SREE GOPALAKRISHNA DEVASWAM
FORT- KOCHI AMARAVATHY KOCHI. 682001
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SREE GOPALAKRISHNA DEVASWAM AMARAVATHY KOCHI KERALA
Sree Gopalakrishna Devaswam at Amaravathy in Kerala is the only Temple of Daivajna Brahmins in Kerala. This is our age old Temple in the Historic Land of Parasurama stretching FromKanyakumri in the South to Gokarna in the North. So, we have Known relatives in Gokarna , Mangalore, Kasarkode, Kannur, Calicut, Trissur, all around Kochi Kollam Thiruvananthapuram in the coastal line of Konkan and also elsewhere in the inlands of Kerala ,Karnataka, Tamilnadu and elsewhere. Why are Our people seen concentrated in the Konkan Coast/ Malabar Coast ?
The History of the Konkan Sonar/Daivajna Brahmins in Kerala, begins with the tyranny of the Portuguese - in the 16th Century; in Goa who were aggressively Converting the people of Goa into Christianity. Accept the Cross or the Sword was the only option before the people. The people who couldn’t accept this began to flee from Goa through land towards Maharashtra, Karnataka and those who could get boats managed themselves to flee through the Sea and settled on the Konkan Coast/ Malabar Coast wherever their boat carried them. A large group who are fortunate to have the Pathemari or large boats formed a group and reached the middle Land of Kerala who called it Goshripuram latter turned to be called Goshri > Goshi > kochi and latter Europeans made it Cochin. Now again we call it Kochi. It was recorded in the history as the ‘Great Run’ for it was a run forever fromGoa. For the same reason they were taking with them not only Gold, Silver or other valuables but also their beloved Gods- The Deities as affectionately as mothers take their beloved children tight to their breast being the most Valuable.
It is known that our Diety was Sree Hayagreva the Swayamboo Avathara of Mahavishnu told in the Vishnu Purana who was given a head transplantation by Sri.Viswakarma to fight and Win the Hayagreva Rashasa. And we are Viswakarmies being the Goldsmiths > (Ganakas (also counted as Viswakarmies) >Jyothishis> Daivjnas as activists derive it conveniently)>Daivajna Brahmins(our latest Caste name Status ). And there is also a Mythical story behind this Deity of Hayagreva Murthy which we all know. It was believed that we were not in a position to do the poojas and prasadas desirarably and hence we the community members were mutually battling. We all then belonged to the Swathay Mutt of Udupi Ashta mutt. The Famous Vaadiraja swamikal the first Disciple of Sree Madhvacharya happened to visit the Temple. He felt that the Hayagreva Moorthy was pleading to him to take Him also along with. So, Vadirajaswamigal presented the desire and the then Mukya whole heartedly came forward to do so. On receiving the Deity Hayagreva Vadirajaswamigal as offered, gave us the present set of Krishna Moorthies-- The Chathur-Baahu Gopalakrishna Moorthy Rukmini and Sathyabhama sameth—the Utsava Moorthy Murali Krishna Rukmini and Sathyabhama sameth- The Navaneeth Krishna and performed the Prathistta. To be a poorna Shethra we have twelve Shaligramas also.
As per available record the oldest Shethra of Konkanies in Kerala Stands on the Bhoomi Given in Dhanam by the Raja of Kochi as Tax Free/un-assesed Land with town street houses of the community members along the south and the Northern Lanes. The temple is Centrally located looking Eastward in a Compound wall supported square land, of about75 cents. We have a well inside the temple and a well maintained and fenced Pond- on the North-East corner, a old Peepal tree on the south –East Corner and a Newly constructed Hall with a upper floor on the North-West side . The Nava Griha in the front an Naaga Prathistta are added worship Devathas. The Upa- Devathas are Lord Ganapathi and Lord Venkateasswa.| The Temple is constructed Stage by stage in Kerala Nalu Kettu Model with Mangalore roof tiles. We feel that this is one of the oldest temples of Konkani (Governed by the Konkan Sonar/ Daivajna Bhramanas)people in Kerala.
As years passed the natives began to count us as Keralates/ Malayalies called us Thattans, our Temple Thattan Ambalam and our Street Thattan Theruvu. We accepted their call, as brotherly and happily. Again years passed and from my Generation, the members began to get college Education and get employed in Govt and other services and by two Generations some renamed our street as Sree Gopalakrishna Devaswam Street, and they honorably called our temple by its name. We are vexed and vanned in the flow of winds of changes through centuries together. The Present Generation wanted to be Known as Daivajnya Brahmins the name they don't even know how we acquired. But still our Identity is Goldsmithy and we are proud of it and one should be, because today too, we reside in houses built by our fathers or forefathers by their sweat on Gold smithy and that is our Tradition. The Prime Identity. and we are a Community known by its Profession Goldsmithy( Kulathozhil).
As years passed the natives began to count us as Keralates/ Malayalies called us Thattans, our Temple Thattan Ambalam and our Street Thattan Theruvu. We accepted their call, as brotherly and happily. Again years passed and from my Generation, the members began to get college Education and get employed in Govt and other services and by two Generations some renamed our street as Sree Gopalakrishna Devaswam Street, and they honorably called our temple by its name. We are vexed and vanned in the flow of winds of changes through centuries together. The Present Generation wanted to be Known as Daivajnya Brahmins the name they don't even know how we acquired. But still our Identity is Goldsmithy and we are proud of it and one should be, because today too, we reside in houses built by our fathers or forefathers by their sweat on Gold smithy and that is our Tradition. The Prime Identity. and we are a Community known by its Profession Goldsmithy( Kulathozhil).
The last Mahotsav was Celeberated From 2nd of February2013 to the 9th of February 2013.
Sree Sree Satchidananda Jnaneswara Bharathi Swamikal
Muttaadipathi
Karki Mutt- Konkan Sonar/Daivjna Bhramana (Sonar) Samooham
were with us this year from 7th February 2013 to 10th February 2013 to participate in the Festival. We felt Guruji were very much pleased with the way the Aarattu Festival was celeberated here in kochi. We are only a few by number (About 30 Families)but our link with the Public help us govern this Temple in a desired way. Come with a Pack of Jaggary to the Temple on a Friday and offer it to SREE Gopalakrishna surely you shall be blessed by the Lord . Such is the Mood of the Deity here. Offering Jaggary on Fridays is considered most Auspicious here.
We also keep good relations with the Sode Mutt and still worship our Prime Deity Sree Hayagreva Swami by way of sending offerings to Sode Mutt and visiting the Mutt annually or so.
The Presently a committee of Five Community Members lead the Devaswom. The President is Sri. Remesh Baban Shet, and Sri Retna Kumar M Shet, Sri Sree Ram S Shet , Sri Prabhakar M Shet,& Sri Venugopal R Shet are the Committee Members.
The Presently a committee of Five Community Members lead the Devaswom. The President is Sri. Remesh Baban Shet, and Sri Retna Kumar M Shet, Sri Sree Ram S Shet , Sri Prabhakar M Shet,& Sri Venugopal R Shet are the Committee Members.
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-B.S.Remesh, Ex-President(upto 11-7-2015)
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