THE BHANDIKERI MATH AT GOKARN
of our first Guru, H.H. Shrimat Parijnanashram-I Swamiji is located here.
Gokarn is considered, as much a holy
place Teertha Kshetra - as Kashi is. Situated
in coastal Karnataka, this temple town has
a lot of religious and mythological significance. Besides
the branches of Kavle and Parthagaali Math, other well-known
temples are found in Gokarn like the Mahabaleshwar Temple,
Maha Ganapathi, Tamra-Gauri, Venkataramana, Uma-Maheshwari,
Varadraj, Bhadrakali, and many others. The Kotiteertha
is a beautiful lake surrounded by temples, and a small
platform in the centre.
About 400 years ago, Saraswat Brahmins who
fled from the Gomantak to escape forcible conversions by the Portuguese and Christians,
came down and settled in and around Gokarn. About 4 kms. north of Gokarn is Bankikodla,
earlier known as the Vilayat of Bhanaps.
For us Chitrapur Saraswats, Gokarn has a
special significance, because it is here that our glorious Guru parampara began, almost
300 hundred years ago.
Kotiteertha was the site of penance
performed by senior members of our community, for want of a Guru to guide the
community. How H.H. Adi Parijnanashram Swamiji arrived there, etc. is well
known history, recorded elsewhere. Swamiji brought with Him in His Jholi the
beautiful idol of Lord Bhavanishankar, which has thence become the Pradhan Araadhya
Daivata of Chitrapur Saraswats
As per the ancient lay-out, the main
entrance to this temple-town was by the so-called Bandi Keri (lane for carts),
leading to the south-east corner of Kotiteertha. It is here that our Gokarn Math is
situated, facing Bandikeri. The road leading to the main gate was first made
in 1932 and renovated in 1998 to commemorate H.H. Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamijis
The frequently used entrance to the Math
from Kotiteertha side is actually the rear entrance.
Bhandikeri Math: The Gokarn Math,
also known as the Bandikeri Math, is located a few metres away from Kotiteertha. It is
said that originally, this was the Uma-Maheshwar Temple. It became a Math
after H.H. Adi Parijnanashram Swami made it His abode and later took Mahasamadhi there.
The prabhavali of the Umamaheshwari idol has an inscription Gersappe leading
to the belief that it has been brought to Gokarn from elsewhere. There is a narration that
H.H.Krishnashram Swamij in His dream was told of this lying unattended in a forest in
Gersappe, near Shimoga. He then went and brought it, to be installed at the Math.
The Uma-Maheshwari Shrine stands at the
centre of the quadrangle enclosed by the Chandrashalas of the present
Math. The Vigraha faces the direction of Kotiteertha, the Samadhi Shrine faces the
main gate Bandikeri side.
Major renovations to the Bandikeri Math and
the consecration of the Hodi Samadhi took place in May 1928, under the direct supervision
of H.H. Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji.
Swamiji observed Chaturmas at Bandikeri in
1937 and 1954.
The Toggu Math: This lesser known
place is of great historical significance. It is situated opposite the Patta Vinayak or
Batta Ganapati temple, to the left, on the way from Kotiteertha to our present Math. It is
believed that when our elders first met the Sage from Kashmir at Kotiteertha (1708), they
welcomed Him as their God-sent Guru and took Him to the nearby shrine opposite the
Ganapati temple. They made this the first holy Abode of their Adi Guru. It was
subsequently known as Toggu Math, the higher Math being the
present Bandikeri Math which enshrines the sacred Adi Samadhi.
Toggu Math houses the Vigraha of
H.H. Swamiji observed chaturmasya vratam
at the Gokarn Math from July 5,2001 upto Sep. 2, 2001.
Projects carried out
- Repairs and Renovation of Samadhi temple
- Tamrashasan to Samadhi Room Roof
- Rooms for Parama Poojya Swamiji's accommodation
and for the retinue
Gokarn is situated 36 km from Kumta, and 25km from Ankola, off the
National Highway 17.
Buses ply to and fro from Kumta every hour,
the first at 7.00 a.m. and the last at 7.30 p.m.
The nearest Railway Station is Gokarna
Road, 6 kms from the town, on the Konkan Railway Mumbai Mangalore route.
At present, no guest house facilities
are available at the Bhandikeri Math, but some accommodation
can be made available in near by hotels or lodges. Arrangements
for meals can be made if prior intimation is given.
11.00 a.m. Noon Pooja,
7.00 p.m. Deepa-namaskars,
8.00p.m. Night Pooja
:Vanabhojan on Chaitra Krishna
Trayodashi Punyatithi of H.H. Parijnanashram Swami I, when idol of Lord
Bhavanishanker is taken in a procession to Shri Varadaraj Temple through the Bazaar