About

This temple is situated in Kudupu village, which is 10 Kms away from Mangalore City, in the Mangalore-Moodabidri route. This temple is dedicated to Lord Anantha Padmanabha (another form of Lord Vishnu) and famous for serpent worship. Annual festival Shashti is a famous religious ceremony falls in December. Also Nagarapanchami, a worship of sacrificing the milk to Lord Naga is celebrated with great devotion.

Once there was a Brahmin Vedic scholar called 'Kedar' who was very orthodox, kind and religious follower. But he was extremely worried of not having a child. Thinking of that the blessing of Saint is ultimate resort for having a child he wandered everywhere searching one such saint. Finally his search fructified when he came contacted with one such holy Saint called 'Shringa Muni' near a small river 'Bhadra Saraswathi Thirtha' in midst of a big forest. He prostrated before a saint and placed his reason for worries. Hearing this a saint told him to stay there and start penance regarding Lord Subramanya who would fulfill your wishes. Saint also detailed him about the holiness of that place and the river.

Kedar accepted the advise of the saint and stood there and started a rigorous penance regarding Lord Subramanya with great concentration of mind and devotion. In penance he forgot all about his surroundings and himself. It continued for many years. As his penance became so intense it created a sort of immense heat in the surrounding and it spread everywhere even up to heaven. Devatas, humans, animals found it very hard to sustain. Everybody began to worry about the future if it continues like this. Worried about his penance Devatas went to Satyaloka to see Lord Brahma and told him the situation. Thinking of that Lord Mahavishnu only could redress the problem Lord Brahma accompanied by Devatas met him and detailed him with all about the situation. Hearing this Lord Mahavishnu said that Kedar is meditating regarding Lord Subramanya and only he could give remedy to this problem. Lord Mahavishnu promised Brahma and Devatas that he will meet Subramanya and accordingly he met him and told that Kedar is meditating upon him with a single desire of having a child that could be fulfilled by him only. He also asked Lord Subramanya to appear before Kedar and bless him with a child. But Lord Subramanya told that there is no child in the fate of Kedar and he is eligible only for salvation. But on the request of Lord Mahavishnu, Subramanya appeared before Kedar and blessed him with children. Kedar is so happy and expecting a child he settled near that Bhadra Thirtha River itself duly meditating and worshiping Lord Subramanya.

After some day wife of Kedar saw a serpent laying eggs and thought even snakes have good fortune of having children and worried too much about her fate comparing to that serpent. Year passed and Kedar's wife became pregnant and couple becomes very happy expecting a child. But after nine months, to their and everybody's surprise Kedar's wife delivered three eggs which was more looking like serpent eggs. Devatas thought these eggs are nothing but an incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Mahashesha and Lord Subramanya and became very happy.

But Kedar was not happy. Even after rigorous penance if God blessed him with these eggs as children it is nothing but fate and a result of past action. That time he heard a divine voice coming from ether saying that these eggs are nothing but an incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Mahashesha and Lord Subramanya for the sake of betterment of the world. It also realized him that he does not have further children and advised him to erect the eggs secretly at the place where he did penance upon Lord Subramanya. It blessed a place and River as a holy spot and whoever takes bath in the river will be blessed with children and freed from all sickness and sin. A divine voice also advised him to stay in that holy place worshiping Lord Anantha Padmanabha (another name of Lord Mahavishnu) and blessed him with salvation at the end of his life.

Hearing this voice Kedar became so happy and he kept those eggs in a basket weaved with forest creeps called Kudupu in local language and kept secretly in the place where he meditated upon Lord Subramanya. He spent his rest of life meditating upon Lord Anantha Padmanabha and attained salvation at the end of his life. Now in that place an anthill was grown and the place is well known as Shree Kshetra Kudupu. A small river called Bhadra Saraswathi Thirtha resides near the temple itself.

SHRAVANA SHUDDHA NAGARA PANCHAMI:

People celebrate the fifth day of full moon in Shravana month as "Nagara Panchami", a day dedicated for the worship of serpants. Early morning at 6:30 AM Special Panchamrutha Abhisheka will be performed to Ananthapadmanabha. After that special Thambila Pooja will be performed to Naga (Serpant idols) at Nagabana. In the afternoon special poojas and will be performed to god Ananthapadmanabha and mahamangalarathi will be performed. In the evening about 9:00 PM special mahapooja will be performed.

THENE UTSAVA:

Thene utsava will be celebrated on Bhadrapada Shuddha Shukla paksha third day. In the morning usual poojas are performed to the main deity. After that newly cut paddy crops that were kept at Bhadra Saraswathi Theertha kesha will be taken to the sanctorum and placed in front of the deity. Special pooja is performed to the new crop and portion of it will be gifted to the god tying them in the temple. Then the new crop will be distributed to the devotees. On this day dishes are prepared with new year's crop and free meals termed as Annasantharpane will be provided

ANANTHA CHATHURDASHI:

Anantha Chathurdashi will be celebrated on Bhadrapada masa Chathurdashi day. On this day the temple is specially decorated with flowers, vegetables, and fruits. In the temple Kalasha is installed ritually and kankana will be tied to the hands of the devotees who are performing the Ananthachathurdashi vratha. In the afternoon Mahapooja is performed and free meals (Annasantharpane) will be distributed to the devotees. In the evening also special Mahapooja is performed in the temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

6:00 AM to 1:00 PM

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

On special occasions temple remains open Whole day.