Subramanya, Karnataka

Subramanya, Karnataka Subramanya
village

Subramanya (Tulu/Kannada: ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ) is a small village deep in the forests bordering the Western Ghats about 105 km from Mangalore in the state of Karnataka, in southern India.

It is a pilgrim center in the Sullia Taluk in South Kanara district, believed to be the abode of Subramanya, the son of Lord Shiva. The Kukke Subrahmanya Temple is located in the heart of the village.

Pilgrim centre

Kukke Subramanya Temple

Pilgrims going to Kukke Subrahmanya Temple in Subrahmanya have to cross the Kumaradhara River. They take a holy bath in the river and then go on to the temple to have darshan. There is also another river called the Darpana theertha which flows just behind the temple.

The belief is that Vasuki and other snakes took refuge under God Subrahmanya in the caves at Subramanya. Here God Subrahmanya is worshipped as a snake. This is the god's divine power.

History

According to one Mythology, after killing the demon rulers, Tharaka, Shurapadmasura and their followers in a war, Lord Shanuka reached Kumara parvatha with his brother Ganesh and others. He was received by Indra and his followers. Indra being very happy prayed Lord Kumara swamy to accept and marry his daughter Devasena for which the Lord readily agreed. The divine marriage took place on Margashira shudha shashti at Kumara parvatha. Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and many other deities assembled for the marriage and coronation ceremony of Shanmukha for which waters of several holy rivers were brought. With these waters of Mahabhisheka fell down to form a river which was later known by the popular name Kumaradhara.

The great Shiva Bhakta and Serpent king Vasuki was performing tapas for years in the Biladwara caves of Kukke Subrahmanya to avoid the attack of Garuda. Following Lord Shiva`s assurance Shanmuka gave darshan to Vasuki and blessed him that he would stay with his parama bhakta in this place forever. Hence the poojas offered to Vasuki or Nagaraja are nothing but the poojas to Lord Subrahmanya.

Subramanya used to be called as Kukke Pattana in the past. In the 'Shankara Vijaya' Anandagiri observes that Sri Shankaracharya camped here for a few days during his religious expedition (Digvijaya). Shankaracharya referred to this place as 'Bhaje Kukke Lingam' in his 'Subrahmanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram'.

Sri Subrahmanya kshetra has been brilliantly described in the 'Thirthakshetra Mahimanipurana' chapter of the Sahyadrikhanda comprised in the Sanatkumara Samhita of Skanda Purana. This kshetra is situated in the banks of the river 'Dhara' which originates in the Kumara mountain and proceeds to the western sea.

Sacred places

1. Shree Subrahmanya : Lord Subrahmanya is the main deity of Subrahmanya. The main entrance of the temple lies to the east. The devotees will enter from west through main Gopuram and enters the inner quadrangle from the east. There is a pedestal in the centre of the sanctum. On the upper Dias there is the idol of Shree Subrahmanya and then the idol of Vasuki and little lower the idol of Shesha. While entering the inner quadrangle devotees should remove their shirts and banyans.

2. Kukke Linga : To the west of inner sanctum there is a cluster of Lingas known as Kukke Lingas. The Lingas were kept in basket.

3. Kala Bairava Devaru : The shrine of Lord Bairava is situated at the southern side of the inner sanctum.

4. Umamaheshwara : This image can be found in the north eastern side of the main sanctum. The images of Soorya, Ambika, Vishnu and Ganapathi are also found here.

5. Hosoligamma : The shrine of Hosoligamma lies to the southern side of the main sanctum. The images of Soorya, Ambika, Vishnu and Ganapathi are also found here.

6. Sringeri Mutt : This mutt is situated to north east of the main sanctum in the outer quadrangle. Chandramauleshwara is the main deity of this temple.

7. Ballalaraya Vigraha : This statue of Ballala King can be found while entering the main temple. It is believed that Subrahmanya was once the capital of Ballala King.

8. Uttaradi Mutt : This Mutt is situated on the northern side of car street.

9. Adi Subrahmanya : A road on the northern side of the main Gopuram leads to Adi Subrahmanya. 0.25 KM of walk will take you to Adi Subrahmanya temple. One can see a great Valmmika (anthill) in the sanctum. Here daily poojas are conducted and devotees can offer sevas to Shree Subrahmanya.

10. Kashikatte Ganapathi : This is situated beside the main road towards Kumaradhara about 0.25 KM from the main temple. Here temples of Ganapathi and Anjaneya are seen. It is believed that the idol of Ganapathi found here is very ancient and installed by sage Narada.

11. Biladwara : On the way from main temple of Kumaradhara you come across a very sacred place called Biladwara which is 0.30 KM from the main temple. It is said that Vasuki (Serpentking) lay hiding in this cave in order to escape from Garude. It is a cave surrounded by beautiful garden.

12. Kumaradhara river (Bathing Ghat) : A holy river sanctifies this pilgrim center. It originates from Kumaraparvatha. As a natural charmer, the river cascades down great height and muters lush vegetation of the region. Its journey links with Nethravathi, a holy river of Dakshina Kannada district and joins Arabian Sea. As the river flows over the rocks and thick forest areas it is sure that all the skin diseases will be cured if pilgrims take bath in this river. Note : As the river is very deep and flows very fast one has to take care while taking bath.

