Sri Subrahmanya Temple is 105 Kilometers (Km) away from Mangalore on Mangalore-Uppinangady-Shirady-Sakaleshpur road. The pilgrims going Subrahmanya will have to cross the Kumaradhara River, always with knee deep water. The pilgrims take their bath in this river and then proceed to the temple to have darshana.

Derivation of a name Kukke Subrahmanya:

It has been learnt from books and legends that Subrahmanya used to be called Kukke Pattana in the past.

In the ‘Shankara Vijaya’ Anandagiri observed that Sri Shankaracharya camped here for a few days during his religious expedition. Shankaracharya referred to this place as ‘Bhaje Kukke Lingam’ in his ‘Subrahmanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram’ makes the above evidence all the more convincing. Moreover, the Sringeri Mutt situated to the north of this temple is ancient enough to be an eloquent proof to the above fact. A Mutt of the Dwaitha system of Sri Madhwacharya can also be found in this place. As legend has it, that divine sages have installed many Lingas of Lord Shiva in this area. Vasuki also installed a Lingam of Lord Shiva blessed as he was with the power of Skanda Swamy.As the Linga of Lord Shiva was installed in the ‘Kukke’ or ‘Kukshi’ in old Kannada language (the cave) it became famous as Kukke Linga and consequently the place rose to the fame as Kukkepura. Shivanidhi observes that ‘Shivalinga Pradurbhava Patala’ of Lalithagama Jnanapada, which describes the hundred and thirteen Shiva centres, refers to this ‘Subrahmanyehipeshwara’. This means that lingas of Lord Shiva installed by Ahipa-Vasuki is in Subrahmanya. It may be interesting to note that this description accords with the legend of the place.

But as per the villagers explanation the Kukke means basket. The worship of linga in basket (kukke) resulted in naming the place as Kukke.

Mythology:

In consequence to the boon conferred upon Demon Tarakasura by Gods, in return for the penance he did, he was not destined to die from anybody, either men or gods aged above seven days and therefore being confident that there was no death for him, he began to tease the whole world, and the story goes on to say that he fought single handed and conquered all the three worlds. The Rishis also found it difficult to go on with their penance and hence they went to Lord Shiva and requested him to redress their grievances. Luckily enough, it was the seventh day, his son Kumar was born and through this child “Kumar” aged seven days, the Demon Tarakasura was slain in a hand to hand fight and Sri Kumar permanently made his abode nearby which is called Adi Subrahmanya. Near this Adi Subrahmanya there is a big temple and a Madhwa Mutt. The Kumara Parwath, (Mountain) is just adjacent to the temple and the pilgrims can go up the mountain with the help of mountain guides.

Temple through the ages:

The temple was in ancient days under the Hoisala Ballala Kings of Dwara Samudra. The statue of Ballala King installed in front of the temple bears unmistakable testimony to this fact. Further details of this installation follow shortly. This place was an important town during the reign of Ballala rulers, and the temple enjoyed a splendour and grandeur of its own. It is learnt that various and varied services used to be offered to this temple by many kings. Indore, Mysore and Coorg continue their services to this temple even to this day. The reign of Ballala kings drew to all close and with it did the epoch of splendour and grandeur enjoyed by this temple too. It seems that during the period of time that followed the temple came under the management of the local people. Later on this district came under the Government of East India Company and the management of this temple also rested directly under the above Government from 1810 to 1845. No doubt, consequent upon this happening the properties and liabilities were managed along efficient lines; but as the surrounding areas were converted into protected forests the climate went bad, the population decreased and this place plunged into obscurity.

In 1845 the collector of the South Kanara appointed the Swamiji of the Subrahmanya Mutt. Sri Ramakrishna Asranna, the Tantri (Priest) of the temple and Archaka Narasimha Acharya as the trustees of the temple and handed over the management of the temple to them.

Endowment committee was formed in 1863 and the committee in charge of the Subrahmanya Temple allowed the above Trustees appointed by the Collector in 1845 to continue as trustees. His Holiness Sri Vidyaraja Thirtha of the Subrahmanya Mutt managed the affairs of the temple in his capacity as on of the trustees from 1845 to 1851. Later on subsequently different trustees administered the temple efficiently and in 1938 the tenure of these trustees drew close and Endowment committee appointed new trustees for a period of five years. And this procedure is continuing till today.

Pooja practices:

The Poojas in the Sri Subrahmanya Temple are conducted according to the ‘Vaikasana Agama’ system, which is very rarely found in our province. On festivals and other sacred days, special poojas are prescribed for such occasion. When the utsava is takes place at night, Ratri-Pooja is conducted first with sprinkling of Shankathirtha, after which the utsava idol is brought out. The customary Utsava – Pooja, Mangalarathi and Ashtavadhana are conducted either before the Sannidhi or in the prescribed places. When both the Tantri and the Archaka are present the former conducts the Gopuja in the morning, the Mahapuja and Akshayapatra pooja at the noon and the Deevatige Seva in the Evening. The Archaka conducts the rest of the poojas.

The Garuda Pakshi (kite)which never can be found in this place on the rest of the days of the year makes its appearance at the time of Ratharohana and again at the time of Avabrath Mahotsava the next day. This can never be explained unless we attribute to the holiness of this place. At the time of car festival the chariot is pulled by means of cane. The moment the car festival is over the devotees vie with one another to get hold of a piece of this cane because this is considered to be very effective cure even for the most virulent, positions like that of a snake-bite. Then the God alights from the chariot. The devotees perform various kinds of worships. Then the ‘Mahapooja’ and the ‘Mahasantharpana’ (feeding of Brahmins) take place.

The next day of Shashti also Sri Kumaraswamy comes out to take part in the festival. After the ‘Okuli Pooja’ (Sprinkling of Saffron water) God proceeds to ‘Matsya Thirtha’ where the ‘Nauka Viharotsava’ and the Avabritha takes place. After this festival the devotees and pilgrimage start returning and the density of the population lessons gradually. But the festivals continue till Poornami. On that day ‘Maha Samprokshana’ is conducted and with this the annual festivals come to a close.

Festivals & Celebrations:

The Annual festival is celebrated here every year from ‘Karthika Bahula Dwadashi’ to Margashira Shudha Poornima’. But the devotees begin to throng here as early as ‘Karthika Bahula Amavasya’ and will continue to do so till ‘Margashira Shudha Sapthami’. The Lakshadeepotsava is celebrated on the day of Karthika Bahula Amavasya and on the four succeeding days, the Chandramandalotsava, Ashwavahanotsava, Mayura Vahanotsava and Flower Chariot Utsava are conducted respectively. On Panchami (the fifth day) ‘Panchami Rathotsava’ is celebrated at night. On the Shashti day Sri Subrahmanya Swamy and Umamaheshwara come out at an auspicious hour in the morning to participate in the festival. Sri Subrahmanya Swamy mounts the ‘Brahmaratha’ and God Umamaheshwara the ‘Panchami Ratha’. Then a very strange occurance takes place.