Koti and Chennayya
Introduction


[right\|thumb\|**Koti \& Chennaya** (Circa 1556 A.D to 1591 A.D.) Twin Heroes of [Tulu Nadu](/wiki/Tulu_Nadu "Tulu Nadu") (Karnataka, India)](/wiki/File:Shri_Koti-chennaya.jpg "Shri Koti-chennaya.jpg")

**Koti and Chennayya** ( **Kōṭi Cennayya**,) (Circa 1556 A.D to 1591 A.D.) are legendary [Tuluva](/wiki/Tuluva "Tuluva") twin heroes characterized in the Tulu epic of the same name, which is considered one of the two truly long epic in [Tulu language](/wiki/Tulu_language "Tulu language"). The birthplace of Koti and Chennaya is Padumale in [Puttur](/wiki/Puttur%2C_Karnataka "Puttur, Karnataka") taluk, [Dakshina Kannada](/wiki/Dakshina_Kannada "Dakshina Kannada"). The story of these heroes may be taken to roughly five hundred years back, when reference to Ballads were made in the Tulu Padana. Koti and Chennayya were born to the *Deyi Baidethi* of the 
Billava people of [Tulu Nadu](/wiki/Tulu_Nadu "Tulu Nadu"). Owing to the brothers heroic deeds, they are worshipped and remembered as protectors. They died in combat near Yenmoor. Memorial temples called *garadi* "gymnasiums" have been built in the name of Koti and Chennayya all over Tulu Nadu.
[thumb\|Koti and Chennayya](/wiki/File:%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%8B%E0%B2%9F%E0%B2%BF_%E0%B2%9A%E0%B3%86%E0%B2%A8%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AF%E0%B3%A7.JPG "ಕೋಟಿ ಚೆನ್ನಯ೧.JPG")


What is the cultural significance of building memorial temples for Koti and Chennayya?