Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

The Billava community traditionally warriors[1](chieftains/ soldiers specialized in archery in the army) and local medics wanted to carve a niche (a place of their own liking in terms of spiritual offerings) for themselves in the realm of spirituality. It is in such a scenario that the community found a messiah in Narayana Guru to guide them in this spiritual quest. Narayana Guru with his knowledge and experience in spirituality(Shaivism) became the ideal guide and guru (from the south of India closest to Mangalore) for the billavas to help them build a temple of their deity, Lord Shiva

Learning about the work undertaken by Narayana Guru, through his temples in Kerala, a prominent Billava leader Adhyaksha H. Koragappa visited Shri Narayana Guru in 1908.

Adhyaksha Koragappa, the builder of the Gokarnath Temple. A great devotee of Shri Narayana Guru and Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri

Adhyaksha HoigeBazar Koragappa was a very well-known businessman in Mangalore, renowned for his integrity and philanthropy. He owned a large tile factory in Hoige Bazaar where he had his business offices. The tile factory was called HAMIDIAH Tile Works (Est in 1905). Shri Koragappa also conducted extensive trade in the 1900s up to the Second World War, with business enterprises in the Middle East, Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, trading in Mangalore tiles, copra, spices, dried fish and other natural products. He was a very wealthy businessman who was also honoured by King George V for his philanthropic work. He used to replace the "K" (Koragappa) in his name with a "C" (Coragappa) which proved to be lucky for him in business
An additional reason for Shri Koragappa to undertake the trip was that his son-in-law H. Somappa was very ill. Adhyaksha Koragappa went to Shri Narayana Guru for his blessings to cure his son-in-law. The Gokarnath temple pond in Kudroli had a marker in marble in memory of H. Somappa. In the "modernization" of the temple this plaque lost. Sometimes modernization can pay a heavy price in terms of history. This desecration is not forgotten and people losing elections happened after this terrible act.

Narayana Guru visited Mangalore in 1908 after accepting the invitation of Adhyaksha Koragappa. Narayana Guru in Mangalore selected the place Kudroli (between places Narayana Guru had chosen, Kudroli and Mulihithilu) while riding in a horse-drawn coach provided by Adhyaksha Koragappa. Mulihithilu in Mangalore was also a place of interest for the Shiva temple as there was heightened Shiva aaradhana at that place with the presence of saints from the NATH tradition such as Matsyendranath (blessed the construction of Shri Mangaladevi (linga roopa - Goddess Parvathi) temple), Tilaknath (His place in mulihithilu has a shrine of Kallurti Kalkuda Daiva/ Demigod/ Bhootha (cohorts of Lord Shiva), Machindranath and Gorakhnath are also believed to have set foot from nethravati on mulihithilu, all these saints being ardent followers of Lord Shiva and coming across generations.

It is said that Narayana Guru had got the Shiva Lingam (main deity) specifically for this temple. How Narayana Guru got this Lingam and from where he got this Lingam is still a mystery.

With the blessings given by Shri Narayana Guru to Adhyaksha Koragappa to commence work, smooth progress in the temple's construction was ensured. Gokarnanatha Kshethra, Mangalore, foundation stone was originally laid by the couple Siri Amma Poojarthi and Chennappa Poojary in 1908. They were foster parents of Koragappa Poojary. Chennappa Poojary is the son of Ugga Poojaary who was responsible to build Brahma Baidarkala Garadi Kshethra, Kankannady, Mangalore in the year 1882. Narayana Guru formally consecrated the temple in February 1912 with the establishment of sacred Shiva Linga.[2] He named this place as Gokarnanatha Kshethra.

As per the Guru's advice, idols of Ganapathy, Subramanya, Annapoorneshwari, Bhairava, the Nava Grihas (Lords of nine planets), Shanishwara and Krishna are installed at the Kshethra. This has helped devotees worship at all these sannidanams (abodes) and seek blessings and solace for their problems. Not only did Adhyaksha Koragappa donate the land needed for the Kshethra, in addition he was also chosen as the first administrative head of the temple. Till date Koragappa Family has been leading the temple administration with equal support if not more from many distinguished members of the community such as Janardhan Poojary (Former Union Minister and Congress President) (Renovation Mastermind/ Architect), Vishwanath (BNS Hotel), Chandrashekar (SCS group), Damodar Suvarna (Roopa Hotel), Jaya C. Suvarna, to name a few.

