Sri Venkatramana Temple, Dongerkery Mangalore

The Pratishtapana (Installation) of the idols of Lord Venkataramana with his consorts of Sridevi and Bhoodevi was made in the year 1868, i.e., on Vaishaka Shudh Sapthami of Vibhava Nama Samvatsara of Hindu calendar. The main idols (Moola Moorthies) of Lord Sri Venkataramana with Sridevi and Bhoodevi were made of Panchaloha - an alloy of five metals. While the idols of Lord Sri Venkataramana, who as Lord of the Universe holds Chakra (Wheel) on right hand, Shankh (Coonch) on the left hand and the Katari in the right waist, the idols of Sridevi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Bhoodevi (Goddess of Prakriti, Sanctity and Success) are seen holding flower buds. The height of idol Lord Venkataramana is about 18 inches and that of Sridevi and Bhoodevi are about 12 inches including the beautifully carved crowns worn on their heads.

After the Pratishtapana (Installation) of Lord Sri Venkataramana, the Prastishtapana and Rama Navami Mahostava was started inside temple parikrama. During these Mahostava Palanki Ustav was held. In the year 1891 a golden covering was offered by Late Ananth Shet(Babu Shet)

Sri Venkatramana Temple, Dongerkery Mangalore

Link: dvtmangalore.org

Sri Venkatramana Temple, Kallianpur

The Venkataramana Temple located at Kallianpur(around 6 km from Udupi) is one of the oldest yet important temples of South India. No wonder Kallianpur is aptly called the 'Pandharpur' of Karnataka. It comes under the jurisdiction of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, Benaras and it runs with the blessings of His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji. It is believed that the blessings of the deity has brought prosperity to all households of this small village.

Sri Venkatramana Temple, Kallianpur

Link : www.srivenkataramanatemple.com

Sri Venkataramana Temple, karkala

Sri Venkataramana Temple karkala, popularly know as Padutirupathi.

Home of Chappara Srinivasa & Venkatesha Devaru.More than 550 years old temple also known as "Padutirupathi"(Padu= West and Tirupathi= Tirumala)has the ancient idol of Lord Sreenivasa of Tirupathi. The Joishy family is the hereditary temple priest.

Sri Venkataramana Temple, karkala

Link: www.padutirupathi.org

wikimapia.org/138393/Padu-Tirupati-Sri-Venkataramana-Temple-Karkala

Shrimath Anantheshwar Temple, Manjeshwar

Traditionally renowned as "Manjula Kshetra" and "The Temple of 18 towns", Srimad Anantheshwara Temple is Situated in Manjeshwar, a small town of Kasaragod district in Northern Kerala. A Comfortable journey of about 25 Kms south wards from the port city of Mangalore either by Rail or Road brings you to this Divine place.

A unique combination of Lord Anantheshwara, Lord Bhadra Narasimha and Lord Subramanya in the same Sanctum Sanctorum enhances Serenity and Sanctity of the Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Anantheshwara, that is Lord Shiva accompanied by Lord Shesha or Anantha.

Shrimath Anantheshwar Temple, Manjeshwar

Link : www.manjeshwar.org

Shri Venkatramana Temple, Mulki

Sri Ugra Narasimha of S.V. Temple , Mulky is mostly known in many places far and near.His divinity is realised by innumerable devotees. He is Very Gracious . All who take shelter in His Lotus feet attain their ambition without failure. He is Great Protector who Libarates his devotees from all miseries and sufferings of life. He loves all who loves him and pray for his mercy. He pardons all sins or all kinds if surrendered to him being merciful . If prayed with implicit faith he gives strength to face any problem of life. In short He blesses his devotees everything to make life worthy and happy. Such a gracious and Great Lord Sri Narasimha adorn the throne of the sanctum-sanctorum of S.V. Temple, Mulky.

Shri Venkatramana Temple, Mulki

Link: www.svtmulki.org

Sri Venkatramana Temple, Mangalore

Sri Venkatramana Temple of Mangalore is one of the most reputed and popular temples in the western coast of India, with Lord Sri Veera Venkatesha (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) as its supreme deity, the temple has a glorious history of more than 300 years.It is one of the ancient and revered shrines of the coastal region, which attracts devotees from a wide spectrum of the society.

Sri Venkatramana Temple, Mangalore

Link: www.sriveeravenkatesha.org

Vegetarian Saraswat cuisine

Their curries use a lot of coconut, coconut oil, tamarind, and curry leaves and is largely influenced by South Indian cuisine. It is slightly similar to Malvani or Konkani and Udupi or Mangalorean cuisine. Their cuisine is less spicy and has little Portuguese cuisine influences than the cuisine of their Goan Catholic counterparts.[1] Hooman ani Xit (Hooman – fish curry; Xit – parboiled rice) is the staple food of the Saraswat Brahmins of Goa, whereas the regular partaking of Indian breads such as Puris, Chapatis and Parathas are seen mainly amongst the Saraswat Brahmin of Maharashtra, India. Satvik Brahmin (sub-sect of Saraswat Brahmins) cuisine, is similar to Jain cuisne, which is a strictly vegetarian cuisine that does not use vegetables that are plucked from underground, like onions, potatoes, garlic, etc. Dishes such as Savalem ranapp prepared among the Bhats (Priests), Orthodox Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins. This is followed by most Konkani families on Holy days and on festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi follow this style of cooking. On certain days, (Mondays in particular), all Saraswat Brahmins eat only vegetarian food. This is particularly true in families whose Kuldev (family deity) or other family deities like Mangesh, Nagueshi or any other form of Lord Shiva. Most Saraswat Brahmins are routinely vegetarian.

