Sree Laxmi Venkatesh Temple, Kanhangad
Kanhangad also known as Hosdurg is 35 kms south of Kasargod on the seashore. Hosdurg is an important early settlement of gsbs, who migrated here in large numbers in the 16th century. At present, there are about 300 gsb families in Kanhangad. The Laxmi Venkatesh temple was established in 1864 AD. The temple is situated near the Hosdurg fort.
Deities :
The main deity is Laxmi Venkatesh. There are also prathistas of Garuda, Mahamaya (Shanta Durga), Ganapathy, Mahalaxmi, and Hanuman.
History & temple details : Before the establishment of the temple, the GSBs in Hosdurg had to go to Venkatramana temple at Kasargod for worship. In those days due to lack of transportation facilities, the devotees had to reach the temple which is about 35 kms away by foot.
The samaj members felt the need for a temple locally. In the middle of the 19th century, a group of men including Narayana Kamath, Subraya Kamath, Sheshagiri Kamath and Ramachandra Naik, embarked upon the task of building a temple for the community at Hosdurg. These four families together are known as Chowguli families.
The site for construction of the temple was donated by Subraya Kamath and his elder brother Manjayya Kamath. The samaj members participated by way of donations and sramadan to construct the temple. On Vaishakh Shuddha Tritheeya day of Rathakshi Samvatsara (1864 AD), the idol of Lord Laxmi Venkatesh was duly installed in the temple by Srimat Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji of Kashi Mutt. The idol is from Innoli in Nandavar village near Panemangalore, where the idol was entrusted to the custody of the Swamiji by the samaj members in that village since the temple was very poor and could not afford to provide expenses for daily Nivedya and Trikala Pooja regularly. While installing the deity in Hosdurg, the Swamiji had made a special entreaty to the Lord to be pleased with whatever little offering was made by poor and devot samaj members.
Although the temple had a humble start, it has taken long strides during the last one and half century in all spheres like infra-structure, festivals and social activities. The temple srikovil was replaced by a new one. The quadrangle Pauli was renovated. In 1920, the punaprathista and Brahma Kalasabhisheka was done by Srimat Sukritheendra Tirtha swamiji. In 1960, the second punaprathista was done by Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha swamiji of Kashi mutt. The Jaya-Vijaya statues in front of the Garbhagraha were installed by the Swamiji on this occasion. The parivara devas were installed by Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji in the presence of the Pondiffs of Kavale Mutt and Gokarn Mutt. A Sahasra Kumbhabhisheka was conducted by Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji in 1989.
The shrine of Mahamaya, where the Kalasha Prathista was existing, was rebuilt by Keshav Srinivas Shanbhag and brothers and an idol of the Goddess was installed. A Nagalaya was built by Damodar Sheshagiri Kamath. A beautiful shrine for Sharada Devi was constructed near the temple tank Sukritheendra Pushkarani. A shrine of Vitobha Rukmini where Sankeerthana Saptaha is being conducted annually, was constructed in memory of Patel Narasimha Kamath.
A Kalyan Mantap was constructed in the holy name of Sudhindra Kalyana Mantap at a cost of Rs. 12 lakhs. One more building in the holy name of Bhuvanendra Kala Mandir costing about Rs.6.5 lakhs was constructed in 1989.
Festivals & Customs
The important annual festivals (Pancha parvas) in the temple include Navarathri, Karthika Deepotsava, Rama Navami, Anantha Chathurdasi, and the Moola Prathista day on Akshaya Tritiya. Each day of the Navarathri festival is sponsored by certain families.
The Karthika Deepotsava has now-a-days become popular among the general public. The Utsav idol of Venkatesh is taken out in the morning in decorated silver palanquin to Melankot, considered to be the Vana or forest, where the pallivetta (divine hunt) takes place. After the mid-day pooja, Vana Bhojan (meals) is provided to the devotees. After the pallivetta and evening pooja, Lord returns to the temple with Arati and fire works along the route. The Lord is placed in a chariot like tent (called Gurunja) near the temple and witness the grand scale fire works. The Lord then re-enter the temple. This festival is conducted by the Kotachery Shenoy family.
A special attraction of this temple was the Oracle or Devadarsan which has now ceased due to death of the incumbent Darshana Pathri.
Administration of the temple is vested in the governing body and the Trustee board elected by the community members once in two years. With a view to help the poor and aged, the temple authorities has started the Sudheendra foundation which runs an old age home.
Source:http://www.gsbkerala.com/temple/hosdurg.htm
