Inside Krishna Temple 1
The temple office is to our right on entering the shrine. We proceed a few yards further. A path leads us to a sacred tank known as Madhva Sarovara. To the West is the entrance to the shrine.
There is a status of Chenna Keshva at the entrance. This in fact is the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum from the East. The Swamijis used to enter into the sanctum sanctorum through this after bathing in the tank. It is said that when the crowd of the pilgrims increased the door was closed and a status of Chenna Keshava was installed in the second half of the last century.
Only on the Vijayadashami day this door is opened now. On that day the Swamiji enters the shrine through this door. The nine sacred corns are also brought into the shrine that day through this door for the fresh harvest feast. On all other days this entrance is closed and the status Chenna Keshava stands there.
When we proceed towards the left in the circumambulating path we come across a small room known as anuyaaga sale, the hall of oblation to fire-god. The priest make oblation to fire when the puja is performed inside the sanctum sanctorum.
A golden palanquin is kept in the room in front of that. The 33rd pontiff of Sri Krishna Mutt, Sri Vidyapurna Thirtha Swamiji, donated the golden palanquin.
Let us turn towards the West and have a look at the surya sale, hall where the scholars recite Veda, purana, itihaasa and the works of Sri Madhvacharya.
In the evening the pipers and musicians sing and play on musical instruments and offer their services to Sri Krishna.
Attached to surya sale is another room in the West. This is known as Cinnada Koone, treasury of jewels. All jewels offered to Sri Krishna right from the emperors of Vijayanagar up to the Kings of Mysore are stored here.
To the right is a mantapa in front of the shrine. In between this mantapa and the sanctum sanctorum there is a small passage and a window through which the visitors can have a look at the idol inside. This window with nine square holes is known as navagraha kitiki. Window of nine planets. It must be noted that there is no entrance to the sanctum sanctorum in the front. One has to look at the idol through this window, which is covered with artistically carved silver plates.
In fact there was a door here. It was later on closed to control the crowd, as was the case with the eastern entrance. The beautiful metal status of Jaya and Vijaya still stand on either side of this window.
The window is decorated with the carvings depicting the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Inside the window is seen the tiny idol of Krishna as a small boy. There is a churning rod in the right hand and rope in the left. We can observe innocent look in the face. This is the only idol of this kind for the whole of India.
Even the lamps burning by the side of Krishna have a history of centuries. The lamp lighted by Sri Madhvacharya are kept burning even to this day and well protected. It was never allowed to get extinguished.
There is a tradition which records that when Chaitanya Maharshi came to Udupi he got a lamp lighted from this lamp and took it to Vrindavan and preserved it there. Thus the lamp lighted by Sri Madhvacharya sanctifies not only Udipi, but also Vrindavan, which was once upon a time the field of Krishna's sports.
To the right of this idol is another idol of Sri Venugopal Krishna. This is not clearly visible to the devotees who view it from the window. Nothing definite is known about this idol, but there is a oral traditional which gives the story thus.
It is known from the Shankara Vijaya of Ananthan-andagiri that Hastamalaka, one of the intimate disciples of Sri Shankaracharya had established an idol of Krishna in Rajatapiithapura
Hastamalaka had installed it in Kangur Mutt at kosdavur near Adi Udupi. In the 14th century this came under the jurisdiction of the Balegar Mutt of a Madhva pontiff Sri Akshobhya Tirtha near Tirthahalli. He appointed Brahmin priest for worship in the temple. In due course it severed its connection with the Balegar Mutt. The priest in charge of the temple found it difficult to perform the rituals due to poverty. Hence they surrendered the idol to Sri Krishna Mutt. Thus the idol of God Krishna of Adi Udupi was established beside the idol of Udipi Krishna.
There is a small mantap in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Fanning of the deity with chowry before the evening puja and the mantapa puja after the night worship are the two ceremonies performed here.
To the west in front of the mantapa there is a hall known as canard sale. The ‘Kanaka's window' is on the wall of this hall. In the evenings scholars recite epics and scriptures here. In the northern corner there is a small mantapa reserved for the worship of sacred texts during Navratri. There are two shrines on either side of this hall. In the North there is Mukhyaprana and in the south there is a small shrine of Garuda.
These two idols were brought to this place from Ayodhya and installed here as evidenced by the biography of Sri Vadiraja.
When Sri Vadiraja went again to Ayodhya he brought the idols of Hanuman and Garuda and installed them in front in front of Sri Krishna's idol.
The shrine of Mukhyaprana has two enclosures. One is the sanctum sanctorum. The priest sits outside this to distribute tirtha and prasaada. Rangapuuje is one of the special rituals here. Swamiji himself performs the main puja here after the mahaapuuje of the noon and the raatripuuje of the night at the main shrine. All dishes offered t Lord Krishna are later on brought here and offered to Mukhyapraana. This Mukhyapraana is the most powerful deity here. It is believed that Mukhyaprana himself makes all arrangements for the Paryana festival.
When we proceed further towards the North there is a platform for sacred Tulasi plant and a big lamppost. This Tulasi vrindavan is well decorated during the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Kartika. The Tulasi plant is worshipped with recitations and dancings for twelve days during period.
When we proceed further north there is one passage leading towards the left to the throne, kitchen and the dining hall known as cauki. The entrance at the right leads to the sanctum sanctorum. Since the Eastern and Western doors are closed, this is the only door leading to the sanctum sanctorum.
When we stand at the steps and turn towards the South a small shrine can be seen. It is the shrine of the Sri Madhvacharya. The beautiful little idol holding a stick in one hand is decorated with a join cloth and the mudras of knowledge and fearlessness in hands. Sri Vadiraja had installed this statue.
By installing the idol of Madhvacharya at the northern entrance Sri Vadiraja started the tradition of worshipping Madhvacharya also in the same shrine.
Though the architectural pattern of the temple remained uncharged for centuries its outer appearance was changed by renovations at different times.
There was a path of circumambulation inside the sanctum sanctorum. But since there is the idol of Sri Madhvacharya it is closed now. In place of wooden spokes there speared a stonewall around the sanctum sanctorum. Attached to the wall are the spokes of brass for oil lamps.
