About

Venkatadri Samam Stahanam Brahmanade Nasthi Kinchanam|| Venkatesh Samo Devo Na Bhuto Na Bhavishayathi||

Vittal Malya, father of Narayana Malya, the founder of the temple came off to Kumata in north canara district being inflicted by the havoc created by the conversion in 1541. He hailed from a locality called Verne in Goa. His son Narayana Malya was an eminent scholar and far-sighted visionary. These factors have been brought to light by the stone and copper inscriptions in the temple along with the other historical evidences. He had built five mutts both in north and south canara districts after he settled in Kumata migrating from Goa. The matts are in Honnavar, kasarkodu,Venktapur, Gangolli and Heamadi. Over the years, the matt which Malya established in Gangolli has been named in local parlance as ‘Venkataramana temple’. Another reason can be traced regarding the name Malyar mutt firmly stuck to the temple. By practice, if two persons of the same name reside in a locale, a nickname is assigned to one of them. Subsequently, there are two Venkataramana temples in Gangolli. In addition to the above said one, a temple with venkataramana idol is established by a person called Ram Pai in nearby Mel Gangolli.This temple belongs to the renowned Pai family. This made the other one to be called malyar Mutt. Narayana Malya was a great devotee of God Venkataramana, He established a small temple in 1668 shortly after he came to reside in Gangolli from Kumata. In the initial days, this temple comprised of only the sanctum sanctorum. The inner halls, corridors, walls,flag-pillars and the pond were not constructed. The idol of God Venkataramana was consecreated in 1674. This indicates the fact that the temple construction took thirteen long years for its completion. Those days gangolli was under the control of Keladi chieftains of Sagar Thaluk who were the feudatory chieftains under Vijayanagar empire. Bhadrappa Nayaka was one of the chieftains who ruled over Keladi province.Narayana Malya was well-versed in business activities. He instructed the keladi rulers about the means and tricks to earn huge profit in trade. As a result, business in Keladi shot up in leaps and bounds. Bhadrappa Nayaka showered generous gift of leasing a land that generates annual income worth 120 gold coins at Badadu village nearby Gangolli. Thereby Narayana Malya secured the rights to enjoy the produce tilling the fertile land. Though it’s really an accomplishment to establish Venkataramana temple in Gangolli. Bearing the expenses was still a cause for worry. Narayana Malya left for Keladi to express the glitch with the enthroned queen Chennammaji. She donated the land in Gangolli and Senapur worth the produce of 92 gold coins for the purpose. A reference to this matter is found in a copper inscription available in temple. The order has been issued to Senapur Brahmashree Mahabala Acharya to manage donated land to undertake hereditary rights of daily worship and discharging priestly duties. Babanna Acharya, a scion of Acharya family renovated the sanctum sanctorum and constructed the corridors for circumlocution, walls, main entrance, flag-pillar, massive bruhma chariot and pond in 1910 and led the temple towards the glorious path of progress. On the ceremonial acceptance of Dwarakanath theertha as the seer of Gokarna Parthagali Matt, Acharyas of Senapur formally handed over the management and overseeing of priestly duties to Sri Dwarakanath seer on 16 th March 1945. The seer had undertaken measures for the permanent arrangement for the income and expenditure of the temple. Currently, the temple management is carried out smoothly under the initiative of Srimat Vidyadhiraja theertha swamiji. The temple has been treading the path of remarkable progress since the time His Holiness Dwarakanath swamiji took charge of its management. The general public in and around the locality joined hands together to extend the temple premises. A car-shed has been erected to house the chariot. The tri-centenary celebration of the temple has been organized with much pomp and glory in the august presence and the initiative of revered His Holiness Dwarakanath theertha and his disciple.