Country India Region Karavali Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Area code 0820 | State Karnataka District Udupi PIN 576213 | |
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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. Originally it was Neeravara (surrounded by waters- Neeru in Kannada), but later it became as Neelavara.
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Map of Neelavar, Karnataka
The famous temple has been a holy place for devotees worshiping Goddess Mahishamardini, Ganapathy, Subrahmanya, Kallukuttiga and Veerabhabra. Udupi Pejavara Mutt has built a big goshala here.
Places of interest
Neelavara is famous for the centuries-old Shri Mahishamardini Temple that is on the banks of the river Sita. This temple is built by Shri Galava Maharshi and it has a large number of devotees following. One can learn about the history of Neelavara from the book of "Neelavara Kshetra Purana", which is very much available in the Temple office. Friday and Tuesday are believed to be special days in here since those days are good days for the Goddess. The annual 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. The temple has its own Mela (Team) of Yakshagana (Common in the karavali area) that performs the pouranica (Historical and related to God) plays during the nights. Many people invite this team and they perform the yakshagana at their place.
Another place of interest in Neelavar is Panchami Kanana, 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. It is said that, one who visits Shree Mahishamardinee Temple should visit Panchimi Kanna also. Without worshiping in Panchami Kanana their wish will not accomplish.
Yallampalli is a village near Neelavara. Originally Yallampalli was called as Yajnampalli, the village where Yajna was 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 Sri. 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.
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 coastal 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 into 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.
A Goshale (home for the cows) has been set up by Pejavara Mutt in Neelavara to look after aged, homeless cows. Here more than 800 cows are sheltered. In the year 2013, a Sarovara (Lake) is made in Goshala, and at the centre of the lake, Shri Krishna Temple is built. The Goshala runs with the funds of the Matha and the public donations.
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 ( 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.
St. Paul's church is a chapel, which is under Holy Family Church Brahmavara.
This is a hall for marriages and any other functions. Its located at Neelavara-Kokkarne road, Madhyasthara Bettu. They are providing catering services(vegetarian) in South Indian style. Contact Number: +91 9448858679
People
The population of Neelavara is composed of Hindus and Christians who have been harmoniously living there for ages.
Language
Kunda Kannada, Konkani, Marathi and Tulu are spoken by the people in Neelavara. Kunda Kannada is the main language of communication.
Economy
The main occupation of the people is related to agriculture (Paddy, Coconut, Betel nut Tree, Vegetables) 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 and the last bus at around 8.00 pm 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 2014, one-way bus fare from Brahmavar to Neelavara cost about Rs.10.00
One more way to reach Neelavara is through Matapadi village. (Brahmavara-Matapadi-Neelavara). Its hardly about 6–7 km. The roads are good enough to travel by two and four wheeler also.
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.