District: Dakshina Kannada
Town: Mangalore
Temple: Kadri Manjunath Temple
The Kadri Manjunath Temple is located in the Kadri Hills in Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada district.
Kadri Manjunath Temple – Overview
Kadri Manjunath Temple – History
The Kadri hills once held a Buddhist Monastery. In 968 BC King Kundavarma Bupendra of the Alupa Dynasty had an idol of Lokeshwara installed in the Vihara. Later a Shiva Temple was built here. This is one of the oldest temples in South India.
Kadri Manjunath Temple – Architecture
The main shrine here is for Manjunath, with an Udhbava Linga. The beautiful Thri Lokeshwara idol is seated in Padmasana pose, with six arms and three faces. The temple has a pyramidal structure. Besides the inscription put in by the Alupa king who installed the Lokeshwara statue, the style of this temple also dates it to the 10th century. Inside the temple courtyard, there are smaller temples for Durga and Ganesha. The temple is considered to have been converted to a stone temple around the 14th century.
Kadri Manjunath Temple – Mythology
Parashurama, after annihilating the Kshatriyas, who had become headstrong and cruel, prayed to Lord Shiva for a place to live. Lord Shiva told him to go to the Kadhari hills. Here, Lord Parashurama performed penance. Lord Shiva came down with his wife Parvati and assured Parashurama that he would reside in Kadhari to bless the people of the world.
How to Get to Kadri Manjunatha Temple
This temple is situated right in Mangalore. Mangalore is a major city in Karnataka and it is well connected through air, rail and bus routes to all parts of Karnataka and India.
Kadri Manjunath Temple – Facts
- Kadiruthsava, Navaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Makara Shankaranthi, Deepavali, Shivarathri and Ugadi are important festival days here
- The Lokeshwara idol is considered to be one of the oldest bronze idols in India
- There is a huge Deepasthamba at the entrance which is lighted on Deepothsava days
- Lakshadeepotsava is a major function here
- A nine day fair is held here every year
- There are idols of Sastha, Durga Parameshwari, Vyasa Muni and Gomukha Ganapati here
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