Sri Venkataramana Temple or Sri Veera Venkatesha Swamy Temple is an ancient and famous Vaishnava Temple located in Car street, Hampankatta, Mangalore, Karnataka. Mahatobhaara Sri Mangaladevi Temple is 3 km and Sri Koragajja Temple is 2.8 km from the temple. Sri Veera Venkatesha Swamy (Sri Maha Vishnu) is the presiding deity in the temple. This Venkataramana Temple belongs to the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (G.S.B) community and follows Madhwa Vaishnava tradition.
The annual Car Festival is celebrated from Magha Shudda Tadige to Ashtami is the main event that attracts thousands of devotees from all around. Sri Lakshmi Devi, Sri Ganapathi, Sri Prana, Sri Garuda and Naga Devatas are the sub Dieties.
Mangalore Sri Venkataramana Temple Darshan Timings:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Evening: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Pooja Timings:
Mahapooje: 12:30 PM
Rathripooje: 8:30 PM
Ekadashi Day:
Rathripooje: 9:30 PM
Mangalore SVT History:
Traced back to the mid-17th century when the idol of Sri Moola Venkataramana Swamy was installed in the shrine. Sources also throw light that, the bronze idols of Sri Veera Vittala and Sri Gopalakrishna were consecrated in the temple by one Sri Sowkar Mhall Pai in the year 1736 A.D. During this period the temple consisted of only the Garba Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum). But the significant landmark in the history of the temple dates back to 1804 A.D. when the main idol of Lord Veera Venkatesha Swamy (Patta Swamy) was consecrated. This indeed was the event the devotees of the temple all along the generations would relish in their hearts forever! There are two similar stories pertaining to the obtaining of the main idol.
According to one source, a Bairagi (an ascetic/recluse) visited Mangalore in the year 1804. He sought refuge in a temporary shelter in carstreet and worshipped the charming image of Lord Veera Venkatesha. Fascinated by the beauty of the Idol, crowds started gathering in big numbers to witness the daily puja of the idol and in order to avoid the flow of the crowd, he moved to lower carstreet. But the people of the locality most of whom were the members of G.S.B community were staunch in procuring the idol for their temple, approached the prominent and respected family of Sowkar Thimmappa Pai and succeeded in their request in procuring the idol.
The second story, the widely accepted one, follows that a Bairagi (an ascetic/recluse) visiting Mangalore in 1804 A.D, had with him the idol of Lord Veera Venkatesha, covered with a cloth in a sack. He kept the sack as collateral for a certain sum of money, in Sowkar Thimmappa Pai’s shop with a stipulation that in case the Bairagi failed in returning the amount lent, Sowkar was free to use the contents of the sack according to his free will. Unaware of the contents of the sack, he kept the same in the storey of his shop. One day it happened that, fumes started emanating from the storey. The watchman under the mistaken impression that the shop had caught fire, rushed to Sowkar’s house and intimated him about the incident. The Sowkar and his men wasted no time in reaching the shop. There they were astonished to see that there was no fire nor any loss incurred, but only fumes were effusing from the sack. As he opened the sack he was enthralled to behold the splendid and magnificent idol of Lord Veera Venkatesha Swamy. He carried the idol and kept it in his family temple (Opp: Sri Gokarna Math, Carstreet) and requested his fellow men to search for the Bairagi. The search however went in vain.
It was unanimously agreed by Sowkar’s family and nobles of the community that the idol would be displayed to H.H. Shrimad Vibhudhendra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan who were camping at Manjeshwar. Swamiji being an ardent saint was very much pleased with the sight of the idol. They affirmed that the idol is a miraculous one and suggested that the idol should be consecrated and worshipped in the community temple, where Sri Veera Vittala was the presiding deity, in the better interests of G.S.B people. Their request was wholeheartedly accepted and subsequently, on Jyeshta Shuddha Trayodashi of Rakatakshi Samvatsara the idol of Lord Veera Venkatesha Swamy was consecrated under the directions and guidance of Swamiji. Four learned Purohits conducted the proceedings for a period of three days.
In 1816, the temple became renowned as Kodial Sri Venkataramana Temple. Sri Ranga Bhat was the Paryaya Archak (chief priest) and Sri Vittala Acharya was the Purana Vachak. The Garbha Griha (Sanctorum Sanctum) consists of idols of Sri Veera Venkatesha Swamy, Sri Veera Vittala Swamy, Utsava Sri Srinivasa Swamy, Sri Moola Venkataramana Swamy, Sri Gopalakrishna Swamy, Sri Hayagriva Swamy and Sri Naga Swamy.
The shrines of Sri Mukhyaprana Swamy & Sri Garuda were established during the same time. The Car Festival of the year 1821 A.D was graced by the presence of H.H. Shrimad Sumathindra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, patta shisya of H.H. Shrimad Vibhudhendra Thirtha Swamiji. In 1878 A.D Navaratna crown with Basinga was offered to Sri Veera Venkatesha Swamy and Golden Crown to Utsava Deity Sri Srinivasa.
The Silver Lalkhi was first taken for procession in 1888. The Idols of Sri Lakshmi Devi & Sri Ganapathi Swamy was installed in the year 1896 and 1898 respectively. The construction of Sanna Ratha commenced in 1909. The Silver Clad Dhwajasthambha was erected in the year 1966. The Diamond Crown was offered to the Lord in the year 1977. It was in the year 1999 the devotees were blessed to witness Sri Veera Venkatesh adorned in Golden Palanquin.
In 2011, the Jeernodhara process was initiated, and on 6 May 2011, the Nidhi Kalasha Staphana and foundation stone were laid by the Ubhaya Guruvaryas of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan. On 16 January 2012, the Punar Prathistha(Re-installation) of the deities was established in the holy presence of the Ubhaya Guruvaryas. HH Sudhindra Tirtha Swami and their Patta Sishya Srimad Samyamindra Tirtha also blessed the Pente with an opportunity to organize Parihara and Punar Prathistha event of Lord Vyasa Raghupati followed by chaturmas vritha of H H Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swami.
For Online Payments:
Bank: Karnataka Bank Ltd
A/C Name: Shree Venkatramana Temple
A/C No: 4952500101318401
IFSC Code: KARB0000495
Location: Carstreet, PM Road, Mangaluru
Mangalore SVT Address:
Carstreet,
Hampankatta,
Mangalore,
Karnataka – 575 001.
Phone: +91 824 242 3455, 824 242 3453, 824 242 7937
