Friday, September 11, 2009

Temple at "Soorya"


Last Sunday and Monday, me and couple of my friends went driving for a pilgrimage to a couple of temples in western ghats; Dharmastala and Kukke Subramanya. Enroute to these places, we visited a small wind farm and the historic temple of Belur.

I shall write in detail about the trip some other time. But here i am writing about an unique place we visited on the second day of the trip. This was a temple in the town of Ujire in Dakshin Kannada district, about 15 Km north of Dharmastala.

On sunday evening at Dharmastala, my dear friend Kiran gets a call from his mother asking him to visit the "Soorya" (sun) temple near Ujire. Apparently his mother had made a wish (ಹರಿಕೆ) that if gets a job in UK, she would ask him to visit this place. Thank god, he did get a Job in UK. So since we were anyway very close to this place, his mother asked him to visit the place.

I was surprised that there is a soorya (ಸೂರ್ಯ, sun) temple in Karnataka. I had only heard of a sun temple at Konark in Orissa. When enquired with kiran, he said, he has no idea and his job was just to visit the temple the next day as per his mother's instruction. Even i was eager to find out where and what was this temple.

After the darshan of lord shiva the Sunday evening and again on monday morning, we set out to this "Soorya" temple. We entered the Ujire town and enquired a few people for the road to the temple. Nobody knew where it was. Finally, we asked a taxi driver. Even he was surprised about a "Sun" temple in his town. Thankfully, kiran told him that people offer mud idols there if their wish (ಹರಕೆ) is granted. Then, the taxi driver smiled and told us that it is not the sun temple but the place is called "SOORYA"( ಸೂರ್ಯ). This was a Shiva/Rudra temple in the place called "SOORYA".

So we three "champions" set out on the muddy and bumpy ghat roads to the "SHIVA/RUDRA" temple at "SOORYA". Thanks to the wish kiran's mother made, we were blessed to see a beautiful place. Though the roads were bad and it was raining heavily, it was quite a sight. It was so beautiful. It was so good to be there.


We did manage to reach the temple. It was really pouring heavily when we reached there. After a little while, the rain stopped and we got out of the car with our umbrella and headed towards the temple. There were not many people out there.

The deity in the temple was "SOORYA SADASHIVA RUDRA DEVARU" (ಸೂರ್ಯ ಸದಾಶಿವ ರುದ್ರ ದೇವರು). It was very interesting for me. The village where the temple is situated is called "Nada grama" (ನಡ ಗ್ರಾಮ). But the name of the deity is derived from the place called "Soorya". The localites told me that "ಊರಿನ ಹೆಸರು ಸೂರ್ಯ ಹಾಗು ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಹೆಸರು ನಡ ಗ್ರಾಮ". It means the name of the place is "Soorya" in the village called "Nada grama". I am yet to figure out the difference between them. Anyways i dint have much time to enquire more about it.

More interesting was the temple. The main deity here is Shiva/Rudra. The people who perform pooja here are all Madhwas (They belong to the madhwa community, a sub caste of Brahmins who are Vaishnavites) . No doubt the deity is called Rudra devaru .(orthodox madhwas call shiva as Rudra devaru). It was a clean and pretty big temple built in traditional coastal architecture.


The belief here is that, you make a wish and if it comes true, you have to go to the temple in person and offer to the deity an associated idol(s) made of mud and go to the nearby kalyani(stepped well) and another small temple and offer prayers. There is a specific mud idol associated with every wish. Provided the wish is granted, one has to purchase the idol and offer it to the God there. The list of mud idols is exhaustive. They are very specific too. It starts from dogs, cats, to lorry,bus to computer,mobile phones to masonry and RRC roofs to even Beedi bundle.


It is quite strange that the list of offerings can be so specific and so exhaustive. One can imagine that there may be myriad wishes of people. But it beats me to imagine the list of offerings associated with such wishes. Obviously, the fields of wishes can be still far far greater than the associated list of offerings.

So as instructed by his mother, my friend Kiran purchased a small mud table and chair and offered it to the god. There is a small rite associated with the offering. One is supposed to keep it over some rice and offer it at a specific place.

From there we went to the Kalyani (stepped well) outside the temple. It is one of the most beautiful Kalyanis that i have seen in the recent past. It is covered by vegetation on all sides. There is a small paved path way leading to the kalyani. The kalyani is about 55 feet deep and the water is blue in colour. Yes, the water was blue in colour. It was really beautiful. I don't know exactly why it was blue in colour. But i think it is because of the thick vegetation all around and its depth.

We spent about 10 minutes near that kalyani and went to a small prayer place. It is basically a small temple like structure where people stand and pray.

We finished all that and returned to the main temple. After performing the sankalpa for Rudrabhisheka (ರುದ್ರಾಭಿಷೇಕ) there we left towards Kukke suramanya again in the beautiful but bumpy roads.

Without debating normative issues of beliefs here, i can say that we were really lucky to visit such a beautiful place in an obscure temple village.

15 comments:

  1. Interesting Indeed. You must be really lucky to go places while on work ! Have to visit this obscure place to get to know what India in its grass roots has to offer. Simply amazing !!!

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  2. Nice !!! Thanks for sharing !

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  3. HI, yeah, i had been to this temple last month, and it is really beautiful, i made a wish to, just waitint for the wish to be fulfilled.

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  5. awesome... now since I am living in Ujire I should visit it at least once... thanks for sharing this...