13. Darpana Theertha : A tributary of Kumaradhara flows in front of the outer quadrangle of the main temple. It is believed that a mirror (Darpana) and an Akshaya patra (Kopparige with full of gold jewels) happened to come floating down from mountain and the same was collected by temple authority.

14. Sri Subrahmanya Mutt : This Mutt belonging to the Dwaitha tradition, situated to the south east of outer quadrangle of the Temple. It is belived that Sri Madwacharya made his brother Vishnuteerthacharya, his disiple and gave this Mutt. The present sheer of this Mutt is Sri Sri Sri Vidyaprasanna Theertha Swamiji. Now Mutt runs a educational Institution provides value based education at Bilinele. Kukke shri Abhaya Ganapathi Temple, Sri Vanadurga DeviTemple, Somanatha Temple and Samputa Narasimha Temple are also managed by the Mutt.

15. Samputa Narasimha : This Temple is situated in the south eastern side of the main sanctum. It is believed that the image of this God is handed over to Madvacharya by Shree Veda Vyasa.This temple belongs to Shree Subrahmanya Mutt.

16.Vanadurga Devi Temple : This temple lies about 0.50KM away from the main temple, Recently this was renovated by using specially designed red stones on traditional style. Daily poojas are conducted here and devoteed offer sevas to Goddess.

17 Kukke Shree Abhaya Mahaganapathi : It is situates on the left side of the main road to Kumaradhara, about 0.45 KM from the main temple. It is one of the biggest monolithic statues of Ganapa. It is 21 feet tall. The architecture of the shrine is in Nepali style.

18 . Somanatha Temple Agrahara : This ancient temple is situated on the left bank of Kumaradhara. It is 1.5 KM far from main temple. This place is also called Panchami Theertha. In this place Swamijis of Shree Subrahmanya Mutt are entombed. About 16 tombs of Swamijis are found here.

19. Basaveshwar Temple Kulkunda : On the way to Mangalore, 2 KM from the main temple, you come across the Basaweshwara temple. Idol of Basava kept here openly.

20. Hari Hareshwara Temple : A small but mythologically significant place of worship, Harihareshwara temple is situated 8 KM away from Subrahmanya town. It is the abode of both Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) A panoramic view of the Western Ghat can be seen if you stand in front of this Temple.

Other Places

1. Garden near Adi Subrahmanya temple : 0.25 km of walk will take you to a garden maintained by the temple, which is located on the right bank of Darpana Theertha river.

2. Garden near Biladwara : Visitors can reach this garden by walk from temple. It is an ancient cave surrounded by a beautiful garden.

3. Bisile beauty spot : On your way from temple to Dharmasthala you come across a place called Kulkunda, 3km. from main temple. While reaching this place you have to take a deviation to right towardsSakleshpur of Hassan district. From there you have to proceed 20km to find extremely beautiful forest area with splender of Western Ghats. The ever green rain forest provides a feast for eyes. For a memorable experience there is a watch tower to observe the northern side of Kumaraparvatha and a valley in which water flows towards west. It is place where Mother nature offers one of her beast therapies for the daily stress of modern living.

4. Mathsya Gundi (Yenekal) : About 7km. from the main temple, in Yenekal village there is a spot where fish live in large number. This part of river is very deep and abounds shoal of huge Mahasheer / Tiger fish.

Research Station : Central plantation crops research institute, Kidu. On the way to Uppinangadi, 10km. away from temple town there is a CPCRI established under central plantation crops research institute in 1972 with an aim to produce genetically superior planting materials of Coconut, Arecanut Cocca and Cashew. The centre is both a seed farm and research centre. The farm has 120 acres of land.

Trekking

• Kumara Parvata / Pushpagiri
• Green Route

There are two routes from where you can trek to this Kumara Parvata/Pushpagiri, one is from Subramanya and another is from Somwarpet. Route from Somwarpet is the shorter one around 8 km and from Subramanya it is around 14km. The peak is at a height of about 1712m. Avoid trekking to this place during pre and post monsoons. There is heavy chance of lightning at the top.

Green Route is the famous segment along the Bangalore and Mangalore railway line in India, within the pristine part of Western Ghat mountain ranges often called the trekker's paradise. This is the segment on the railway track from Sakaleshpura to the Kukke Subramanya Road station. This is a unique beautiful spot in the whole railway track because of the dense green forest in which it is situated. This stretch of the track with length about 52+ km has around 50+ tunnels and bridges with length varying from few metres to 0.75 km and height varying from few metres to 200 + meters. The tunnels are absolute terrestrial abyss.

See also

• Kukke Subramanya Temple
• Sullia
• Puttur
• Mangalooru/Mangalore
• Udupi

External links

• "Kukke Subrahmanya Temple" by Mangalore.com [1]
• "Kukke Subrahmanya Swamy Temple" Website hosted by R Shastry [2]
• "Subrahmanya" by Templenet.com [3]
• "Kukke Temple" [4]