Anantheshwara Temple

Shri Anantheshwara Temple, Udupi is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the legendary creator of the Tulunadu region. The temple is unique because Lord Parashurama is worshipped here in the form of a Shiva Linga.

This temple is considered one of the oldest temples in the Tulunadu region. It is located very close to the famous Udupi Shri Krishna Matha and stands beside the Chandramouleshwara Temple. According to a legend, the Pandavas built this temple overnight during their exile. The roof of the main temple is made of large granite stone slabs and finished with lime plaster, reflecting its ancient architectural style.

The temple played a significant role in giving the village the name Shivalli. The Brahmin community that settled around this temple came to be known as Shivalli Brahmins.

Some scholars believe that the original form of the name Shivalli was Shivahalli. In ancient texts it was also referred to as Shivabelli, which later evolved into the Sanskrit names Rupyapeetha and Rajatapeetha. Because of this, Udupi also came to be known as Rupyapeethapura.

Tradition states that the father of Acharya Madhva served as a priest in this temple. When he later moved to Pajaka, he carried with him a symbolic representation of Anantha Padmanabha as his personal deity. That idol is still worshipped there today. This also suggests that the worship of Vishnu existed there even before the time of Acharya Madhva. According to the text Madhva Vijaya, the divine birth of Acharya Madhva occurred as a blessing resulting from the devoted service offered to this presiding deity by the couple Nadillaya and his wife.

The ancient name of this temple was Padu Devalaya. In old inscriptions the deity is referred to as Mahadeva of Padu Devalaya. The temple of Chandreshwara, located to the east, was known as Moodu Devalaya.

Acharya Madhva used to deliver spiritual discourses to his disciples inside the temple courtyard. The text Madhva Vijaya mentions an incident where flowers showered from the sky while Acharya Madhva was delivering a discourse on the Aitareya text. The stone slab on which Acharya Madhva sat while teaching is still preserved and worshipped in the temple today. There is no idol placed on the slab; the stone itself is revered. Saint Shri Vadiraja described that Acharya Madhva is eternally present in that sacred slab.

The architecture of the temple also reflects its antiquity. The garbhagriha (sanctum) is built in a Gajaprishta style, resembling the shape of an elephant's back, which is a characteristic feature of very ancient temple architecture.