It is, of course, well known that the Saraswats were greatly favoured by the ruling dynasties of Kanara for their intelligence and enterprise. These Saraswats became patrons to a number of temples and provided for their construction and maintenance. So, while quite a few GSB temples are ancient, this one is so ancient that it is recognised as a protected historical monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The credit for building this gem goes to a local jeweller, Shri Lakkarsa Kamati, in 1567 AD, during the rule of Queen Channa Bhaira Devi.
The Legend
According to regional folklore and temple history, Lakkar Kamath’s ancestors had a dispute with their tenants in Bhatkal. During a Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the tenants poisoned the family through prasad (bananas), killing all the family members except Lakkar Kamath’s mother, who was away at her maternal home.
Lakkar Kamath grew up, sought justice from the rulers, and had the guilty tenants punished. Filled with remorse afterwards, he experienced a divine dream directing him to retrieve sacred idols from a local pond. He subsequently built the Lakshmi Narayana Temple in Bhatkal, historically dated to around 1567 AD, and installed the rescued deities, including the Janardhana and Lakshmi Narayana idols.
Structure
The temple is built using black basalt stone and enclosed within a laterite compound with stone foundations measuring approximately 34 × 18 ft. It features majestic idols, including Lakshmi Narayana, with Devi Lakshmi seated on the lap of Narayana. Its mandapa and sanctum feature carved dvarapalas—guardian sculptures—holding chakra, shankha, and gada, with one foot stepping on a serpent hood. A Garuda-stambha outside bears sculpted images of the donor and his sons. The mandapa ceiling shows Ashta‑dikpalas, while exterior panels depict scenes from the Ramayana and local daily life
The mandapa entrance is flanked by a balustrade, and stone screens are provided across the mandapa. The garbha-griha is flanked by two dvarapalas on either side. These dvarapalas hold the shankha, chakra and gada, depicting their Vaishnava character. The lintel lalata-bimba features Gaja-Lakshmi.
The temple is situated among paddy fields and is difficult to access during the rainy season. There are some beautiful views captured by these creators:
instagram.com/reel/DM-N7U4Sy-z
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1C2b4fH6Bq/
References:
Historian Jyotsna K. Kamat, Depiction of Everyday Life in Bhatkal Temples, originally published in an Indology volume in 1987.