Before we write this post, we would like to offer our grattitude to Shri Shrinath Shenoy who blogs on https://samuraishenoy.blogspot.com/2026/08/about-bhatkal-kashi-math-and-other.html(please visit, it has some very interesting articles on GSB history).Without his encouraging message and the information he provided we would not have known about the existence of this ancient temple that is not even marked on Google Maps.
Situated in Bhatkal – the Shri Parashuram Damodar temple is near the Kashi Math sansthan and exactly opposite of the Shri Shanteri Kamakshi Temple all of which are on the Nehru Road. A beautiful video of the deities is captured here
Today, nestled amongst colourful modern buildings, it might seem like any other temple. But hidden behind it is an ancient history- very ancient! While most Kuldevata temples outside of Goa, were built after the migration of the GSBs to these regions during their escape from Portuguese inquisition in the 15th/16th Century; this one was built when Saraswats had moved to the coastal ports for trade. It was perhaps built around 1452 A.D (Shaka Era 1374) by the descendants of Dama Prabhu, who came to Bhatkal from Mathagram (present-day Madgaon) in Goa.
A reconsecration (Punar Prathista) of the deities took place in 1986 under the spiritual presence of HH Shrimad Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji of Kashi Math. The simple temple features two separate sanctums housing majestic idols of Lord Parashurama (holding a parashu axe in his right hand and a bow in his left) and Lord Damodara and other deities.
According to records shared by H. L Kamath in his book ITIHAASADA RASHMIGALU, there was copper inscription given by Bhujabalaraya of Vidyanagar in Saka year 1374 in this temple – it’s current whereabouts are unknown.
As shared by Shri Shrikant Shenoy on his blog, the contents of the inscription are as follows. These are taken from Saraswat Bhushan written by Ramachandra Sharma. [ Please note: We have not seen the original inscriptions – the language used on it has words from both Kannada and Marathi. We have used AI to get the translation but the inscription has some archaic words linking to the traditions of those times which only an expert might be able to help with]
( सारस्वत ब्राह्मण दामप्रभु याचा सन्मान करून त्याला पालखी इत्यादि सत्कारचिन्हें दिलीं, त्याविषयीं. शके १३७४.)
Regarding the honouring Saraswat Brahman Damprabhu bestowing gifts, Shaka year 1374)
।। अचिंत्याव्यरूपाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने ।। समस्तजगदाधारमूर्तये ब्रह्मणे नमः ॥
Salutations to Brahman, whose form is inconceivable, who is without attributes yet is the essence of all attributes, and who is the foundation of the entire universe.
।। नमस्तुंगशिरश्चुबिचंद्रचामरचारवे ।। त्रैलोक्यनगरारंभमूलस्तंभाय शंभवे ।।
Salutations to Shambhu (Lord Shiva), whose lofty head is adorned with the moon, which shines like a white yak-tail fan, and who is the foundational pillar upon which the cities of the three worlds are
स्वस्ति श्रीजयाभ्युदनृपशालिवाहनशक १३७४ ने प्रजापतिसंवत्सरफाल्गुनशुद्ध ५ कुजवार श्रीमत्महामंडलेश्वरसंनिहितपुरवराधीश्वर सद्धर्मकथाप्रसंगादिसमस्तराज्यवन्तु प्रतिपालिसिविद्ध रायराजाधिराजराजराजपरमेश्वर बत्तीसपुत्तलीसिंहासनके वोप्पुव क्षत्रियवंशक्के उत्पन्नराद विद्यानगरद रामराजरायरवर कुमारकराद कृष्णरायरवर कुमारकराद भुजबळरायरू विठ्ठलप्रभूमग दामप्रभू आमगंदिरीगे कोट्टपट्टेभाषाक्रमवेत्यंदरे नावु नम्म सतीसुतरू
Auspiciousness! In the glorious and prosperous Śaka era 1374, in the Prajāpati year, on Tuesday, the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna, [the following was issued by] the illustrious Mahamandaleshvara, Lord of the eminent city, protector of the entire kingdom and upholder of righteous religious practice, bearing the royal titles Rayaraja, Adhiraja, Rajaraja and Parameshvara, worthy of the thirty-two-image throne, born in the Kshatriya lineage, of Vidyanagara, [and descended from] Rama Raya and Krishna Raya, Bhujabala Raya. [Regarding] Dama Prabhu, son of Vitthala Prabhu, of Amagandiri, [and his qualifications/knowledge of the prescribed languages and forms], we, together with our wife and sons…
