Perdoor Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple is located at Perdoor a village in the Udupi District of Karnataka .The village is situated in between Udupi and Hebri. Perdoor village is most renowned for the ancient Temple Shree Anantha Padmanabha swamy.

The idol of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is 2 feet high. The deity holds the Shanka (sacred conch) and the mighty Chakra is the hands.The hood of the serpent – Aadhisesha is over the head and a Padma on the navel.

The temple has a stone inscription made in 1458, which calls the deity by the name Janardhana deva initially but later as Ananta deva. However, another inscriptionmade in 1520, clearly mentions the lord as Sri Anantha Padmanabha. The vigraha (idol) of the god is in the standing position and is said to be have divine powers.

The temple consists of a separate Sanctum for Lord Shiva in the form of a Shivalinga.There is a Ganapati idol on a pillar at Theertha mantapa. It is an age old tradition of this temple to offer prayers first to the Lord Ganapathi, only after which poojas for the Moola Moorthi Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is undertaken every day.
An Arototsava katte exists in front of the Temple and a Nagabrahma sthana nearby.

Legend

According to Sthala Purana,the Temple has been built by a Brahmin named Krishnasharma who lived in the province of Kotikunja ruled by Raja Shankara. It is said that during the period of 1754-1821, a person named Shri Krishna Hebbar of Perdoor Magane has constructed the temple and later Raja Vijayappa Wadeyar has given Banampalli village as Umbali to the temple.

Krishna Sharma, a Brahmin who was a great devout, was dedicated to Lord Ananthapadmanabha. Once, the Lord appeared in his dreams and told him: “`Towards the east, there is a vast place surrounded by rivers. Go there and find peace.” As the dreams continued to repeat, he decided to follow the instructions of the Lord.

During his journey, he saw a cow letting milk over an ant hill even as a ferocious tigress was seen playing with her cubs nearby. He immediately knew that this was the place that the Lord had in mind, as there was no fear among the inhabitants. The bewildered Brahmin rushed back shouting: “per undu, per undu” (there is milk). The expression stuck becoming Perurndoor and finally Perdoor with the passage of time.

As per the instructions of the Lord, he brought a black stone for the idol from Nellikaru, when a trader selling bananas passed him by. After walking a little further, the trader felt that the banana bunch had become heavier. He found that he could not travel any further. As the Brahmin offered his prayers to the Lord, the load became lighter. That is how bananas came to be considered the Lord’s favourite in this temple. At the spot where the tiger and the cow were sighted, the deity of Lord Ananthapadmanabha was consecrated.

A Kunjadakatte is also present, at which lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha utsavamurti is being worshipped during Rathotsava (car festival) period. Padma Sarovara with stone steps is situated on the northern side of the Temple, which is said to be the place of Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Padmanabha is said to like the Plantain fruit Kadali very much. Hence devotees are seen offering the fruit during the special Kadaliseva to the lord. The Rathotsava or the Car Festival of Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy is held during Kumbha Masa for a period of 5 days, which is being called the Boatikotsava.