Kumbhasi Kshethra:
Kumbhasi is the first holy place on the north of Udupi at a distance of 30 Km. This is also known as 'Goutham Kshethra', 'Gajapuri'. The birthplace of Shri Vadiraja Theertha, "Hoovinakere" is just 5 Km away from Kumbhasi. The old house where Shri Vaadiraja Therrtha's parents lived, was renovated few years back and is known as 'Hoovinakere Mutt'. There is a small temple with Shri Vaadiraja Theertha's icon in 'Gowri gadde', the paddy field, where Shri Vadiraaja Theertha was actually born. Every year the rice from this field is being used for 'Shri Vaadiraja Aradhana' at Sode. His holiness Shri Vishwothama Theertha swamiji of Sode Mutt, celebrates 'Shri Vadiraja Jayanthi', every year on Maagha Suddha dwadashi (Feb 17th, 2000) in this place. This year, marking the 400th year of Shri Vadiraaja's Vrandavana pravesh, special programs are arranged for 4 days grand celebration.

Long back, when there a big famine and people were suffering without water and food, sage Goutham prayed Ganaga Devi and with her divine blessing, he sheltered all the Brahmins and other sages in this place. Hence this place is also known as 'Goutham Kshetra' and it was very famous for a long time for all sacred activities of learning Veda, performing homa etc.

During dwapara Yuga a demon by name 'Kumbhasura' lived here and used to trouble all people. When Shri Bhimasena visited this place, all sages requested him  to kill this demon. But Kumbasura had a boon by Shri Shiva that he would get half the power of his enemy. When Shri Bhimasena was thinking about this, he heard words by heaven, suggesting placing a sword in the trunk of an elephant and worshipping that. According Shri Bhimasen worshipped Lord Viswambara (form of Shri Hari having head of elephant) in the elephant and then killed Kumbhasura. It is also said that Shri Bheemasena killed Kumbhasura with the blessing of Shri Mahaganapathi.

 There is a beautiful temple of Shri MahaGanapathi, on the top of a small hill, known as 'Gajagiri' (Ane gudde) and this place is also known as 'Gajapura'. Shri Mahaganapathi is very famous  for readily fulfilling the desires of the devotees and lots of  people from far off place come here to offer prayers to Shri Ganapathi. It is also said that the idol of Ganapathi is growing year by year, and surely the popularity too wide spreading. Recently H.H. Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt inaugurated a big dining room, capable of accommodating 1000 people. Pictures indicating the history of the place are carved on the walls of the temple. The car festival of this temple is held during first week of December.  One can enjoy the beautiful scene of sunset from this place.

 There is another very rare and sacred spot, Shri Harihara temple, at the bottom of the hill, built over a water tank. In the Garbha Gruha, there is a shivalinga and a small water spring. The local story says that when all sages requested Lord Shankar to protect them from the hands of Kumbasura, Lord Shankar assured them that Shri Hari and Shri Hara would come out in that place together. All sages were asked to keep two vessels covered in a sacred place and wait for a good time. But the sages, in a hurry, opened the vessel to find nothing. When they again prayed Lord, they were assured that Shri Bhimasen would come to that place and kill the demon.

 There is a small well inside the temple. The water in this small well is crystal clear and is always full throughout the year. Devotees take this water as 'theerhta'. It is said that Sage Goutham brought Ganga to this well. This temple is also renovated recently. There is a small Shri SuryaNarayana Temple and Shri ChannaKeshava temple nearby. It is also said that there is a cave called 'yama guha' and the surrounding park is also known as 'Madhuvana'.

 Shri Vageesh Theertha, guru of Shri Vadiraaja used to live in this place. The old and abandoned Mutt where Shri Vadiraja stayed with his Guru for sometime is reconstructed this year by H.H. Shri Viswoththama Theetha of Sode Mutt, this year.  There are two 'vrandavana' at this place belonging to two yathis of the Sode Mutt lineage. Though this place is well connected to the highway, it has maintained the serenity and peacefulness and by going around this place, devotees enjoy unique pleasure.

 
Shri Vadiraja explains the glory of this place in two shlokas, in his work "TheeTtha Prabandha".

shloka:
bhaasi kumbhaasisamjJnya thvam kshEthram shrIshagirIshayOh |
yathra kumbhaasurasyaasirabhaasIdhdhroupadhIpathih || 47||
 

Word by word : (hE) kumbhaasisamjJnya shrIshagirIshayOh kshEthra thvam bhaasi. yathra dhroupadhIpathih kumbhaasurasya asih abhaasIth.

English Version:
Oh! Holy place Kumbhashi,
Srisha and Girisha(Hari-Hara),
Stay together, You are quite holy,
For Bhima finished Kumbhasura here,
And by a mere visit, the devotees get cleared of their sins .....47

Shloka:
guhaamukham thIRThanEthram vEdhasThaanam vanaayanaM |
yathyaRThyam gouthamakshEthram chithram thaththanuvadhbaBou ||48||
 
Word by Word:
guhaamukham thIRThanEthram vEdhasThaanam vanaayanaM yathyaRThyam gouthamakshEthram  thaththanuvath baBou, chithram !!.

English Version:
Oh gautama Muni, Hari Hara kshetra Kumbashi is thy face,
the tanks on either side of the temple,
Are thy eyes, the place is your Tapovan,
As holy as thy body, for the study of Vedas,
And conducting holy prayers and penance              ..........48.
 

 

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