Adhyaksha HoigeBazar Koragappa

Adhyaksha HoigeBazar Koragappa was a well known business man in the City of Mangalore. He played a lead role during construction of Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore in 1912 led by Narayana Guru.
Learning about the work undertaken by Narayana Guru, through his temples in Kerala, a prominent Billava leader .Sri Koragappa visited Shri Narayana Guru in 1908.
Adhyaksha HoigeBazar Koragappa was a very well-known businessman in Mangalore, renowned for his integrity and philanthropy. He owned a large tile factory in Hoige Bazaar where he had his business offices. The tile factory was called HAMIDIAH Tile Works (Est in 1905). Shri Koragappa also conducted extensive trade in the 1900s up to the Second World War, with business enterprises in the Middle East, Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, trading in Mangalore tiles, copra, spices, dried fish and other natural products. He was a very wealthy businessman who was also honoured by King George V for his philanthropic work. He used to replace the "K" (Koragappa) in his name with a "C" (Coragappa) which proved to be lucky for him in business
An additional reason for Shri Koragappa to undertake the trip was that his son-in-law H. Somappa was very ill. Adhyaksha Koragappa went to Shri Narayana Guru for his blessings to cure his son-in-law. The Gokarnath temple pond in Kudroli had a marker in marble in memory of H. Somappa. In the "modernization" of the temple this plaque lost. Sometimes modernization can pay a heavy price in terms of history. This desecration is not forgotten and people losing elections happened after this terrible act.
Narayana Guru visited Mangalore in 1908 after accepting the invitation of Adhyaksha Koragappa. Narayana Guru in Mangalore selected the place Kudroli (between places Narayana Guru had chosen, Kudroli and Mulihithilu) while riding in a horse-drawn coach provided by Adhyaksha Koragappa. Mulihithilu in Mangalore was also a place of interest for the Shiva temple as there was heightened Shiva aaradhana at that place with the presence of saints from the NATH tradition such as Matsyendranath (blessed the construction of Shri Mangaladevi (linga roopa - Goddess Parvathi) temple), Tilaknath (His place in mulihithilu has a shrine of Kallurti Kalkuda Daiva/ Demigod/ Bhootha (cohorts of Lord Shiva), Machindranath and Gorakhnath are also believed to have set foot from nethravati on mulihithilu, all these saints being ardent followers of Lord Shiva and coming across generations.
It is said that Narayana Guru had got the Shiva Lingam (main deity) specifically for this temple. How Narayana Guru got this Lingam and from where he got this Lingam is still a mystery.
With the blessings given by Shri Narayana Guru to Adhyaksha Koragappa to commence work, smooth progress in the temple's construction was ensured.
Gokarnanatha Kshethra, Mangalore, foundation stone was originally laid by the couple Siri Amma Poojarthi and Chennappa Poojary in 1908. They were foster parents of Koragappa Poojary. Chennappa Poojary is the son of Ugga Poojaary who was responsible to build Brahma Baidarkala Garadi Kshethra, Kankannady, Mangalore in the year 1882.
Narayana Guru formally consecrated the temple in February 1912 with the establishment of sacred Shiva Linga. He named this place as Gokarnanatha Kshethra.
As per the Guru's advice, idols of Ganapathy, Subramanya, Annapoorneshwari, Bhairava, the Nava Grihas (Lords of nine planets), Shanishwara and Krishna are installed at the Kshethra. This has helped devotees worship at all these sannidanams (abodes) and seek blessings and solace for their problems. Not only did Adhyaksha Koragappa donate the land needed for the Kshethra, in addition he was also chosen as the first administrative head of the temple.

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