Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple

Описание: Manjunatha Temple is a historic temple built of stone on Kadri Hill in Mangalore, Karnataka, and maintained by the Madhva Brahmins. The story goes that Parashuram, who lived in Sahyadri, killed Kshatriyas 21 times who were responsible for the death of his mother Renuka with his axe and donated the land to Sage Kashyap. Then Parashuram prayed Shiva to show him a place to live.
Lord Shiva promised Parashuram that if he perform penance in the Kadali shrine, he would incarnate as Manjunatha for the welfare of world. Parashurama threw the axe into the sea as per Shiva orders, creating a place for his penance. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Manjunath at Kadri in the form of a ling with Goddess Parvati on the prayer of Parashuram. The Saptakoti mantras became the seven Tirthas on Manjunath command.

The temple houses a Panchaloha idol of 5-foot tall Lokeshwar, identified as Brahma with three faces, six arms, and two lotuses in hands. The oldest idol in the temples of South India is said to have been installed by King Kundavarma of the Alupa dynasty, according to "Mangalapura" inscription. The temple has a history of Hindu and Buddhist religions. Buddhism was present in this place fifteen hundred years ago. After the decline of Buddhism, King Kundavarma issued an edict declaring himself a devotee of Shiva. The Shiva ling and the Bodhisatva were worshipped together in this place for centuries before the temple was converted into a Shaivite temple.

There are many ponds in front of the temple. There is a garden around the ponds. There is a large lamp post in front of the temple. Bonfires held here during the month of Karthika. The temple has idols of Machchendranath, Gorakhnath, Shringinath, Lokeshwar, Manjushri, and Buddha. There is a natural water stream called Gomukham on back of the temple. It is called Kashi Bhagirathi Theerth since the water flows from the Ganga River of Kashi. The water from the stream is released into nine adjacent tanks. Visitors purify themselves in the tanks before entering the temple.

Maha Puja, Utsava Bali, Nityabali and Bhootabali are performed every day. During the four-day festival, Manjunatha Swamy is taken in procession in four directions.
On the seventh day of the festival, after the "Deepotsavam", a mass food distribution ceremony is held. The mass food distribution ceremony is followed by a chariot festival the next day. Lakhs of devotees from all over the country and abroad flock to the shrine to bestow Sri Manjunatha Swamy blessings. The temple also host festivals such as Belli Rathotsavam or Vendi Rathotsavam, Avabhruta Snaana Diwas, Tulabhara Seva, Chandramandalotsavam, Dhwajarohana and others.

The temple is open from 6:30 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon and again from 4:00 in the evening to 8:30 in the night.