Udupi

Udupi Udupi - The temple town
[[File:India_Karnataka_locator_map.svg locator_position=left|250px|Udupi City]] Udupi City
Classification	City Council
Regierung
• Council President	Ms. Shantha Krishna Naik
Population  (2001)
• Total	127,060
Website	www.udupicity.gov.in

For other uses, see Udupi (disambiguation).

Udupi (Kannada:ಉಡುಪಿ) is a town and the headquarters of the Udupi District in the Indian state of Karnataka. Udupi is famous for the Krishna temple located here. It also lends its name to the Udupi cuisine.

Etymology

It is widely believed that the name of Udupi was derived from its Tulu name Odipu. The Tulu name in turn is associated with a temple at Malpe, devoted to Odabhaandeeshvara. Another story is that the name Udupi came from the combination of the Sanskrit words Udu and Pa, which mean "stars" and "lord." According to legend, the moon's light was once reduced due to a curse by King Daksha, whose 27 daughters (the 27 stars, according to Hindu astrology) were married to the moon. The moon prayed to Lord Shiva to get back its original shine. Lord Shiva was pleased with the moon's prayer and restored its shine. Legend says that the moon and his wives made their prayer at the Chandramouleeshwara temple at Udupi, creating a linga that can be seen even today. According to this story, therefore, Udupi means the land of the "lord of the stars," the moon.

Religious significance

File:Udupi balakrishna.jpg

Icon of Lord Krishna installed at the Krishna Mutt in Udupi.

See Also Udupi Krishna Temple

Udupi is known for the Krishna Mutt (Temple of Lord Krishna). The Krishna Mutt was founded by the Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhvacharya in the 13th century. The daily sevas (offerings to god) and administration of the Krishna Mutt are managed by the Ashta Mathas (eight temples). Each of the Ashta Mathas performs temple management activities for two years in a cyclical order.

During the Paryaya festival, held every two years, the temple management is handed over to the next Matha. Each of the Mathas is headed by a Swami, who will be in charge of the temple during his Paryaya.

The Krishna Matha is known throughout the world for its religious customs, traditions, and learning in Dvaita or Tatvavaada philosophy. It is also the centre of Daasa Sahitya, a form of literature that originated in Udupi.

These eight Mathas are Pejavara, Puttige, Palimaru, Adamaru, Sodhe, Kaneyur, Shirur and Krishnapura

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,Template:GR Udupi had a population of 113,039. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. The average literacy rate was 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy was 86% and female literacy 81%. Eight percent of the population was under 6 years of age.

Billavas, Bunts, Mogaveeras, Konkanis (Gauda Saraswat, Rajapur Saraswat, Kudalkar), Shivalli Brahmins, Koragas and Malekudiyas are some of the prominent communities in Udupi.

Sprache

Tulu and Kannada are the most widely spoken languages in Udupi. Other significant languages include Konkani, Kundagannada (a dialect of Kannada spoken in Kundapur), and Beary.

Cuisine

The term Udupi (also Udipi) is also synonymous with delicious vegetarian food now found all over world (see Udupi cuisine). The origin of this cuisine is linked to Krishna Matha (Mutt). Lord Krishna is offered food of different varieties every day, and there are certain restrictions on ingredients during Chaturmasa (a four-month period during the monsoon season). These restrictions coupled with the requirement of variety led to innovation, especially in dishes incorporating seasonal and locally available materials. This cuisine was developed by Shivalli Madhwa Brahmins who cooked food for Lord Krishna, and at Krishna Matha in Udupi, the food is provided free.

Transport

National Highway 17 passes through Udupi. Other significant roads include the State Highways to Karkala and Dharmastala and to Shimoga and Sringeri. The NH 17 provides a link to Mangalore and Karwar. Private as well as government buses connect Udupi to various parts of Karnataka. Udupi has a railway station on the Konkan Railway. The nearest airport to Udupi is Mangalore (Bajpe) Airport, which is 50 km away.

Economy and industry

Udupi is becoming a major city of Karnataka. People here are having third highest average percapita income according to a recent survey after Mangalore and Bangalore respectively.

Udupi's economy depends mainly on agriculture and fishing. Small-scale industries like the cashew industry, other food industries and milk cooperatives are the most prominent. There is no large-scale industry in Udupi. The Karnataka Government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Cogentrix Light and Power Industry to set up a thermal power plant in the district at Nandikur. However, because of stiff opposition from citizens and environmentalist groups, the project has been temporarily suspended. An attempt by the Nagarjuna Power Corporation to set up a similar plant at nearby Padubidri also met strong opposition.

Udupi is also home to a well-known software company Robosoft Technologies, which is into product development for Mac OS and Windows platform. The company has brought Udupi a significant place in the global IT scenario.

Art and culture

Bhuta Kola, Aati Kalanja, Karangolu, and Nagaradhane are some of the cultural traditions of Udupi. The residents celebrate festivals such as Diwali, Dusshera, Ramzan, and Christmas. Folk arts like Yakshagana are also popular.

Rathabeedhi Geleyaru, a local non-profit organisation, was founded to encourage creative pursuits, especially those that keep alive the traditions of the region. Its primary focus has been drama.

Shopping

Large number of supermarkets are present in Udupi. Sampoorna in carstreet, Little Pai near Gitanjali cinema, Diana Stores in K. M. Marg and Court Road Junction to name a few.

[Pantaloon] Retail India Limited has opened its hypermarket format [Big Bazaar] in the heart of Udupi city near Taluk Office. The store area is 40,000 sq. ft. and is equipped with escalators. This hypermarket has brought a new dimension to shopping for citizens of Udupi.

In addition Udupi is famous for jewellery. The designs of jewellery available here are world famous. People rush to jewellers during auspicious day of Akshaya Thritiya which comes in month of May. Abharan and Swarna are renowned jewellers in Udupi.

References

1. http://www.udupipages.com/home/culture/culture.html
2. http://www.udupipages.com/home/travel/beach.html

See also

• Udupi district
• Udupi cuisine
• Madhva
• Purandara Dasa
• Kanaka Dasa
• Vadirajatirtha
• Karkala
• Kollur
• Kallianpur
• krishnapura matha

External links

• Comprehensive information on Udupi
• Blog for the Konkani Catholic Christians of Udupi, Mangalore, Karwar and Goa
• Shivaram, Choodie (1996-08-11). "Karnataka Spiritual Centers Threatened by Development: Three 700-Year-Old Monasteries in Udupi and Scores of Temples to be Displaced by Reckless Industrial Projects". Hinduism Today. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Conquer Vices To Sublimate The Mind". The Hindu. 1996-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Ashtha Muth and Paryaya". Udupi temples. Retrieved 2005-12-12.
• Neria Harish Hebbar. "The Eight Tulu Monasteries of Udupi". Retrieved 2005-12-12.
• See South Canara gazetteer 1894,1938,1973
• Places around Manipal