# Mattur

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**Mattur** (or **Mathoor**) is a [village](/source/Village) in [Shivamogga district](/source/Shivamogga_district) near the city of [Shivamogga](/source/Shivamogga) in [Karnataka](/source/Karnataka) state, [India](/source/India), known for the usage of [Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit) for day-to-day communication, although the general language of the state is [Kannada](/source/Kannada).[1][2] Mattur is known for being one of the few Sanskrit-speaking villages of India. Their native language is [Sankethi](/source/Sankethi_language), which is a mixture of Sanskrit, [Tamil](/source/Tamil_language) and [Kannada](/source/Kannada).[citation needed]

Mattur is located by the [Tunga River](/source/Tunga_River) around 4 kilometres from Shivamogga and has long been known as a centre of learning for Sanskrit and Vedic studies. According to copper plate inscriptions preserved by the archaeology department, Mattur, along with neighbouring [Hosahalli](/source/Hosahalli), was gifted to the people by the emperor of [Vijayanagara](/source/Vijayanagara_Empire) in 1512.[3]

Sanskrit is the main language of a majority of the 5,000 residents of this village and is a required subject in schools. This rare trait received a significant boost in 1982 when [Vishvesha Theertha](/source/Vishwesha_Tirtha), pontiff of [Udupi](/source/Udupi)'s [Pejawara Matha](/source/Pejawara_Matha), visited the Mattur and dubbed it, "the Sanskrit village". The village has produced over 30 professors of Sanskrit who teach in universities across Karnataka.[3]

Mattur's twin village, Hosahalli, shares almost all the qualities of Mattur. Hosahalli is situated across the bank of the [Tunga River](/source/Tunga_River). These two villages are almost always referred to together.[4] Mattur and [Hosahalli](/source/Hosahalli) are known for their efforts to support [Gamaka](/source/Gamaka_(storytelling)) art, which is a unique form of singing and [storytelling](/source/Storytelling) in Karnataka.[5]

Mattur has traditionally been home to a community of [Sankethi Brahmins](/source/Sankethi_Brahmin) among its residents.[3] It has a [temple](/source/Mandir) of [Rama](/source/Rama), a Shivalaya, Someshwara Temple and Lakshmikeshava Dhurga Temple.[6]

## References

1. Omkar Nath Koul, L. Devaki, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Unesco (2000). *Linguistic heritage of India and Asia*. Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 247.

1. Arvind Sharma (2005). *New focus on Hindu studies*. D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. p. 65.

1. S. Kushala (13 Aug 2005). ["This village speaks gods language!"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/This-village-speaks-gods-language/articleshow/1199965.cms). *The Times of India*. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

1. Rao, Subha J (2 March 2008). ["Keeping Sanskrit alive"](http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/Keeping-Sanskrit-alive/article15401481.ece). *The Hindu*. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

1. ["Sanskrit village set to glow anew"](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Sanskrit-village-set-to-glow-anew/articleshow/6039631.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

1. ["The magic of Mattur - Where Sanskrit thrives"](https://www.pgurus.com/the-magic-of-mattur-where-sanskrit-thrives/). *PGurus*. 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

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