Nestled within the dense, verdant hill forests of Honnavar Taluka in Uttara Kannada, the Kodlamane Shree Vishnumurthy Temple stands as an ancient Tirtha Kshetra shrouded in mysticism. Known locally as a Jagrat Sthal (a place of divine wakefulness), the temple is celebrated by devotees as a unique spiritual epicenter, with many believing there is "no other place in the Brahmand (universe) like this."
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| Kodlamane Shree Vishnumurthy Temple, image: Dyaji en.wikipedia.org Uttara Kannada |
Historical and Mythological Essence
The temple’s origins are lost to antiquity, though local folklore suggests it was rediscovered centuries ago in the heart of the wilderness. It is deeply tied to the Satya Yuga, where sages reportedly sought rebirth in the Kali Yuga specifically to worship at this site, believing that meditation on Lord Vishnu here is the swiftest path to Moksha (liberation). A chillingly beautiful mystery surrounds the sanctum: legend tells of an invisible Sanyasi who, for years, placed fresh flowers at the locked doors of the Garbhagriha every morning—a practice that ceased only at the request of a frightened priest.
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| Kodlamane Shree Vishnumurthy Temple tripuntold.com |
Above image: Kodlamane Vishnumurthy temple,Uttara Kanada:Situated in a serene place away from the madding crowd, devotees who come to this place enjoy the blissful environ,pleasing to their heart. This temple is said to be of great spiritual significance and great Mukti Stal,notwithstanding the humble look of the temple........
Vedic Architecture and Artistry
The temple is a masterpiece of Vedic Hindu architecture. The Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) houses a 3.5-foot standing idol of Lord Vishnumurthy, carved from sacred black stone, holding the Shanka, Chakra, Gada, and Padma.
Materials: The structure utilizes natural stone, with an octagonal Shikhara covered in high-energy copper sheets.
Kaavi Art: The walls are adorned with traditional Kaavi art, a red-and-white pigment technique depicting the Dashavatara and Vedic motifs.
The Three Doors: The progression to the deity involves three doors of descending size, crafted from Shivani and Jackfruit wood. The inner doors are encased in pure silver, featuring intricate carvings of Lakshmi-Narayan and the Ashta Lakshmi.
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| Kodlama Vishnumurthy atmanirvana.com |
The temple follows rigorous Rigvedic puja protocols divided into three daily sessions: Pratahkal, Mahapuja, and Ratri Puja. A unique aspect of the worship is the emphasis on specific offerings: Tulsi for Vishnu, Bilwa for the Shiva Linga, and Durva for Ganapati. The Panchamrutha Abhisheka is notably performed without sugar, using liquid jaggery instead.
The cultural pinnacle of the temple is the Shree Vishnumurthy Rathostava (Chariot Festival). This five-day celebration culminates in the Brahma Rathotsava, where it is believed that catching a glimpse of the Lord on the chariot liberates a soul from the cycle of rebirth.
Unique Features
The temple is flanked by the Vishnu Tirth, a natural stream whose waters are considered soul-purifying. Modern history also records "Pushpa Vrasti"—a miraculous two-minute rain during a scorching summer day in 2016, occurring precisely during the foundation ceremony of the Bhojan Shala.
https://atmanirvana.com/kodlamane-shree-vishnumurthy-temple-bolkar-uttara-kannada/
https://www.trawell.in/karnataka/murudeshwar/kodlamane-sri-vishnumurthy-temple
https://sites.google.com/view/kodlamane-shree-vishnumurthy
https://www.tripuntold.com/india/karnataka/uttara-kannada/kodlamane-shree-vishnumurthy-temple
K. N. Jayaraman
