Sree Vittoba Temple, Payyannur
This temple at Payyannur in the Kannur district. It was established in 1974. The main prathishta is Vittoba Rukmini. The temple and prathista are facing the west. There are sila vigrahas and panchaloha vigrahas of Vittoba and Rukmini installed in the srikovil. The sila vigrahas were made by the famous sculptor Karkal Sriranjal Gopalakrishna Shenoy.
It is believed that Sree Vittal or Vithoba is Naada Murthi and is fond of bhajans and He does not need other poojas. So, bhajans are conducted regularly in the temple. Vaisakha Pournami festival, Ashada Ekadashi, Bhajana (recital of slogans of gods’ likings), Karthika Ekadashi Bhajana, Karthika Panchami, Uthana Dwadasi, Sree Varamahalaxmi Vritham (fast) are the festivals and major ceremonies conducted.
The divine “Shami Vriksha Katte” in the temple premises is a great craze for devotees. The worship of this tree fulfils the wishes and remove obstacles encountered, the devotees testify. It is believed that the Raksha Charadu (safety thread) worshipped at the feet of the Lord Vithoba and goddess Rukmai ensures solace and prosperity to the devotees who wear it.
History
The gsb members in Payyannur formed a Bhajan group in 1924 and installed pictures of Vittoba and Rukmini in a room offered by Sri. Anantha Shenoy above his business establishment at Payyannur.
Weekly bhajans was offered on every Saturday and on Ekadashi days. Later, a common Bhajan Mandir was constructed by the community and poojas started installing idols of Vittoba Rukmini. Sri Vaijappa Narayan Bhandari, a business man from Mangalore, donated a marble statue of Sri Krishna (about 1.5 ft) to the Mandir for worship.
In 1951, during his visit to Payyannur, Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji stressed the need for constructing a community temple at Payyannur. Since the location of the present Bhajan Mandir was not suitable, Swamiji directed that a suitable location has to identified for construction of the temple. A committee headed by Vasudeva Shenoy was formed and they raised fundsby way of monthy subscriptions and donations from community members and businessmen. It took about 18 years to materialise the dream. The land for construction of temple was purchased from Sri. Anantha Prabhu in 1970 and the construction work started under the leadership of Sri. Upendra Shenoy. A marriage hall (Sukrathindra kalamandir) was constructed next to the temple and was inaugurated in 1975 by Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji.
The concrete roofing of the sanctum sanctorum has been changed to copper sheet roofing in 1998.
The temple governance is by a committee elected locally from the community members. There are about 100 gsb families in payyannur.
Story of Vittoba-Rukmini
Vittoba is a form of Krishna, the name Vittoba means Father Vittala. The Vithoba-Rukmini are the Divine couple. Of Krishna's eight wives, Rukmini is considered to be his most favourite and beloved because of her satvic character and her devotion to Him. The story of Rukimini's marriage to Lord Krishna is a very interesting love story. Rukmini's father, the king of Vidarbha, decided to give away Rukmini in marriage to Shishupala, the king of Chedi. Her brother also consented to the marriage and the wedding preparations were in full force. Rukmini, however was in love with Krishna even from her younger age because she heard so much of His virtues. To escape her pre-arranged marriage to Shishupala, she sent one of her confidants to Krishna with a message. Krishna along with Balarama came down to Vidarbha and took away Rukmini in a chariot and killed Shishupala in the battle followed. On reaching Dwaraka He married Rukmini.
One day it so happened that Lord Krishna, while feeling lonely, was reminded of his early days in Mathura. He particularly remembered his love, Radha. Though she was dead, he longed to see her again. By his divine powers he brought her back to life and seated her by his side. Just then his queen, Rukmini, entered the room. When Radha did not rise to pay her respect, Rukmini left Dwarka in anger and hid herself in Dandirvan forest.Lord Krishna set off in search of Rukmini. He first went to Mathura, then to Gokul. He met the cowherd boys and they too joined in the search. They went to Mount Govardhan in her search and reached the banks of the river Bhima in the Deccan. Krishna justify his companions at Goplapura, and he entered Dandirvan forest alone in search of her. At last he found her and managed to calm her.Krishna and Rukmini came to Pundalik's ashram. But at that time Pundalik was busy attending to his parents. Though he knew Lord Krishna had come to see him, he refused to pay his respect to the god before his duty towards his parents was done. He, however, threw a brick outside for lord Krishna to stand upon. Impressed by Pundalik's devotion to his parents, Lord Krishna did not mind the delay. Standing on the brick he waited for Pundalik. When Pundalik came out and begged God's pardon, Lord Krishna replied that far from being displeased, he was pleased with his love for his parents.Lord Krishna then ordered His worship on Vithoba, or God who stood upon a brick. An imposing temple was built at the place (Pandharpur in Maharastra) where Krishna and Pundalik had met. Inside the temple stands Krishna's image on a brick with image of Rukmini on his side.
Source: http://www.gsbkerala.com/temple/payyannur.htm
About Payyannur: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payyannur