Khatkhatem, a vegetable with at least 6 vegetables stew is popular. Bhaji or Shaak (made from different vegetables and fruit), Usal (spicy pulses in a thin watery gravy), Misal (usal topped with fried snacks), Tondak (Beans combined with cashewnuts), Ross (coconut-based dishes), Hoomans (different types of curries), karams (vegetable salads), Lonche (Indian pickles) and Papads (flatbread). Fast foods include Moongacho gathi (curried green gram), botatyache patal bhaji (potato curry), tur dal ross (split pigeon pea curry), etc.

History of Kashi Math...

Before the Kashi Math came up, most of the Vaishnava Gowd Saraswat Brahmins were followers of Shri Uttaradi Math. During the 15th century, Sri Ramachandra Tirtha of MOOLA MATH(Jagadguru Sriman Madhwacharya Moola Maha Samsthana) initiated two sishyas to sanyasa -Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha and Sri Vidyanidhi Tirtha. The latter started a new math- Uttaradi Math and became head of the same. Where as Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha continued the Parampara of Sri Ramachandra Tirtha which was the main parampara of Sriman Madhwacharya,now known as Sri Raghavendra Math(Mantralaya) after Sri Raghavendra of Mantralaya. Due to proximity to South Kanara and Kerala, the Gowd Saraswats were transferred to the Kumbhakonam Math.

Later when Surendra Tirtha became the head of the Math at Kumbhakonam(Moola Matha), one of his disciples, Vijayindra Tirtha undertook a Chaturmasya (a religious event lasting four months) at Cochin in 1539–1540. Here, he selected Sri Hanumantha Bhaktha and was given deeksha as Yadavendra Tirtha. Yadavendra Tirtha went on to become head of the new Kashi Math at Varanasi established in 1542 AD. Shri Kumbhakonam Math gave two idols of Shri Vyasa and Shri Rama (Raghupati) to Shrimat Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the Gowd Saraswats.

What is Kuldevtas??..

Kuldevtas are considered of utmost importance to the GSB's. Normally Saraswats believe in the concept of "Panchayatan" - worshipping 5 gods like form of Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Surya and Ganapati. Some GSB Temples still maintain this concept, while others have a single deity instead of five. "Kuldev" or "kuldaivat" are the deities which a set of families primarily worship. Their temples are built and maintained by these families, also called "Mahajans" (or Kulavis) of their respective temple.

Many Kuldevs/Kuldevatas are situated in Goa. However, during the early Portuguese persecutions, many GSBs and Saraswats fled Goa along with their Kuldevs to nearby regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mumbai, Gujarat, Punjab. Hence, besides Goa, there are many GSB Temples in Maharashtra (Konkan side like Malwan, Vengurla, Savantwadi, Kudal, Ratnagiri, etc.), Mumbai.

History of Gowda Saraswat brahmins (GSB)

The exact origin of the Saraswat Brahmins is difficult to ascertain. The Saraswat Brahmins are mentioned in the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and even the Bhavisyottara Purana.Eiher they may have come from Central Asia to the Indian sub-continent through the Hindu-Kush mountains and the Khyber pass to south in about 2000-1500 B.C or they were Indigenous.The meaning of the word 'Saraswat' has more than one origin. One refers to 'offspring of Saraswati', the Goddess of learning applied usually to learned and scholarly people. It may also denote the residents of Saraswati river basin. The brahmins of this region who are referred to as 'Saraswats' in Mahabharata and Puranas were learned in Vedic lore. They concentrated on studying subjects like astronomy, metaphysics, medicine and allied subjects and disseminating knowledge.To trace the gaud saraswat brahmins ancestry from kashmir to goa,story of famous seer "saraswata" is considered,when there was a famine in north India,he continued to recite vedic texts by consuming fishes.

Due to geo-morphosis in the Himalayas, the Saraswati began to dry up and the Saraswats were forced to migrate to greener pastures. Some went to Kashmir in the north, others went eastwards. Few made their way to the Konkan and Goa. These came to be recognized as Goud Saraswats or Dakshinatya Saraswats, to distinguish them from other Saraswat groups of North.

Gowda Saraswat Brahmins

Gowda (also written as Gowd or Gouda or Gaud) Saraswat Brahmins are a Hindu Brahmin community in India and a part of the largerSaraswat brahmin community. They are popularly referred to as GSBs. They are Konkani people and primarily speak Konkani orMarathi as their mother tongue.They claim their origin to the Brahmins who lived on the banks of the now extinct river Saraswati of Punjab. They derived their name from either the river Saraswati or from their spiritual leader Great Sage Saraswat Muni who lived on the banks of Saraswati. These Brahmins were one of the Pancha Gowda Brahmin groups who lived north of the Vindhyas. They belonged to Smarta tradition and primarily worshiped the five deities: Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha. Throughout the course of history, the Saraswat Brahmins have migrated to a variety of locations and are found mostly in Western coast of India.