- Neelavara
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Neelavara — village — Coordinates 13°27′14″N 74°47′02″E / 13.454°N 74.784°ECoordinates: 13°27′14″N 74°47′02″E / 13.454°N 74.784°E Country India Region Karavali State Karnataka District(s) Udupi Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Neelavara or Nilavara (Kannada: ನೀಲಾವರ) is a village in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Neelavara is situated about 7 km from Brahmavar that lies on NH-17 and around 3 km from Kunjal (Kannada: ಕುಂಜಾಲು) that lies on the road from Brahmavar to Hebri. Neelavar lies roughly between the river Sita (Kannada: ಸೀತಾ ನದಿ)in the north and the village Kunjal to the south.
The famous temple has been a holy place for devotees worshiping Goddess Mahishamardini, Ganapathy, Subrahmanya, and Veerabhabra. Very recently, Udupi mutt is planning a big goshala nearby this temple.
Contents
Places of interest
- Shree Mahishamardinee Temple (Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಿಷಮರ್ದಿನೀ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ,ನೀಲಾವರ)
Neelavara is famous for the centuries old Shri Mahishamardini Temple that is on the banks of the river Sita. On Fridays and Tuesdays, large number of devotees arrive at the temple for various poojas. The annual car festival of the temple is held four days after Chaitra Pournami, generally in the month of April. The 9 day Hindu festival of Navratri is celebrated in a grand manner at the temple.
- Panchami Kanana (Kannada: ಪಂಚಮೀ ಕಾನನ)
Another place of interest in Neelavar is Panchami Kanu, associated with the snake God, Lord Subrahmanya, is situated next to river Sita towards the east of the temple. The Theertha Snana (holy bath) during the Vrischika masa (corresponding with November - December) is the most famous event here.
- Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple,Yallampalli-Neelavara:(ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಿಂಗೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ,ಯಳ್ಳಂಪಳ್ಳಿ-ನೀಲಾವರ)
Oiginally Yallampalli is called as Yajnampalli, the village where Yajna performed. One can see Yajnakunda and Yajna Vedike to the west of the Temple inside rubber plantation. Hundreds-of-years-old Mahalingeshwara Temple renovated and also Shree Mahaganapathi installed recently. Yallampalli is about 3 km to the East of Neelavara on the banks of the river Sita. According to the present priest Vishveshwara Adiga, Lord Mahalingeshwara installed by Galava Maharshi. Pilgrims who visits Shree Mahalingeshwara with devotion after taking bath in the river Sita will get peace of mind and places any demands will be met without fail. Special Poojas will be performed during Shravana month and Shivaratri Festival.
• Shree Vishnumoorthi Temple, Yallampalli-Neelavara ( Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ವಿಷ್ಣುಮೂರ್ತಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, ಯಳ್ಳ೦ಪಳ್ಳಿ-ನೀಲಾವರ) Shree Vishnumoorthi Temple is also one of the oldest Temple situated in Yallampalli in between Neelavara Shree MahishaMardinee Temple and Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple,Yallampalli. Temple deity is very beautiful and is in standing posture with four hands. It is said that it is one of rare of its kind and about 800 Years old. Temple is surrounded by beautiful scenery of paddy fields. Temple is connected by road from Neelavara, Kunjal and Pethri.
- Yakshagana Bayalata Mela:
Dashavatara Yakshagana Bayalata Mela started by Shree Neelvara Mahisha Mardinee Temple Management in the Month of Nov 2010.
Yakshagana Bayalata is one of the ancient unique form of art with the motive of distributing the divine knowledge of god science and devotion-Bhakti in the society to uplift, promote the religious and moral life of its members and make them happy, healthy and prosperous. Yakshagana Bayalata is a unique form of classical folk art of costal Karnataka and adjacent to it. It is an art with unique combination of its own traditional songs, Music, Dance steps, Costumes and divine stories. Tala, Maddale, Chande and Harmonium are special musical instruments which can only be played by few trained experts. A Performer must have knowledge in all these sections. Artists who perform here are grown by the grace of his Guru and by experience who are able to speak on the divine Vedas and Puranas authoritatively, though they are illiterate or less educated. They construct dialogs by merely hearing the songs sung by Bhagavataru. No female artists are taking part here, only males play female character. It is attractive form of art which can hold people and make them to watch the programme which runs whole night.
