Now Reading: 31 ft bronze statue of Mogaveera Kulaguru to be unveiled at Uchila temple
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31 ft bronze statue of Mogaveera Kulaguru to be unveiled at Uchila temple
A 31-foot bronze statue of Sri Madhava Mangala Pujarya, the ninth and last hereditary Kulaguru of the coastal Karnataka Mogaveera community, will be unveiled at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Uchila on October…
A 31-foot bronze statue of Sri Madhava Mangala Pujarya, the ninth and last hereditary Kulaguru of the coastal Karnataka Mogaveera community, will be unveiled at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Uchila on October 11, the first day of the Dasara festival. The project, estimated to cost Rs 2.5 crore, involves nearly 10 tonnes of bronze.
The statue is being sculpted and cast on the temple premises by Govardhan Metal House under the guidance of temple patron G Shankar. Jaya C Kotian, president of the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha, said the decision followed an Ashtamangala Prashne which indicated the guru's presence should be established at the temple. The Kulaguru position has remained vacant since his death in 1966.
Work began around three months ago, with bronze transported to the site, melted and fabricated on the premises. Once unveiled, it will be the tallest statue of the Kulaguru, Kotian said. The temple, built in 1957, serves the Mogaveera community in Mangaluru and Udupi.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Mogaveera community, traditionally fishermen, are concentrated in coastal Karnataka and have a distinct social identity with their own lineage of Kulagurus dating back centuries. The vacancy since 1966 reflects the community's evolution and the end of a hereditary spiritual leadership system. The Rs 2.5 crore statue project signals both religious devotion and an effort to preserve cultural heritage for younger generations. The temple's architecture and carved wooden idols, created by sculptor Harish Acharya Kalamundkur, add to the significance. The October 11 unveiling during Dasara will likely attract thousands from the community across Karnataka.
Watch for the ceremony's attendance and any announcements about reviving the Kulaguru tradition.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
