Sri Madhwacharya’s Own Pajaka Kshetra
Pajaka, has the birth place of Sri Madhwacharya, situated seven miles south-east of Udupi Kunjaru hill, near Pajaka a famous Durga Temple on its top. This hill is also known as `Durga betta’. On its four sides are four holy teerthas or tanks created by Lord Parashurama. On the eastern side is Parasu Teertha, on the southern side is Dhanus Teertha, on the west is Gada Teertha and on the north is Bana Teertha. Taking bath in these teerthas is considered to wash out all the sins. This place bears many marks associated with the child-hood incidents of Sri Acharya.
Once Sri Acharya had gone up to the Durga hill. Hearing his mother calling him, he jumped back to his house in one hop and the place where he hopped still bears the mark of his feet. On this very spot Sri Vadiraja Teertha installed an idol of Sri Madhwacharya. Next to this temple is `Moodu Matha’ the ancestral house of Sri Madhwacharya. By its side is a tank called Vasudeva Teertha, built by Sri Acharya for the sake of his mother. The spot where Sri Acharya handed over tamarind seeds instead of money to his father’s creditor, the place where he crushed a demon in the form of a snake, the spot where he made a dry stick sprout and blossom in order to convince his father about his superhuman powers to establish a new philosophy – all these are reminiscent of Sri Acharya’s boyhood deeds. This holy spot, which is the birth place of the founder of dwaita philosophy is indeed a holy place of pilgrimage to all devotees.
History and the Story of Sri Madhvacharya
Pajaka is considered the heart of the Dvaita philosophy, which Sri Madhvacharya started.
Birthplace of a Legend: Sri Madhvacharya was born here as Vasudeva. He is believed to be an incarnation of Vayu Deva (the God of Wind), who also took the forms of Hanuman and Bhima earlier.
Childhood Miracles: Many famous stories are connected to this village:
The Gold Seeds: It is said that young Vasudeva once paid off his father’s debt by giving the lender some tamarind seeds, which miraculously turned into gold coins!
The Holy Ponds: The village has Five Holy Ponds (Panchatirtha). Four of these were created by Lord Parashurama. To save his mother the long walk, Vasudeva created a fifth pond, Vasudeva Theertha, which is believed to hold the sacred water of all four. A dip here is considered very sacred.
The Footprint: You can see an impression of his feet on a rock near the Kunjarugiri hill, where he is said to have jumped down from the hilltop in one giant step!
Must-See Spots in Pajaka
Sri Madhvacharya’s Ancestral Home: This is the main attraction, where the saint was born. It is now converted into a holy shrine and a small museum showcasing his life and works.
Kunjarugiri Durga Temple: A beautiful ancient temple on a nearby hill dedicated to Goddess Durga, offering a great view of the area.
Parashurama Temple: A rare temple dedicated to the great warrior-sage Parashurama, near one of the sacred ponds.
How to Reach Pajaka
Pajaka is very well connected to the main town of Udupi.
By Road
Pajaka is about 12-15 km from Udupi. You can easily hire an auto-rickshaw or a private taxi from Udupi city. Local buses also run frequently.
By Rail
The nearest major railway station is Udupi Railway Station (UD). From there, take a bus or taxi.
By Air
The nearest airport is Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), which is about 60 km away. From the airport, hire a taxi to Udupi/Pajaka.
