BALAKRISHNA OF UDIPI

It shocked the people, but surprised Vadiraja, who at once closing the portion cracked installed a window to enabling the devotees to have the darsan of Lord Krishna round the clock. Since then the window is reverentially called Kanakadasa window. And to perpetuate this great event and honour Kanakadasa, the tradition of looking at the presiding deity through this window before entering the temple was started. Even now the eight pontiffs too are honouring this much-hallowed practice along with the visiting public.

Another pious tradition extant here is attributed to this great saint-poet. This great devotee one after-noon, before taking his lunch - rice cake, found gruel flowing down through a hole from the kitchen. He collected it in a coconut shell and went straight to the temple. Placing the rice cake and the shell overflowing with gruel, he prayed God to accept it as Naivedya. God did accept and drank it with utmost relish. Kanakadasa who witnessed it with his inner eye, sang ecstatically the Lord's preference for the poor, and their devotion.Then he ate that as God's Prasad. When this reached the ears of Acharya Vadiraja, he declared his intention of introducing the practice of giving gruel to the Lord too everyday. Appreciation knows no bounds! And traditions thus emerge from devotion some times.After offering prayers to that celebrated godman, when we proceed further, we come across the Anantheswara shrine worshipped by illustrious people, and just in front to the east is located the ancient Chandramouliswara shrine. Towards the north of this ties the famous Krishna Mandir. 

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