Sri Krishna Mutt

Sri Krishna Temple Udupi is first among the seven places of pilgrimages. The unique feature of Sri Krishna Mutt temple is that the Lord is worshipped only through a window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki. The window is exquisitely carved and silver – plated. It has been a tradition in this temple to worship the Lord only through this window.

The Krishna Mutt was founded by the Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhwacharya in the 13th century. He was the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta. It is believed that Madhwacharya found the idol of Sri Krishna in a large ball of gopichanda. Legend has it that once Kanakadasa, a pious worshiper and devotee of Lord Krishna, was not allowed into the temple. It didn’t upset him; instead it made him pray with intense devotion. Lord Krishna was so pleased that the statue turned back to where Kanakadasa was praying, and the wall before Kanakadasa broke up to allow the disciple to gaze upon his heavenly form at the back of the mutt (monastery). Till today, devotees still worship Lord Krishna by praying through the same window that Kanakadasa was blessed with a view: It is known as Kanakanakindi.

Direct students of Madhvacharya were many. His first disciple was Shri Sathya Theertha. All other mathas except the Ashta mathas were established by Sri Padmanabha Thirtha. His disciples do not have the right to perform pooja to Lord Udupi Shri Krishna as it is headed and governed by the Ashta mathas such as Sode Matha, Shirur Matha, Kanniyur Matha, Pejavara Matha, Palimaru Matha, Adamaru Matha, Krishnapura Matha, Puthige Matha

Sri Krishna Mutt Acharya and Purohits conduct the poojas, before the sunrise and after the sunset, 14 poojas are held. They are: Nirmalya Visarjane, Ushakal Puja, Akshaya Pathra Pooja and Gopuja, Panchamratha Abhisheka Pooja, Alankarapuje, Avsarankhadi Pooja, Udvartha Pooja, Kalash Pooja, Thiratha Pooja, Mahapuje, Chamaraseve, Ratripuje, Mantapa Pooja and Shayanothsava Pooja. Pooja will be held early in the morning 4:30 am to 8:30 pm. For the devotees Sri Krishna Mutt will be open till 10:30 pm. In Sri Krishna Temple at Udupi have three chariots, Biggest one chariot is called Brahma Ratha, Medium one is called Garuda Ratha and small one is called Chikha Ratha.