Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt

Photo Courtesy: sodevadirajamutt.in

There are two ancient temples in Udupi, Chandrmouleshwara and Anatheshwara temples. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Linga and occupied the silver pedestal and a temple was built and worshiped here as Anantheshwara. Chandra worshiped lord Shiva on the banks of holy pond ‘Chandra Pushkarini’ to redeem him from the curse. Lord Shiva was pleased by his worship and appeared before Chandra and released the curse. Hence Shiva is called as Chandramouleeshwara and a temple was built to mark this event in this place popularly known as Chandramouleshwara Temple.In ancient times, Udupi was known as Sivalli or Siva-belli or Rajathapeetha Pura. This place was caleed Rajathapeetha Puta because Ramabhoja, a great devotee of Lord Parashurama was proclaimed the king of Parashurama Kshetra. Intending to perform a maha yajna a snake got killed while ploughing the yajna site. Lord Parashurama directed King Rama Boja to make a Silver Pedestal (Rajatha Peetha) with images of snake carved on it in order to redeem himself from Sarpa Dosha (sin of killing a snake). Rajathapeetha Pura was later named after Chandra, the Moon God performing the penance propitiating Lord Shiva to redeem him from a curse by Daksha Prajaapati. In Sanskrit, Udu means `star' and Pa means `leader'. Chandra being the head of the stars, the place came to be known as `Udupi'.

Sri Krishna statue was installed in the Mutt by Sri Madhvacharya during the 13^th Century in front of Chandramouleshwara Temple. The usual practice in Udupi is to visit Chandrmouleswara and Anantheshwara temples and then visit Sri Krishna temple.

Sri Madvacharya got the Sri Krishna statue from a Captain of the ship, whose ship was saved from a terrible storm by using his divine spiritual powers. The story goes as follows; As per legend Rukmini herself was worshipping this idol at Dwaraka. Arjuna deposited this idol in the spot called ‘Rukmini Vana’. The idol which lay buried inside the mud of Gopichandan, was mistaken for a lump of Gopichandan and loaded as ballast into a ship carrying merchandise from Dwaraka along the Western Coast. When the ship was approaching the Malpe Port, it got caught in terrible storm and was about to sink. When the meditating Sri Madhvacharya sensed this by his divine spiritual powers and got his ship safely to the shore by waving his saffron robe and slowing down the storm. The pleased captain of the ship offered all the wealth in the ship in return as a favor. Sri Madhvacharya asked for the gopichandanam peice containing the statue of Sri Krishna. He took the statue to Udupi and immersed gopichandana into Chandra Pushkarini or Madhwa Sarovar and the beautiful idol of Sri Krishna emerged which he installed it in the main shrine of the mutt.

Sri Madhwacharya started worshipping Lord Krishna in the Mutt and started the “Paryaya” system of worshiping Sri Krishna by Swamiji’s of Ashta Mutts (eight mutts). The right of touching and worshipping the idol rests with the pontiffs of eight mutts, who are the spiritual descendants of Sri Madhwacharya. The Swamijis of the eight Mutts conduct the worship at Sri Krishna Mutt by turns, for two years each. This tenure of worship by rotation is known as “Paryaya”. The Swamiji in charge of worship at any point of time is called ‘paryaya Swamiji’ and his mutt called the ‘Paryaya Mutt’. The eight Paryaya mutts are Sode Mutt, Pejvar Mutt, Puttige Mutt, Admar Mutt, Kaniyoor Mutt, Palimaru Mutt, Shiroor Mutt and Krishnapura Mutt. The current Paryaya Swamiji is “Sri Vishvavallabha Tirtha Swamiji” of Sri Sodhe Mutt.

Kirshna darshan is done through the Navagraha Kindi, legend behind the kindi is during the 16th century Kanakadasa and a disciple of Sri Krishna came to Udupi to worship Lord Krishna. But he was not allowed inside the Mutt since he was from a lower caste and also was tied to a pillar behind the mutt as he was treated guilty of a theft. Sri Krishna, who was pleased by the worship of Kanakadasa gave him darshan by creating a small hole in the back wall of the mutt and turned to face the hole so that Kanakadasa could see him. This hole is popularly known as Kanakana Kindi.

Udupi is 407 kms from Bangalore (via National Highway NH-48) and Mangalore Airport is the nearest airport which is around 60 kms from Udupi.