Mangalore: Preparations for 'Koti Namarchane' at Gopalakrishna Temple in Full Swing

Florine Roche
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Feb 18: Come April and the roads would lead to Shaktinagar as the marvelous and beautiful Gopalakrishna Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna situated in the picturesque and serene environs of this area will witness “Koti Namarchane”, (offering of one crore Tulsi leaves) to mark its 5th anniversary.

The road from police quarters down to the temple entrance will be decorated majestically and brightly lit and will showcase Shaktinagara as the emerging powerhouse and the hottest and fast developing area of Mangalore. But most importantly it is an effort to celebrate the 5th anniversary in an inspiring manner to make people aware of the amazing Sri Gopalakrishna Temple built at Shakthinagar by K C Naik, standing tall in all its grace, piety, solemnity and aesthetic beauty.

The 5th anniversary will be a 10 day long celebration from April 20 to 29, 2012 and will witness religious and cultural events in full devoutness and splendor. This offering of one crore Tulsi leaves is a unique initiative, probably the first of its kind in this coastal area and also in the entire state of Karnataka, as it calls for tremendous organizational efforts and abilities to gather so many devotees and offer Tulsi leaves to god in such huge quantity. But K C Naik who was instrumental in constructing this five-storied while marvel of a temple in 2007 says “it will be an event to remember, may be a first of its kind in Mangalore in terms of offering of 1 crore Tulsi archana and we are preparing for this challenging task with the right approach and earnestness”. A pious person that he is K C Naik believes he was selected specifically to build the temple and carry out the sacred work and he has derived utmost contentment in this revered task. Continuing from where he began 5 years ago K C Naik is now making phenomenal efforts to celebrate the 5th anniversary in a glorious manner.

Seeking Universal Welfare

This Koti Namarchane on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the temple is done with the principal objective of seeking the welfare of the people of the entire universe and also to spread awareness about the sacred the qualities of Tulsi. Preparation for the celebrations has begun almost in November last and now it is going on in full swing. Annual celebrations in the last four years were with one lakh Tulsi Archana and it is for the first time the temple is witnessing such a gala offering and religious celebration. “This time the Organizing Committee decided to go for one crore Tulsi archana for Lok Kalayyana and we took up the task and are working incessantly to make it a grand success”, says K C Naik, Managing Trustee of the temple.

In order to accomplish this revered activity a committee was formed in November last and Dharmadhikari Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade was selected as the honorary President, Nitte Vinay Hegde as the President and K C Naik as the working President. J Krishna Palemar was selected as the Executive President and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP and Erya Lakshminarya Alva were selected as honorary advisors. K C Naik has been extensively touring around the different parts of the coastal region and the state to elicit support of all religious institutions, community groups, women’s organizations, NGO’s, other organizations and devotees irrespective of their religion, caste or creed to request them to participate and offer Tulsi to Lord Krishna.

Those who come to offer archana during these celebrations are required to climb 108 steps of the temple by chanting 108 names of Lord Krishna and then offer Tulsi and receive prasada. The Tulsi archana will be received only in the morning between 7 and 12 noon.

Foolproof Arrangements

K C Naik has requested that all those who would like to offer Tulsi Archana should reach the temple by 10.30 am so as to enable the smooth progress of the entire event. The temple authorities have made foolproof arrangements to receive them with a traditional welcome and lead them towards the holy feet of Lord Krishna on a ceremonious procession to offer Tulsi. There will be “anna santharpane” on all the ten days of the celebration and the devotees are welcome to offer “Hore Kanike” for the Prasada Bhojana, if they wish. Elaborate hospitality arrangement is also made during these festivities to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to the devotees. Those who want to be a part of this pious celebration and would like to donate are welcome to do so.

Apart from the religious ceremonies there will be cultural activities galore on all the ten days of the celebrations. There will be stage programme every day before the commencement of cultural programmes which will be presided over by eminent personalities of the state. Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will also participate in the celebrations in any one of the days. Apart from this there will be Tulabhara of VIP’s during these celebrations. With these large scale celebrations, the temple is bound to attract a deluge of devotes and pilgrims to add to the grandeur of the celebrations.

The temple which is perched on a hilltop in about 1.5 acres of land just opposite the World Konkani Centre is a connoisseur of devotees with its splendid carvings, gigantic auditoriums, impressive gopurams, and decorative motifs on walls and polished granite sanctum sanctorum. It is located at a distance of just about 5 kms from Hampankatta, from KSRTC bus stand or Mangalore Railway station, far from the noisome flurry associated with city life.

Key Role

K C Naik, the main force behind the construction of this temple says his passionate aspirations to build this temple were fructified in 2007 when the temple was constructed within a short period of 15 months. This wish became a reality with the blessings of his spiritual Guru Brahmashree Arikkadi Narayana Deva Poojithaya and with the active support of the Trustees.

K C Naik feels that he has been rewarded amply for his reverential act by Lord Krishna. K C Naik recalls that in 1973 when he had bought the land in Shaktinagar for his business, it was a kugrama, quite deserted but notoriously famous. But in the last 4 decades Shakthinagar has grown immensely beyond the expectations of many and K C Naik has played a crucial role in the transformation of Shakthinagar, growing along with the progress achieved by this area. He has repaid this benevolence to the people of this area by constructing this temple to Lord Krishna, the savior of the world in the land that has benefitted him immensely.

K C Naik requests the help and cooperation of other religious institutions and religious leaders in this unique “Koti Namarchane” celebration by offering Tulsi leaves to the Lord and be a part of this epoch making event.

Contact Address:

Shri Gopalakrishna Temple
Classic Village
Shakthi Nagar, Mangalore - 575 016

Tel: 0824-2231252
Mobile: 97416 30492 or 94484 82496

Those wishing to contribute voluntarily to this virtuous cause can do so by cash/DD/Cheque to

SB account number 3285
Corporation Bank
Shakthi Nagar, Mangalore.