बंधुबांधवरू सहा पश्चिमसमुद्रयात्रेगे विजयमाडिद्दलि वब्ब कोंकणदेशद ब्राह्मणनु नंम दळक्के पडिपानंगळु नडशिद्दल्लई ईतगे नावु मेच्चि आव देशद ब्राह्मणनेंदु परशुरामविजय तरशि नोडिद्दल्लई परशुरामसृष्टियाल्लो गोमाचलपर्वतदल्लि दक्षिणदिशाभागदल्लि हाटकेश्वरपाताळलिंगद पूर्वदिशाभागदल्लु सासष्टिग्रामक्के मुख्यवाद अष्टग्रामक्के मुख्यवाद मठग्रामद विश्वामित्राघमर्पणकौशिकगौत्रद्दलि उत्पन्नराद विठ्ठलप्रभूमग दामप्रभू आमगंदिरीगे नावु मेच्चि कोंडु येनु बेकादु बेडी यंदु अप्पणे पालिशिद्दल्लई नीनू निंन सतीसुतरू एकस्तरागि नंम कूडे नंम चित्तक्के ओहुद्दीनिशि कोंडु बेडिडु नंम वर्गदवर तलेहोरे सुंकउ पालेनयागि विट्ठु पालिसेवकेंदु विन्नहा माडिद्दल्लै नावु कोट्टद्द निंन वर्गदवर तलेहोरेसुंकउ पालनेयागि बिठ्ठुकोट्टेबु लन हासु मुत्तिन सेसे कोळलतपटे उभयचामर नानावाद्य आनमेलिन मेरवणिके पलंकीनेरि नंम हजारक्के बंदु इळदु तेजीमंदणेसलुवदु आवदोंदु मर्यादेयूनिंन संततिपारंपर्यागि आचंद्रार्कस्थायागि नडकोंडु
Together with his relatives and kinsmen, [he accompanied us] on the victorious expedition to the Western Sea. A Brahmin of the Konkan country conducted the padipānangaḷu for our army. Being pleased with him, and recognising him as a Brahmin of that country, and having examined the account concerning the victory of Parashurama, [we recognised that] in the land created by Parashurama, at Gomāchala mountain, in the southern direction and to the east of the Hatakeshvara subterranean lingam, [lies] Mathagrama, foremost among the eight villages and among the sixty-six villages. Dama Prabhu, son of Vitthala Prabhu, of Amagandiri, born in the Kauśika gotra [of Vishvamitra], being [of this place], we, being pleased with him, said, “Ask for whatever you want,” and gave our order/permission.You, your wife and sons, together as one, came before us and, with our approval, made your request: that the talehōre dues of your community be granted to you as a hereditary entitlement, and that [you should be recognised] as a servant in our service.Accordingly, we have granted [this]: the talehōre dues of your community as a hereditary entitlement; [and the ceremonial honours consisting of] … a pearl ornament, …, two chāmaras, various musical instruments, a procession, [the privilege of] riding in a palanquin, coming to our hazāra and alighting [there], and [the other specified ceremonial privilege].All these honours and privileges shall continue as an established custom for your descendants and lineage, for as long as the sun and moon endure.
बाहलिके कोट्ट पालनेपट्टे ई तप्युदक्के आदित्यचंद्रावनिलो० १४ मंदि साक्षिगळू ॥
इदन्नु प्रतिपालिशिदवरीगे काशी गया प्रयाग क्षेत्रदल्लि अश्वदान गोदान ब्राह्मणप्रतिष्ठे कन्यादान लिंगप्रतिष्ठे माडिद पुण्यक्के सलुवदु ॥
दानपालनयोर्मध्ये दानाछ्रेयोनुपालनं ॥ दानात्स्वर्गमवाप्नोति पालनादच्युतं पदं ॥
स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा यो हरेत वसुंधरां ॥ षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्टायां जायते कृमिः ॥
( हा ताम्रपट कर्नाटक अक्षरी भट्टकळ येथें दामोदर देवस्थानीं आहे. )
Furthermore, this grant/deed is witnessed by fourteen persons and is to remain valid for as long as the sun and moon endure. Whoever protects and preserves this grant shall receive the religious merit equivalent to that obtained by giving horses and cows, honouring/establishing Brahmins, giving a daughter in marriage and installing a linga at the sacred places of Kashi, Gaya and Prayaga. Between making a grant and protecting a grant, protecting it is the more meritorious. Through giving, one obtains heaven; through protecting it, one obtains the abode of Achyuta. Whoever takes away land given either by himself or by another shall be born as a worm in excrement for sixty thousand years. This copper plate, written in Kannada script, is at the Damodara Temple in Bhatkal
References:
ITIHAASADA RASHMIGALU by H L Kamath