Krishna pours his blessings with butter balls here

More than thousand year old Kanipura Sri Gopalakrishna Temple at Kumble in Kasargod is one of the must visit temples in the North Malabar region, where Lord Sri Krishna is giving ‘darshana’ to devotees in the form of ‘Gopalakrishna’ carrying butter balls in both hands – a unique idol unlike the usual idols with their ‘weapons’.

Situated in the heart of Kumble town by the side of River Kumble, the temple is favourite of pregnant women as well as the sick children and cattle.

Kumbala was the seat of Rajas of Kumbala till they shifted their capital to ‘Maayippati. In ancient days, the ‘Pattabhisheka’ of Kumbala Rajas was taking place in Kanipura Sri Gopalakrishna Temple.

Even now a descendant of this royal family (Currently Danamarthanda Varma Raja alias Ramantharassu XIII) is the traditional trustee of the temple. The priest of the temple is from the Delampady family. Currently Brahmashree Delampady Balakrishna Thanthri is the main priest of the temple. The temple is under the Malabar Devaswom Board.

Legend

It is believed that Kumble got its name from the temple. According to legend, the idol in the temple was installed by Kanva Maharshi during the last years of Dwapara Yuga. The idol is made up of ‘Krishna-Shila’ (Jet black granite) was said to be worshiped by Yashoda, the foster mother of Lord Krishna. The sage installed the idol and performed ‘Abhisheka’ to the deity with the holy water which he had saved in his ‘Kamandala’. The holy water then flowed out as a stream and became a river which ultimately joined the sea. The river is known as ‘Kumbha Hole’ (Kumbha= means pot; Hole means river), also known as Kumbhini. Hence, the town too came to be known as Kumbala or Kumble.

There is a shrine of Sri Maha Ganapathi in the southern court yard of this temple and the other deities in the temple premises include ‘Shasthavu,’ ‘Chamundi Daiva’ and  ‘Naga’.

How to reach?

Situated about 200 meters off Kumbala junction on the eastern side of the National Highway, the temple is well connected by road and by trains. The nearest railway station is Kumbala and the nearest airport is Bajpe near Mangalore.