A Group consisting of about 40 artists starts their tour in the mid of November headed by a Manager and Bhagavataru. Every day they travel to different places- village to village during their six months mission which ends in the mid of May. In a night long programme sponsored by devotees with a minimum amount of donation, artists entertain as well as share divine knowledge of god science to the audience. Devotees invite the group to their home for the performance, food and shelter will be provided by them, mostly will be arranged in temple or in school or in any big houses nearest to the venue of programme. Artist takes rest in day time. Every day in different places they play different stories picked from Shree Mad Ramayana, Bhagavata, Mahabharatha and Purana’s as per the interest of sponsor. The group of artists will be managed with great discipline. It will be divided in to two parts. One part is Himmela-Back stage artists consisting of Bhagavataru-Singer, Maddale, Chande, and Harmonium players. Bhagavataru is the director of the story part. Other part is Mummela consisting of 15 to 20 actors. About-nine-hour-long night programme of Yakshagana starts with worshipping Lord Ganapathi and lighting deevatige (big lamp lit with vegetable oil) in Rangastala-the stage, followed by the dance of Bala Gopala and Sthri Vesha (female character) about 30 minutes each. Next Oddolga (Kings Assembly) will run up to 10:00 pm. Main part of story will starts after. Purusha Vesha(Hero), Sthri Vesha(heroine), Bannada Vesha(Villon), Hasya (comedian), Raja Vesha, Pundu Vesha and other supporting characters will be well knitted according to the story.
Totally Yakshagana Bayalata is a divine, attractive, inspirational, creative and ever green form of art.
- Neelavara Goshale
A Goshale (home for the cows) has been set up by Pejavara Mutt in Neelavara to look after aged, homeless cows.
- Neelavara Dam
A check dam (Salt Water Exclusion Dam) has been constructed across the river Sita, in the western part of Neelavara, mainly to protect against the sea water coming inland and for irrigation during the summer season.
- Bavali Kudru (Kannada: ಬಾವಲಿ ಕುದ್ರು)
Bavali Kudru ( Island of Bats) is situated in the middle of river Sita, is famous for the large number of bats that live on the trees in the island. The island is also home to a considerable Christian population of the village. The island can be reached using the local boats operated by people living on the island.
- Neelavara church
St. Paul's church is a chapel, which is under Holy Family Church Brahmavara.
People
The population of Neelavara is composed of Hindus and Christians who have been harmoniously living there for ages.
Language
Kannada , Konkani, Marathi and Tulu are spoken by the people in Neelavara. Kannada is the main language of communication.
Economy
The main occupation of the people is related to agriculture. Many womenfolk are self-employed in floriculture and in beedi making. In recent times, due to lack of ample employment opportunities, people have migrated all over the world and are mainly based in the state capital Bangalore (mainly in the hotel industry), Mumbai and in the Gulf states of Dubai, Muscat and Saudi Arabia.
Schools
Neelavara village has two Higher Primary Schools. One is Sri Mahishamardini Higher Primary School at Neelavara and another is in Yallampally, with classes from 1st standard to 7th standard, with Kannada medium.
How to reach
Bus falicility is available to Neelavara (the bus stop is in front of Mahishamardini Temple) from Brahmavar starting about 7.00 am in the morning and the last bus at around 8.00 pm in the night with a frequency of 1/2 an hour to 1 hour. A certain number of bus services, per day, are also operated from the district headquarters of Udupi. As of 2006, one-way bus fare from Brahmavar to Neelavara cost about Rs.5.00
Taxi and Auto service is available from Brahmavar and Kunjal at all hours. Taxi rate for one / two way fare to the temple is about Rs.100.00 and auto about Rs.60.00 to Rs.75.00, which can be negotiated.
The nearest railway station is at Barkur on the Konkan Railway for the local trains and at Indrali in Udupi for all major trains. The nearest airport to Neelavara is Mangalore (Bajpe) Airport, which is about 75 km away.
From Barkur, Bandimutt and Kuradi that lie on the other side of river Sita, boat service, operated by the local people, is available on request, for a reasonable charge.
External links
Categories:- Villages in Udupi district
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