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Approximately at a distance of 11kms from Udupi is the serene village of Pajaka; filled with lush green plants and trees, this village is the birth place of the founder of Dwaita philosophy, Sri Madhwacharya. It is said that Parashurama (one of Lord Vishnu's incarnation) built this village. A traditional place that is connected to a lot of legends located at the foot-hills of Kunjarugiri is the holy land of Pajaka. It is believed that Sri Madhwacharya is the incarnation of Lord Hanuman himself. Pajaka is one of the perfect get-away from the hustle bustle life of the city.
View of SriManmadhwa Mandira - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Legend of Pajaka - Udupi Diaries
It is believed that Madhwacharya's parents prayed for 12 continuous years in the Ananteshwara temple of Udupi to be blessed with a baby boy and in the year 1238 AD the couple were blessed with a baby boy.
Kunjarugiri Entrance - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Ananthaasana temple
The first thing you would notice in Pajaka is the beautiful temple of Lord Ananthapadmanabha along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The idol is not more than 2 feet and is made of Panchaloha (a blend of 5 metals used in making the Hindu idols. Lord Ananthapadmanabha is the prime deity of Sri Madhwacharya's family and it is said to have been installed by the Pandavas. The idol of the Lord shines amidst the naturally lit oil lamps and the lovely arecanut tree flowers and it is a bliss to eyes.
View of the design elements in Pajaka - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
House of Sri Madhwacharya
Remains of the house of Sri Madhwacharya stands in pride narrating the stories of Vasudeva's childhood. The house is now renovated and is becoming more tourist friendly however, the spiritual air never gets faded from this place and I bet you will certainly experience it during the visit.
Stone slabs - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Stone slabs
There are 2 big stone slabs which little Madhwa had once used to replace the lids of vessels used by his mother to store curd and milk. This has been preserved and is one of the attractions at Pajaka.
Place of Debt Settlement - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Place of Debt Settlement
As you go further ahead you would see a tamarind tree which again has a story to narrate. Legend says that Madhwa's father had once borrowed money from a wealthy merchant and when the merchant troubled him to return the debt, little Madhwa grabs a handful of seeds from this tamarind tree which turns into money equivalent to the amount of debt his father had to repay. This place is known as "Place of Debt Settlement". Even to this day, you would find the priest of the temple giving those seeds to all the devotees and it is believed to increase your wealth.
Details of Vasudeva theertha - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Vasudeva Theertha
To the right of the tamarind tree is the Vasudeva theertha; a pond which is a combination of all the main four holy ponds in and around Pajaka.(Baana, Gadha, Dhanush and Parashutheertha) It is believed that little Madhwa created this pond himself to relieve the anxiety of his mother.
Uprooted tree and the serpent stones - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Uprooted Peepal Tree
Another interesting attraction at Pajaka is the uprooted Peepal tree which has bloomed from the roots. This is a place where a lot of serpent stones have been installed and a lot of rituals are carried out in this place.
Temple of Sri Madhwachrya - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Temple of Sri Madhwacharya
There is a separate temple dedicated to Sri Madhwacharya; you may get to see the foot impression of the saint in this place and hence this place has a temple dedicated to him. It is said that he took a leap from the nearby Durga betta (Hill where Goddess Durga resides) killing a demon with one foot while placing the other here on hearing his mother's voice.
Tulasi Brundavana - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Tulasi Brundavana
There is a separate place dedicated to Aksharabhyasam inside the Ananthapadmanabha temple in front of a Tulsi Brundavana. Even to this date you will find devotees performing rituals of Aksharabhyasam of their kids in this place.
Palm leaf manuscript in the Hall - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Pravachana Mandira
Outside the temple premises, a very specious hall dedicated to Vedic speeches from great scholars has been built. The walls of the hall are engraved with some sacred hymns from one of the celebrated works of Dwaita philosophy. You may also get to see some palm leaf manuscripts of olden times as you enter the hall. If you are an artistic person the carvings on the door will leave you enchanted.
Manimanta Daitya Samhaara place - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Places in and around Pajaka
Manimantha Daithya Samhaara place, Parashurama Betta, Durga Betta, Baana theertha, Gadha theertha, Parashu theertha, and Dhanush theertha.
Hotels in and around Pajaka: A km away from Pajaka, you have refreshment centers
Picture of Hotel Sharon at the entrance of Pajaka - PC : Brunda Nagaraj
Accomodation
There are many hotels in and around Udupi.
How can I reach Pajaka
From Udupi, you can take local buses or auto-rickshaws to Pajaka.
Other facilities
There are toilets which are neatly maintained in the premises of Sri Durga temple at Durga betta.
Not to miss
- The beautiful view from Parashuram Betta along with the lovely trees on either sides and the mouth slurping butter-milk from hotel Sharon as you travel to the beautiful Pajaka.
- Photography is restricted inside the temple and entry fee is NA.
- There is a store inside the Ananthaasana temple that sell books and photos of Pajaka.
Take an amazing tour of this holy land Pajaka and if you have any feedback or photographs of the place to be shared - please use the comments section below.
