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years following Third Prathistta were glorious. Sri Janardhan Shenoy and Sri
Hari Shenoy were the luminaries of a family which gave Sri Lakshmi Devi in
marriage to Sree Venkatasha and dedicated the Gold Garuda Vahanarn besides
other contributions to add to the assets of the Temple.
In
1912, this richest temple on the coast was handed over to the Maharaja of
Cochin due to internecine quarrels among the administrative hierarchy.
During
the 37 years that followed, Mahajanam, treated as aliens in their own land',
had no voice in the affairs of the temple. Anapandal and Seevelipura were
constructed but some gold was sold in auction. Period of financial decline.
Shashtiabdi of Third Pratishta was celebrated by a Committee of
Mahajanam under special dispensation from the Government.
Through
mediation of our Paramaguru H. H. Sukritheendra Thirtha Swamiyar and our
Revered Guru H. H. Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiyar, the administration of the
temple was transferred to a Committee of Mahajanam in July 1949. H. H. Srimad
Sukrithecndra Thirtha Swamiyar attained Samadhi on 27-11-1124 M.E.
First
elections to the Devaswom Committee under,the Scheme of 1949 were held in
1951.
1981
is the centenary year of the 3rd Prathishta of Sri Venkatachalapathi in the
Cochin Temple.
H.
Srimath Sudheendra Tirtha Swami of Kasi Mutt Samsthan performed 'Sahasra
Kalasabhishekam' to the Deity on 16-5-1981.
Gosripuresa
is another incarnation of Lord of Seven Hills.
According to Legend Saluva Narsimha
Raya, The King of Vidhya Nagar (Vijaya Nagar), an
ardent devotee of Lord Venkatachalapathy used to
have His Darsan everyday climbing seven hills by
foot. In his oldage once when ascending the hills
he fell down and could not advance any further. He
cried out
calling Holy Names of Seshadrinatha. The God
appeared before The King, His Bhakta and consoled
him saying that he need not climb the hills in
future as He has decided to be with the king
during the rest of his life. As appraised by the
god the King returned and got a Temple constructed
in no time. As per God's indication the sculptor
approached him. He was entrusted with all required
materials for carving the idol. The sculptor laid
before the king a single condition that none
should even peep in while the work was in
progress; any one could enter only after the
specified hour. In strict accordance the king
himself entered the room at the scheduled time and
found the beautiful
idol of Venkatachalapathy shining in divine light,
but the sculptor missing. There sounded a
celestial message (Ashireeri) that it was God
himself who had appeared
again before the king. The auspices time &
sign was intimated for consecration. All was set
for the Cere
mony on the solemn day.
A small piece of wood from
the grips of a flying bird
fell on the huge drums kept
ready, The sound was mistook and consecration was
carried out. After a short while the
drums began to sound automatically. The king
fell disheartened knowing that the consecration
was mistimed. His ishtadeva again pacified him
with the words that He would remain with the king
till the end of king's life journey and later
leave for a place at Cochin to be known as
Gosripuram. The king had his rest of happy life
and a peaceful death.
The King's followers drifted
from Dharmic Life. Slowly law and order vanished
from that land. There arose Chaos & Confussion.
The temple priest with divine inspiration placed
the idol in near by well and left the place. A
wild fire broke out; engulfed the land &
converted everything into ashes.
Swami Vijayendra Thirtha
happend to tread that way while on their Dharma
Digvijaya. A serpent blocked their way and led
them to the well. Swamiji noticed the idol in
surprise. They picked up the idol and the serpent
disappeared. They placed that Vigraham also in
their devaram. After some time Swamiji arrived at
Cochin. The Localities (Konkani Gowda Saraswatha
Brahmins) accorded a warm welcome to Swamiji. The
Chieftain of The Samaj Mala Pai fascinated by The
Charm, with the support of whole Samaj received
the idol in exchange with a Kanakabhishekam. At
the time of departure the Swarniji placed the
whole gold before the deity and urged the
Localities, to construct a Temple and consecrate
the idol in it. When the temple was ready Swami
Sudhindra Thirtha disciple of Swami Vijayendra
Thirtha conducted the Pratishta
at the request of the People. The localities
were named Mahajanam and locality Gosripuram by
the Swamiji.
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