Deities:
Shri Venkatramana Temple in Kalyanpura (Kallianpura) is one of the important temples of the GSB community in Dakshina Kannada region with a strong kulavi base of local GSB families. Located on the banks of the river Suvarna, this temple has a very rich history dating back to 500 years. Sri Venkatramana placed in-between Sridevi and Bhudevi is worshipped by many families who are associated with Kallianpur.
The Simhasana of the Sanctum Sanctorum in the temple has three sections: The upper section contains the main deity of Shri Venkataramana along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The middle section also consists of Shri Venkataramana along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The lower section consists of the Utsav Murthy of Shri Gopalakrishna which is generally taken out for Pete(town) utsav and other celebrations. Please note: Typically all GSB temples have the main idol that stays in the temple for worship and a festive idol called utsav murthy that is taken out during festivities.
Along with the main deities on the Simhasana, Parivaar deities, Shri Hanuman, Shri Ganapathi, Devi Lakshmi and Lord Garuda and the three ganas namely Ksethra Pala, Agni-bhairav and Drishti gana complete the temple.
For the last 50 years, the temple also has Darshana seva (oracle).
History:
There is a very interesting story on how the utsav murthy was found. It so happened that one merchant, Anant Baliga while crossing the nearby river Suvarna on a boat, realized that the boat would not move forward and kept circling a certain spot in the river. Puzzled, the boatman deep-dived into the water and found a 10-inch tall panchaloha (an alloy of 5 metals usually gold, silver, copper, zinc and iron) idol of Gopalakrishna. This was then duly installed in the temple as utsav murthy - an idol that is taken around in temple processions.
The temple witnessed the first Kanakabhiskha event in 1958 in the divine presence of HH Sri Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji and under the leadership of Dr Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai, the renowned industrialist of the Manipal University fame. Since that, it has been celebrated every year.
The Bhajana Saptha, a week long day and night bhajan singing programme was started in the year 1928. It is celebrated on the 5th Lunar day of Margashirsha and goes on until the 9th day of the same month. In the year 1989, Shri Venkatramana Temple was the first among all temples where Kashi Math Samsthan’s Vasantotsaava (Vyaasotsava) program started under the guidance of HH Sri Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji who blessed Kallianpur samaj bandhavas with a camp during Vasantha Maasa (spring season).