Shri Somasunderam, son of Koragappa (President of Kudroli temple), and Vishwanath (BNS Hotel) (President Development committee) discussed the possibility of renovating the temple with Janardhan Poojary (Former Union Minister and Congress President). It was then decided that the temple committee would go to the people to raise funds. It was here that Janardhan Poojary earned the title "Renovation Mastermind/ Architect". Rallies were organized across the country focusing mainly on Dakshina Karnataka, Udupi and Mumbai areas. Janardhan Poojary was a part of many such rallies and in one such rally in Dakshina Karnataka, the story goes that a person wearing shorts walked up to Janardhan Poojary and gave him 5 paise as his contribution to the development work. Janardhan Poojary astonished took the money. After the speech of Janardhan Poojary people tried to search for this person but no one could trace him. Some believe that it was Lord Shiva Incarnate who blessed this collection of funds by the way of this man in shorts.It is believed that after this incident funds started pouring in. The people just came forward and contributed to their temple. It was one great movement that showed the strength of the masses. This temple started off with one man's vision - founder H Koragappa and today with the guidance of the eminent members of the community and temple committee what stands is the love, effort and sweat of the masses who contributed in their very special way to make the current Gokarnanatheshwara temple a reality.
Sthapadi K. Dakshinamoorthy was the architect who designed and built the present temple in the Chola style of architecture from its original Kerala style. The new gopuram is 60 feet in height and very beautiful. The renovated Gokarnanatha Kshethra was inaugurated by the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, shortly before his assassination during an election rally. A marble statue of Narayana Guru was erected at the entrance of the temple in 1966 and a crown studded with precious gems was given by the devotees later. It's estimated the renovation cost Rs. 1 crore, and now it has become one of the largest temples in Mangalore.[3]

Later in the year 2007 Bhagwaan Hanumaan Mandir was built in the Gokarnanatha Kshethra premises at the entrance. Bhagwaan Hanumaan Mandir in turn adds beauty to the Kshethra.

The samadhis of H. Koragappa, H. Somappa along with their deceased family members lie with appropriate markers in the family plot in Gori Gudde (cemetery) in Attavar, Mangalore. The tomb of Uggappu, Shri Koragappa's original mother can still be found in Gori Gudde erected by Shri Koragappa himself

Pages from a book that describes the first meeting of Bhagawan Nityananda and Adhyaksha Koragappa at Hoige Bazaar, Mangalore

Adhyaksha Koragappa was also a great devotee of Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and Bhagawan performed several miracles at the home of Adhyaksha Koragappa on Goodshed Road in Bunder. The first meeting of Bhagawan Nityananda and Adhyaksha Koragappa is described in the book Avadhoot Bhagawan Nityananda, on page 31. The book is authored by Swami Vijayananda of Nityananda Dhyana Mandira, Bevinakoppa. It is an astonishing fact, that given the close connection that the Supreme Dattatreya Avadhoot Bhagawan Nityananda had with Adhyaksha Koragappa, the authorities of the Gokarnath Temple never installed a statue of Bhagawan Nityananda in the temple premises.

Shri H. Somasunder, Adhyaksha Koragappa's son was the president, during whose tenure effort was put into addressing temple matters and bringing the temple to prominence. Today HS Sairam, Adhyaksha Koragappa's grandson is the president and continues this legacy and vision of Shree Adhyaksha Koragappa to help spirituality empower and enable masses. This along with Sairam's effort to enhance the grandeur of the temple, the latest addition being the Mahastamba where he personally visited Kerala and got the design crafted by able designers. The eminent Indian-American mathematician Sagun Chanillo is a great grandson of Adhyaksha Coragappa and the grandson of H. Somappa.[4]

The dasara festival is celebrated with much grandeur. The dasara celebrations of this temple is popularly called Mangalore Dasara. Mangalore Dasara was started by B.R.Karkera.
In addition to idols of Sharada Matha and Maha Ganapati, life-size idols of Nava Durgas are installed in the premises in an attractive way during Navaratri. All religious rites are observed for the entire period. Tableaux form a special part of the festivities and are taken around the main thoroughfares of Mangalore.
Mangalore Dasara is celebrated in a very spectacular way by worshiping the idol of Ganesh, Adhi Shakthi Maatha, Sharada Maatha, Navadurgas such as Shaila Puthri Maatha, Brahmachaarini Maatha, Chandrakaantha Maatha, Kushmaandini Maatha, Skanda Maatha, Kathyaahini Maatha, Maha Kaali Maatha, Maha Gowri Maatha and Siddhi Dhaathri Maatha. All these idols are grandly worshiped for nine days of navarathri. On the tenth day, these idols are taken in the grand procession of Mangalore Dasara throughout the city; the procession returns to Gokarnanatha Kshethra on the next day morning where all the above idols are immersed in the lake inside the temple premises.

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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Main Deity Sharaddha Maatha
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi1
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi2
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi3
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi4
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi5
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi6
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi7
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi8
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi9
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  Grandeur of Navratri Celebrations in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore Devi10