Udupi connection to Mahabharata

There is an interesting story related to Udupi which dates back to Mahabharata. It also explains why people of Udupi are good in catering business. Before Mahabharata war, all states took sides, either of Pandavas or Kauravas. Only one chose to remain neutral – the king of Udupi and Udupi cuisine is quite popular .

Conversation with Lord Krishna

Udupi king said to Krishna, “Everyone is going to fight. Those who fight a battle have to eat. I will be the caterer for the Kurukshetra war.” Krishna said, “Fine. Someone has to cook and serve, so you do it.” The Udupi king was serving food for both sides.

People were amazed how he managed to cook the exact amount of food, because no one knew how many people died on each day. By the time they took accounts, it would have been too late. Definitely, the king did not know how many people died on that day, but every day, he cooked exactly the amount of food that was necessary for the remaining soldiers.

When someone him king how he managed this, he said, “Every day in the night, Krishna likes to eat boiled peanuts. I peel them and keep them in a bowl. He eats just a few peanuts, and after he is done, I count to see how many he has eaten. If he has eaten 10 peanuts, I know tomorrow 10,000 will die, so I cook tomorrow’s food for 10,000 people less. Every day, I count these peanuts and cook accordingly, so it turns out right.” This was the reason Udupi was able to serve the soldiers correctly.

Udupi Krishna Temple story

the town of Udupi was once plagued by a demon named Putana, who would kill and eat the town’s children. In response to the town’s prayers for protection, Lord Krishna appeared and vanquished the demon. Impressed by Krishna’s bravery and compassion, the town’s inhabitants built a temple in his honor.

The temple is known as the Sri Krishna Matha and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for followers of the Dvaita school of Vedanta. The temple is famous for its unique style of worship, which emphasizes simplicity and devotion over ritualistic pomp and grandeur.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Sri Krishna Matha is its daily offerings of food to the deity. The food is prepared in the temple kitchen, or anna-santharpana, which serves free meals to all visitors, regardless of their caste or religion. This practice is known as prasadam, or the act of sharing food that has been blessed by a deity.

The Sri Krishna Matha is also famous for its ashta-mathas, or eight monasteries, which were established by Madhwacharya to promote the study and practice of his teachings. The ashta-mathas are still active today and continue to play an important role in the spiritual life of the town.

Overall, the town of Udupi and the Sri Krishna Matha are an important part of Hindu religious and cultural heritage, and attract thousands of visitors each year who come to pay their respects to Lord Krishna and to experience the unique and authentic atmosphere of this ancient town.