Shri Anantheswara Temple is the most ancient temple of Udupi ,The ancient Ananthasana (Ananteswara) Temple, located in the middle of the temple square, is dedicated to Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu and his personal expansion, the serpent Ananta Sesa, are said to reside within the linga in this temple. One who is seated on Ananta is known as Ananthasana.The place where Sri Madhvacarya left his body while speaking to his disciples is north of the central mandapa (hall), just after you enter the sanctum.

While the image installed in this temple is that of Lord Shiva according to the devotees of Shiva, the Vaishnavas worship the image as both Shiva and Vishnu. What one sees in the sanctorum is a Linga. However, the idol taken in a procession during the festivals is that of Lord Ananthapadmanabha. Thus it stands to reason to infer that the temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Sri Vadiraja has glorified this place by concluding that Lord Hari is residing in the body of Lord Hara here.

Legend has it that Acharya Madhwa’s father served here as the temple priest. When he shifted to the holy Pajaka kshetra, he carried a replica of Lord Ananthapadmanabha’s idol with him and installed it at Pajaka where it is worshipped to this day. This is one of the evidences to prove that Lord Vishnu was worshipped here even before Acharya’s days. Madhwa Vijaya states categorically that Acharya Madhwa incarnated here as a reward to the Nadillaya couple who worshipped this deity with overwhelming devotion and as a fulfilment of the vow taken by them.

Originally this temple was called Padudevalaya to distinguish it from Moodudevalaya mentioned earlier. The deity worshipped here is referred to as Mahadeva of Padudevalaya in ancient inscriptions. It was on the premises of this temple that Acharya Madhwa taught the Holy Scriptures to his disciples. Madhwa Vijaya states in no uncertain terms that when the great scholar-saint was teaching them Aitareya Upanishat, the skies opened up with rains of flowers.

Even now worship is offered to the granite slab on which Acharya Madhwa sat invariably while teaching his students. No idol is placed on the slab. Sri Vadiraja affirms that Acharya Madhwa is still invisibly present on the slab.

The architecture of the temple bears unmistakable testimony to its antiquity. The temple sanctuary that bears the shape of the back of the elephant (Gajaprshta) offers clinching proof in this regard