Ganesh Temple

Overview

Urkeri is about 450 km from Bangalore, 240 km north of Mangalore and about 65 km from Karwar. It is near the college towns Suratkal and Manipal. Urkeri is a temple Village. The main deity is Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesha is revered as the village God in these villages, in the north Kanara district. The chariot ceremony of Ganapati is celebrated on Maghi Pournima. Besides Lord Ganesh, there are shrines for Lord Shiva(Sadashiv and Samba Sadashiv), Goddess Shantika Paremeswari, Guru Devaru, Naga Devaru and Jatka Devaru in this temple. The temple is the main attraction at Urkeri, receiving many devotees per year.
Urkeri is around 450 km from Bangalore, 240 km north of Mangalore and around 65 km from Karwar. It is close to the school towns Suratkal and Manipal. Urkeri is a sanctuary Village. The fundamental divinity is Lord Ganesh. Master Ganesha is revered as the town God in these towns, in the north Kanara area. The chariot service of Ganapati is praised on Maghi Pournima. Other than Lord Ganesh, there are places of worship for Lord Shiva(Sadashiv and Samba Sadashiv), Goddess Shantika Paremeswari, Guru Devaru, Naga Devaru and Jatka Devaru in this sanctuary. The sanctuary is the primary fascination at Urkeri, getting numerous devotees every year.

Legend and Stories

There was starvation in one of the spots of North India. Thus King Mandhata left that spot and went to a spot which is close to Urkeri. He requested that a craftsman set up a Lord Sri Krishna Idol. Be that as it may, even after numerous trials, he couldn't get the icon how he would have preferred. He drew nearer Guru ji Bharadwaj and disclosed his issues to him. Master ji Bhradwaj requesting that he perform Shri Ganesh pooja and begin his work so he would not confront any impediments.
One day Lord Ganesh came into his fantasy and educated him the spot where he can perform Pooja to him. The lord Mandhata began seeking God Ganesh in that place(Village Urkeri).But he couldn't discover even after numerous hunts. At that point he discovered GOMAYA there, he appealed to God Ganesh and did Pooja to it. In the same spot where the lord Mandhata did pooja, the God Vinayak appeared. So the God here is characteristic and known as Shree Swayambhu Vinayak Deva.

Urkeri Shree Swayambhoo Vinayaka Sthothram

Mangalam mangalaakaaram sarvanugraha kaarakam|
Urkereeshwaram vande Shree Swayambhoo Vinayakam ||

Mandhatraa Bhovaranedaavarchitam varadam vibhum
Urkereeshwaram vande swavirbhootam Vinayakam||

Significance

Urkeri Shree Swayambhoo Vinayaka Devaru has been removing all the obstacles and fulfilling the wishes of thousands of people.

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airports are Dabolim Airport (GOI) which is in Goa and Hubli Airport (HBX) in Hubli.

Railways

Kumta Rail Way Station is the very nearby railway station to Urkeri. Harwada Rail Way Station (near Ankola) , Ankola Rail Way Station (near Ankola) , Kumta Rail Way Station (near Kumta) are the Rail way stations reachable from nearby towns. However Madgaon Rail Way Station is main railway station 117 KM near to Urkeri.

Road

Urkeri can be reached by buses and Autos from Kumta (5 km), on National Highway 17(NH-17). Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC also runs buses from many Kumta to Urkeri. It’s near Gokarna. Private buses (Vijayanand Roadlines - VRL, Sugama, Sea Bird, etc.) operate night journeys from the capital city of Bangalore to Kumta daily.

Temple Address

Ganesh Temple,
Urkeri, Uttar Kannada District,
Karnataka, India, Pincode – 581332.