Shri Dhanvantari Mahavishnu Temple

Located in Yalaguppa (Karava) village of Honnavar taluk in Uttara Kannada district, the Shri Dhanvantari Mahavishnu Temple holds the distinction of being the only Dhanvantari temple in the entire state of Karnataka. Situated 11.5 km from Honnavar on National Highway 206 towards Gerusoppa, this sacred site boasts a history of about 800 years. Shridhara Swamy of Varadahalli brought the glory of this shrine to the world's attention, identifying it as a rare energy center (shakti sthala) where Dhanvantari, the presiding deity of health and Ayurveda, resides. A unique feature of the Bhagavan Dhanvantari idol here is that it holds the pot of nectar (Amruta Kalasha) in its right hand, which perfectly aligns with the descriptions found in the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana.

The temple's sacred pond (Pushkarini or Teertha Kere) is believed to contain actual drops of divine nectar. Devotees hold a strong belief that bathing in it and sprinkling its holy water cures severe skin diseases like psoriasis, hair loss, and various other physical and hereditary ailments. Both the sick and the healthy visit this shrine seeking longevity and wellness, earnestly performing Vedic rituals such as the Dhanvantari Homa, Mrityunjaya Homa, Shatarudra, Rudraradhana, and the 'Tukkadoshahara Shanti' specifically meant for skin diseases. Every year during the month of Kartik (on Bahula Ekadashi, Dwadashi, and Trayodashi), Dhanvantari Jayanti is celebrated with great grandeur for three consecutive days, featuring cultural programs, the chanting of one lakh mantras, and Navagraha homas.

The temple's chief priest and traditional Ayurvedic physician, Dr. Gopal Hegde, continues his ancestral legacy by treating visiting devotees through astrology, horoscope analysis, and herbal medicine. Medicines are prepared using rare medicinal plants from the 50-acre 'Dhanvantari Vana'—cultivated in collaboration with the Forest Department—and are infused with the power of divine mantras before being given to patients. By eliminating fear and instilling self-confidence in patients, the center successfully treats complex medical conditions such as kidney stones, diabetes, and infertility. The core message of this shrine is that with earnest devotion and the grace of Dhanvantari Mahavishnu, all illnesses can be completely cured.