Mangalore: The Glory and Splendor of Shree Vaidyanatha Daivasthana 

by Flroine Roche
Pics by Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Apr 16 : The renovation and reconstruction of Shree Vaidyanatha Daivasthana, Kodange Mura of Padavu grama in Shaktinagar is getting completed and   Punarpratishta Brahmakalashotsava and Annual Bandi Nemothsava which is celebrated with gaiety and reverence will be held from 21st April 2001. On 21st evening hore kanike (offerings from public) will commence.  The Brahma Kalashotsava and Annual celebrations will commence from 22nd and will continue for 3 days and again on 30th there will be a one day nemotsava.  The reconstructed temple is much bigger than the original temple and on completion will glisten in its entire splendor and majesty and will be treasure of great reverence and pride to the people of Shaktinagar and surrounding areas that have supported and worked voluntarily in its reconstruction.   The reconstructed temple will have a holy water well teertha bavi).  It now has a new Garbha Gudi made up stone carving built at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh.  There will be more area surrounding the Sanctum Sanctorum, new compound wall and a new Dhwja Sthambha.  

Though the actual work began 2 years back the reconstruction which began about 10 months back has been undertaken at a cost of Rs. 1.25 crores and the locals and people from nearby areas have rendering a helping hand in the reconstruction both physically and through financial contributions.  For the last one month people began to come forward to offer Kar Seva in the construction and in the last one week their number has swelled to over 200.  Every evening from 5 to 6.30 pm men and women join the workers to offer kar seva at the temple. They work in unison with full devotion and one of them even sponsors the day’s expenses of providing evening tea snacks on a daily basis.

Locals and devotees from different parts of Shaktinagara and elsewhere,  have donated generously for the reconstruction work and financial help has also come from other temples and the Trust also expects some grants from the government.  Locals have also collected donations from devotees and people have been generous in their contributions.  Chandrahasa Semitha, one of members of the Renovation Committee says “people have donated generously and we have accepted donations, starting from even the smallest denomination. Even the poorest of the poor have voluntarily come forward to donate according to their capacity and that is what actually counts.  Even if the donation is small it is their good thought that makes all the difference”. 

The temple is located 1.30 acre of land just about 1 km from Bikarnakatte from the road that leads to Shaktinagar through Kandettu.  It is believed that rulers belonging to the Ballal family established the Vaidyanatha god here about 700 years ago.  Subsequently Shree Vaidyanatha, greatly pleased by the devotion of a local Brahmin devotee, Keshava Bhatta came and stayed at his place in Kodikanda as their Kula Deva.  The same house is still the Bhandara of the temple where the sacred treasures are kept.  There is also another “Bandothu Guttu” belonging to bunts family where the Daivas are treasured. 

It is said that the Ballal kings used to organize annual poojas  and conduct religious ceremonies at the temple with the help of important Gutthu families of surrounding areas.  Once the Ballal rule came to an end the annual ceremonies also saw a decline and finally stopped completely.  It is now believed that in mid 1920’s devotees and their families were repeatedly afflicted with some serious ailments and the locals renovated the temple and conducted poojas  and  with that started the annual celebrations which over the years have become an annual affair.  

On the advice of the then District Commissioner a new Managing Committee namely “Shree Vaidyanatha Kshethrabhivridhi Trust (R) was formed in 1999 to oversee developmental work  related to the temple.  The responsibility of the reconstruction has been carried out by the same trust which has formed many committees to oversee the work of renovation. 

Chandrahasa  Semitha, says “people of the surrounding areas  pray to Shree Vaidyanatha  to give them good health and lead a normal life and they seek  solutions  to their problems and they have been rewarded suitably for their faith.  A unique feature of this temple is that the different groups of caste and creed of Hindu religion have a right over this temple.  There is no Bhali pooja (animal sacrifice) at this temple and devotees can offer only flowers”.    

Celebrations include Hore Kanike on 21st which will reach the temple at 4 pm.  In the evening there will be religious ceremonies and other rituals.   On 22nd there will be public prayer and other ceremonies followed by Anna Santharpane.  The inauguration of the temple will be in the presence of his holiness Sri Sri Sri Vidya Prasanna Teertha Padangalaru and would be inaugurated by Dr V S Acharya, Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka.  Sarvajanike Anna Santharpane will be done on all the three days of the celebrations and there will also be other religious and cultural programmes.  

After one week, i.e. on 30th April there will be Kantheri Dhumavathi Banta and Parivara Daivagala Varshavathi Nemothsava followed by other rituals, ceremonies  and cultural programmes.  On the day of inauguration there will be Anna Santharpane for about 1500 people.

It is indeed a matter of satisfaction to see people coming together and working for a cause and getting deeply involved in the work related to the temple.  There are many volunteers who are working here from morning till evening and some even late night.  For the past one month some of the ladies have been helping in preparing lunch, tea and snack for the workers and volunteers involved in construction work.  It is indeed good to see people irrespective of caste and creed working with a common purpose and goal.