Kadri Manjunath temple also known as Kadri Manjunatha temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in Mangalore, Karnataka, is one of the oldest Shiva temples. Hence, this historic temple is one of the must-visit temples in Kadri, Mangalore, for devotees of Lord Shiva. Let’s delve into the details of this ancient Shiva temple.
Kadri Manjunath Temple History
As per Kadri Manjunath temple history, the temple is really old as it was built in the 10th or 11th century and was transformed into a stone structure in the 14th century. Hindu and Buddhist histories intertwine with the temple. People practised Buddhism until the 10th century CE. The Nath cult was a mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions and saw a decline, after which the Buddhist temples were converted into Hindu places of worship. Furthermore, as per the words of poet and writer Govinda Pai, ‘Manjunatha’ refers to Lord Shiva and ‘Kadri’ is a part of Kadri Vihara, a Buddhist monastery belonging to the Vajrayana cult.
Kadri Manjunatha temple in mythology
Kadri Manjunath temple has references in mythology related to Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. After slaying the Kshatriyas, Parashurama prayed and appealed to Lord Shiva for a place to live. Lord Shiva directed him to seek shelter in a new place called the Kadrivana. Paying heed to the Lord’s words, Parashurama, after an immense struggle with the ocean king, secured the place that he occupied near the Kadri hills to set up the Kadrivana for Lord Manjunatha. Consequently, the place became the abode of Lord Manjunatha, where devotees now flock to the place for the Lord’s blessings. Kadri hills are also mentioned in the “Bharadwaja Samhita,” a Sanskrit text. Hence, Kadri was famous for being the abode of Lord Manjunatha (Lord Shiva) in ancient times.
About the temple
The presiding deity of Kadri Manjunath temple is Lord Manjunatheshwara, worshipped as a Shiva Linga. There are also shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga in the temple. Furthermore, there are beautiful bronze idols of Lokeshwar, Avalokiteshwar, Veda Vyasa, Machendranath, Gorakanath, Shringinath, Buddha etc in the temple. The Lokeshwar idol is one of the oldest bronze idols in India. Also, the Saptha Mantras became the Saptha Theerthas or the seven ponds.
Gomukha, a natural spring, is found in an elevated location near the temple. According to popular belief, the water from the spring is that of River Bhageerathi in Kashi; hence, it acquired the name Kashi Bhageerathi Theertha. Before entering the temple, people dip in the nine ponds, which contain water from the natural spring. There is also a Shiva Linga further up, where people fill vessels with water from the natural spring and perform Abhishekam with their own hands. There is also a shrine dedicated to Shani Dev.
The annual festival of Jathra Mahothsava, held for nine days during January, begins on the Makara Sankranti. It is celebrated with pomp and religious fervour.
Kadri Manjunath temple timings
Kadri Manjunath temple is open daily from 5.30 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM for devotees to worship the Lord.
How to reach Kadri Manjunatha temple
The distance from Mangalore to Kadri Manjunath temple is 5.3 KM, and Kadri Manjunatha temple is about 346 KM from Bangalore.
By Air
Mangalore airport is the nearest airport, which is about 12.4 KM from Kadri. From there, you can hire a cab to the Kadri Manjunatha temple.
By Train
Mangalore Railway Station is the nearest station to Kadri, which is about 3.5 km away. From there, one can take a cab to the Kadri Manjunath temple. Mangalore Railway Station is well connected to all the southern states via rail.
By Road
Mangalore is well connected to the other major cities by road. Numerous KSRTC buses ply in the area, making it convenient for tourists. Tourists can also hire a cab to reach the Kadri Manjunatha temple.
To conclude, the Kadri Manjunatha temple is a must-visit for devotees of Lord Shiva.