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  6. hi, sunil thank u very much, its very very interesting

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  7. hi, sunil thank u very much, its very very interesting

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  8. As Iam searching info on Surya temple, I come across this page. I got good info on who get to the temple…, but I didn’t lodging info. So for people who woluld wish to visit the temple here are some info. To reach to Ujire, you will get No. of state run KSRTC Buses. I got down in Dharmastala at 9:30pm and i learnt that there are many autos, Jeeps, buses to reach Ujire. There are four lodges in Ujire and I stayed in Sri Lakshmi Venkatesh Lodge, for A.C. Room I paid Rs.500, and Non AC 350Rs. Here is the contact Nos. of the lodge: 08256 236430, 9008615000, 9741815005, 9448126431. On the way there is Raj Leela Lodge, and SDM Lodge, and one more I forgot the name. To go to temple, U can take shared autos,just ask anyone for Ape stand for Surya temple. They take 10 rs on each side. The atmosphere is good in the temple, and u can once visit while u come for Dharmastala. I wish all well being.

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  9. i have there been and it is nice place and your wishes will come true..

    God bless

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  10. I have just returned from the temple today(12-4-14) and writing these comments for the benefit of countless devotees waiting to know more about the temple. I had made a sankalpa(wish of offering) once my wish was fulfilled. As my wish came true I travelled from Mangalore car and reached the temple in around 100 minutes. After Belthangady,before reaching Ujire(5Kms) you need to take a left turn towards the Surya Temple. The road for a few kms is very bad but is being laid. The temple is serene and clean. First you have to buy a ticket for Rs 100 from the temple for doing the offering. You will be asked if your wish has come true and then only will be allowed to offer.Then you go to the nearby stall and ask for the mud doll of your offering. For example,if you were not well and wished a speedy recovery,you can offer to give a doll of body. There are several offerings like hand,leg,body,bride groom,bride,computer,stethescope, table and chair etc. If you need to get a seat for medical you can pray to offer a stethescope!
    This doll is kept in a plate containing rice,coconut and a 5 re. coin and to be kept in a designated place in the temple. Then the priest performs the sankalpa and receives the offering on behalf of the God. Lord Sadashiva Rudra is the presiding deity.
    The offferings thus received,are kept in a place little away from the temple.This place is supposed to be the divine place where Lord appeared for the devotees. You can see the innumerable offerings kept there as a testimony of the belief and the power of the temple. This place is so serene and creates a divine feeling.This is the place you stand and thank the Lord for fulfilling your wishes. You can stand here and pray for any other wish.Once this wish is fulffiled,you must again come here personally and do the offering.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have just returned from the temple today(12-4-14) and writing these comments for the benefit of countless devotees waiting to know more about the temple. I had made a sankalpa(wish of offering) once my wish was fulfilled. As my wish came true I travelled from Mangalore car and reached the temple in around 100 minutes. After Belthangady,before reaching Ujire(5Kms) you need to take a left turn towards the Surya Temple. The road for a few kms is very bad but is being laid. The temple is serene and clean. First you have to buy a ticket for Rs 100 from the temple for doing the offering. You will be asked if your wish has come true and then only will be allowed to offer.Then you go to the nearby stall and ask for the mud doll of your offering. For example,if you were not well and wished a speedy recovery,you can offer to give a doll of body. There are several offerings like hand,leg,body,bride groom,bride,computer,stethescope, table and chair etc. If you need to get a seat for medical you can pray to offer a stethescope!
    This doll is kept in a plate containing rice,coconut and a 5 re. coin and to be kept in a designated place in the temple. Then the priest performs the sankalpa and receives the offering on behalf of the God. Lord Sadashiva Rudra is the presiding deity.
    The offferings thus received,are kept in a place little away from the temple.This place is supposed to be the divine place where Lord appeared for the devotees. You can see the innumerable offerings kept there as a testimony of the belief and the power of the temple. This place is so serene and creates a divine feeling.This is the place you stand and thank the Lord for fulfilling your wishes. You can stand here and pray for any other wish.Once this wish is fulffiled,you must again come here personally and do the offering.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have just returned from the temple today(12-4-14) and writing these comments for the benefit of countless devotees waiting to know more about the temple. I had made a sankalpa(wish of offering) once my wish was fulfilled. As my wish came true I travelled from Mangalore car and reached the temple in around 100 minutes. After Belthangady,before reaching Ujire(5Kms) you need to take a left turn towards the Surya Temple. The road for a few kms is very bad but is being laid. The temple is serene and clean. First you have to buy a ticket for Rs 100 from the temple for doing the offering. You will be asked if your wish has come true and then only will be allowed to offer.Then you go to the nearby stall and ask for the mud doll of your offering. For example,if you were not well and wished a speedy recovery,you can offer to give a doll of body. There are several offerings like hand,leg,body,bride groom,bride,computer,stethescope, table and chair etc. If you need to get a seat for medical you can pray to offer a stethescope!
    This doll is kept in a plate containing rice,coconut and a 5 re. coin and to be kept in a designated place in the temple. Then the priest performs the sankalpa and receives the offering on behalf of the God. Lord Sadashiva Rudra is the presiding deity.
    The offferings thus received,are kept in a place little away from the temple.This place is supposed to be the divine place where Lord appeared for the devotees. You can see the innumerable offerings kept there as a testimony of the belief and the power of the temple. This place is so serene and creates a divine feeling.This is the place you stand and thank the Lord for fulfilling your wishes. You can stand here and pray for any other wish.Once this wish is fulffiled,you must again come here personally and do the offering.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ||Om Namah shivaya||
    I visited the temple in April, I have made my wishes to the lord. Hope he honors them soon. I want to visit him again, with happiness and joy that he fulfilled my wishes. When I see people giving their offerings, I wish even I would do that soon. May my lord give me the things that I wished for. ||Hara Hara Mahadev ki||

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  14. I have visited that temple in (08-10-2019) with my close friend, it is very wonderfull and great temple i had ever seen before in my life. temple where wishes come true

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