The origin and history of Sree Vithoba Temple dates back to the year 1924 when the elders of the community decided to have a common place to assemble and recite bhajana. They chose a room in the upstairs of a building owned by Sri Ananda Shenoy who was a leading businessman of the time. They installed the photos of Lord Vithoba and Goddess Rukumai and started Bhajana on all Saturdays and on Ekadasi days. As the years rolled on and the community grew, members felt the need for a building of their own in a more congenial place. Late P. more Vasudeva Shenoy took keen interest and with the co-operation and help of the community members a new building was constructed on the eastern side of Payyanur Bazar. More and more members started participating in the bhajanas and it went on for many years. In the due course of time the members of the community felt the need for more organised work, so that they could have systematic worship of the Lord. So a committee with late P.Vasudeva shenoy as the President was constituted and the desire of the people was placed at the Lotus feet of His Holiness Srimad Sudheendrathirtha Swamiji, the then Madathipathi of Sree Kashimutt Samsthan for approval and blessings. The Swamiji visited Payyanur in 1951 and suggested to go ahead with the plans but at a different site as the existing Bhajan Mandir site was not at all fit for a temple. The Swamiji blessed it with a token donation for the temple and directed the people of the town to donate liberally. The members of the Samaj entrusted the project to a committee headed by Sri K.Govinda Maller to find a suitable site for the temple. However, it took a long 18 years of time for the committee to locate and acquire a piece of land for the purpose. Sri Ananda Prabhu voluntarily came forward and offered his land for the temple and the committee fixed up that land. The construction was started immediately and was duly completed in 1974. The unstinted co-operation and support of the community members, the dedicated work of the committee members and above all the Grace and blessings of The Lord Subhrahmanya, the presiding deity of Payyanur and Vithobha Rukumai were instrumental in completing the long-cherished desire of the community members in so short a period. His Holiness Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji was the main source of inspiration and strength to achieve this. The temple wasopened on 13th May, 1974 (Vaishak Bahula-Sapthami, Monday) by the learned Thanthri Vedamoorthy - Sri Prabhakar Bhat of Mangalore, in the absence of the Guruji His Holiness Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji who could not travel to Payyanur due to indisposition. However, the Swamiji visited Payyanur within a short period and blessed them. The swamiji again visited Payyanur in November, 1975 to inaugurate the 'Kalyana Mantap' dedicated to the memory of late His Holinss Srimad Sukratheendra Thirtha Swamiji - named Sukratheendra Kalamandir. The Swamiji again visited Payyanur in the years 1987, 1988 and 1993. The most important and the most unforgettable event in the short history of Sree Vithoba temple (31 years) was the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the temple and the Vasanthotsava of His Holiness Srimad Raghavendra Thirtha Swamiji, in the year 1999 (Pramadhi Nama Samvatsara). During the course of 31 years the temple has undergone renovation in 1997-1998 and the concrete roofing of the Sanctum Sanctorum was changed to copper plate roofing. Ashtakalashabishek was held under the guidance of His Holiness Srimad Raghavendra Thirtha Swamiji in 1998. The temple observes Vaishak Pournami Uthsav, Ashada Ekadashi Bhajana, Karthika Ekadasi Bhajana, Uthana Dwadasi, Karthika Panchami, Sree Varamahalakshmi vritham, Prathishta day as annual functions. The co-operation and participation of the samaj members is excellant and exemplary. The divine 'Shami Vriksha Katte' is a new attraction to the devotees who worship the Shami Vriksha in fulfilment of their desires and for removal of the maladies they encounter in life. The 'Raksha charadu' given to the devotees after duly consecrating and worshiping at the feet of the Lord Vithoba and Goddess Rukumai bring solace, peace of mind and prosperity to the devotees who wear it.