Mangalore: Legendary lake at Kudupu Temple gets facelift

By John B Monteiro

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Nov 21: The renovated temple tank of Shri Ananthapadmanabha Temple at Kudupu, 10 KM from Mangalore on the Mangalore-Karkala Road, will be dedicated on Friday November 22 with benediction by Sri Vidyaprasanna Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Narasimha Swamy Math, Subramanya.

The renovation and beautification of the temple tank is part of the overall renovation project of the temple and has cost Rs 60 lacs, including the renovation of the platform in the middle of the tank. The steps leading to the tank, made of laterite stone, have been relaid.

The tank is the centre of attraction at the annual tapossava – wherein the deity is carried on a float in the tank measuring 150 ft long and 80 ft across. As would be detailed below, this tank finds reference in the mythology of the temple going back to over 2000 years. The tank, called Bhadra Saraswathi Lake in the temple’s Sthala purana, is central to the temple’s history – which is recalled here. Incidentally, the temple / tank is the magnet for barren women hoping for issues.

This ancient temple is associated with Narada Muni who once went to Brahmalok with his worried face. Brahma inquired about his concern. Responding, Narada said that terrible Kaliyuga is ahead. People will suffer. They will have no offspring. How to save the world from such disaster? Which sacred bathing spot can save humanity from this calamity and free it from disease and enable it to have healthy offspring? Brahma told him about Bhadra Saraswathi Lake in which seers and deities took bath and narrated the story of a Brahmin who lived close to the lake and his son, Kedara, who did not have an issue for a long time.
 
Kedara went to Bhadra Saraswathi Lake and met Rishi Shranga and told him that he was an issue-less sinner. Where can he bathe and wash away his sins? He beseeched the rishi to guide him to select a spot for tapasya. Responding, the rishi told him about Bhadra Saraswathi Lake where those who bathe and worship are sure to be rid of their sins and rewarded. He advised Kedara to bathe and worship at the lake.
 
But, Kedara’s intense tapasya gradually radiated unbearable heat to the extent that the devathas got alarmed and finally went to Brahma for relief. He said only Shri Ramnarayan can help out and accordingly they went to Vainkunta to plead with him. They explained that Kedara’s tapasya is about to burn the world and requested him to grant the boon that Kedara is praying for and save the world.
 
Shri Narayan called Subramanya and explained that Kedara has been doing tapasya in his honour to get an offspring and asked him to go to the world and grant Kedara’s wish. But Subramanya explained that Kedara is not destined to get moksha and that is why he has been denied an offspring. However, because of the wish of Shri Narayan he went to Kedara and gave him the boon of a child. Kedara now began the worship of Subramanya on the bank of Bhadra Saraswathi Lake.
 
Once Kedara’s wife saw a cobra laying eggs. She said to herself that even snakes have offspring while she was denied an issue. Within a year, Kedara’s wife became pregnant. The couple was overjoyed. But, at the end of nine months she laid three cobra eggs. Kedara was crestfallen but reconciled himself saying God gives what one deserves. At this point, a formless voice addressed him thus: “Do not worry. These eggs represent Mahashesha, Mahavishnu and Subramanya. The three have taken form through your wife and you will have no other issue. But, you are assured of moksha. Install these eggs secretly. I will live here as Mahashesha. If you continue worshipping Shri Padmanabha, this spot will become famous as his Kshethra. Anyone who bathes in this sacred lake and worships Ananthapadmanabha will get rid of barrenness and various diseases like leprosy”.
 
Obeying the formless voice, Kedara placed the three cobra eggs in a basket made of wild vines (Kudupu) and secretly installed them. He continued his tapasya and at the end of his life earned his moksha. The spot is now marked by a large anthill and the Bhadra Saraswathi Lake is central to the temple complex.
 
There is another sub-story about Kudupu Temple. There was a king by name Shurasena who had a son called Veerabahu. Once when he was lying in his bed half asleep he saw a beautiful woman and, thinking that it was his wife, made love to her. It turned out to be his daughter. Ashamed and repentant over this act, he approached Brahmins to find a way out of this sin. They advised that if he cut off the limbs of his body involved in committing the sin and worshipped Mahavishnu, there could be salvation.
 
So, he cut off his hands, etc., and replaced them with limbs made of gold. One day, while on a hunting trip, he reached Bhadra Saraswathi Lake. After bathing, he started worshipping Mahavishnu who appeared to him and asked about his gold limbs. He told him how he lost his limbs and prayed for them to be restored. Mahavishnu said that he himself, Adishesha and Subramanya have taken residence in that Kshethra. He ordered Veerabahu to construct a sanctum sanctorum (garbhagraha) for the three and they will grant his wish. Veerabahu did as he was told and that is the origin of Shri Kudupu Ananthapadmanabha Temple.
 
As part of the ongoing renovation project, the work of recasting the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in granite lacing and its exterior with intricately carved wood design, at a cost of Rs 2 crores, has been completed.
 

John B Monteiro, author and journalist, is editor of his website www.welcometoreason.com (Interactive Cerebral Challenger) with instant response format.