In the year 1899 GSB brahmin grahasta Sri Mala Pai had built a temple at Puttur. History says the present Pattada Sri Bhu sahita Venkatramana swamy panchaloha vigraha was given to Mala Pai by the 18 th Sri Swamy of Sri Kashi Mutt samsthan Srimad Varadendra Teertha sri swamy from Manjeshwara Sri Kashi Mutt. This has made a very close devotional contact between Putturu Pete, Manjeshwara pete and Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan.
This exquisite vigraha holds a unique significance:
1. Craftsmanship by Sri Varadendra Swamy:
This vigraha was made by Sri Varadendra swamy himself , who had a good knowledge of shilpashas
2. Unique Metal Composition:
The vigraha is unique in that it is made of 2 metals – Pittali and Tamra ( copper) , having beautiful combinations
3. Innovative Alignment System:
Vigraha has kondis / hooks system ,hooks are on shanka chakra hands of Lord Venkatramana and on the hands of Sri & Bhu , when these hooks are linked all 3 vigrahas get aligned in a straight line and may be it is a mechanism thought by & designed by Sri Swamy that all 3 vigrahas remain firm during abhisheka and on peeta . All this is a reflection on Sri swamys profound knowledge on shilpashastra.
A reflection of Sri Swamy’s profound knowledge of shilpashastra.
Shila vigrahas were crafted by Karkala Renjal Gopal Shenoy. They include Sri Venkatramana Swamy, Sri Lakshmi, Sri Maha Ganapathi,Sri Hanumantha , Sri Garuda.
On April 8, 1963 ,based on the Shubha muhurtha given , pratishtha of all shila vigrahas was done by and in the divine presence of 3 swamis , Srimad Sudheendra teertha swamy of Kashi Mutt samsthan , Srimad Dwarakanatha teertha sripada vadeer swamy of Parthagali Gokarna mutt , Srimad Sachdananda Saraswathi swamy of Kaivalya Gowdapadacharya mutt , Ponda Goa. It was a very rare event and is a history that all 3 swamys were present at the pratista time in the garbha graha of temple. To the best of our knowledge Puttur is the only temple were Sri Venkatramana pratista was done by all 3 swamis . This pratista by all 3 swamis has given a divine sanidhya at the temple.
In 1963 ,in the new temple Sri Lakshmi devi shila vigraha pratista was done , since then the temple is called as Sri Lakshmi Venkatramana temple.
History says that for the Utsavas the Utsava Sri Bhu Sahita Venkatramana swamy vigrahas was given from Basruru Kashi Mutt by Srimad Sudheendra Teertha Sri swamy.
In 1899 there were no many GSB houses in Puttur so temple could not get any further progress. In future years some GSB families came and settled after which bhajans on Saturdays , Utsavas on special days were started and this continued till the year 1950.
In 1956 , when Srimad Sudheendra Teertha sri swamy visited Puttur pete, he was told about the temple and GSB samaj of Puttur. Taking into account the situations of that time with the help of jyothishis bhu prasna was arranged and based on jyothisha adhara for the future progress of samaj and puttur pete , parihara found was to built a temple in the present place were the present temple is situated ( It is said the present Pattada devaru was worshipped in a Gudi which was present at the same place were present Sri Krishna gudi is situated).
As per directions given by Sri Sudheendra swamy a committee was made and temple building works got started.
All the Puttur GSB samaj including the elders, youngusters , children had done shramadana and contributed their tanu mana dhana because of which the present beautiful temple got constructed.
