Eshapriya Teertha Swami ascending the post of Sarvajna or Paryaya Peetha. Festivals like
Makara Sankranthi,
Ratha Sapthami
''Ratha Sapthami'' is a 1986 Indian Kannada-language romance film, romantic musical film directed by M. S. Rajashekar and produced by S. A. Govindaraj. It stars Shiva Rajkumar in his second venture after ''Anand (1986 film), Anand''. Debutant a ...
, Madhva Navami,
Hanuman Jayanthi, Sri Krishna
Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami , also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, it is observed ...
, Navarathi Mahotsava, Madhva Jayanti (
Vijaya Dashami
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...
),
Naraka Chathurdashi,
Deepavali
Diwali (), Dewali, Divali, or Deepavali (IAST: ''dīpāvalī''), also known as the Festival of Lights, related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious celebration in Indian religions. It is on ...
, Geetha Jayanthi etc. are celebrated very grandly by Paryaya Mutt every year.
Gallery
Image:Udupi Sri Krishna Matha during Paryaya festival.jpg, Sri Krishna Matha during Paryaya festival January 2022
Image:Udupi Sri Krishna Matha during Paryaya festival 03.jpg
Image:Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Temple.jpg, Temple painted in yellow-red
Image:Brahma ratha of Udupi Krishna.jpg, Brahma ratha of Udupi Krishna
Image:Goshala at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple.jpg, Goshala at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
Image:The Chariot at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple.jpg, The Chariot at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
Image:GoldenChariotUdupi.JPG, Golden Chariot of Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
Image:Navarathna_Ratha_Base_at_Udipi_IMG_20151212_144213512.jpg, Base of Navarathna Chariot
Image:Udupi Sri krishna matha Temple pond.jpg, Udupi Sri krishna Temple pond
References
External links
Sri Krishna Temple, UdupiTemples in UdupiUdupi Shri Krishna photosUdupi Shri Krishna Temple and related information guide
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka
Krishna temples
Hindu temples in Udupi district
Madhva mathas
Haridasa
Forms of Krishna
Abhimana temples of Vishnu