Located in the South Indian State of Karnataka, Sri Mangaladevi Temple is a Hindu temple in the city of Mangalore. The temple is at Bolara which is about three kilometers from the City Centre. The temple is dedicated to the god Shakti who is in the form of Mangaladevi. This is where the name of the city, Mangalore, comes from. This temple has high significance among the locals and was built in the ninth century.
Quick Facts about Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangalore
Darshan Timings
- Morning00 AM – 10.00 AM
- Noon: 00 Noon 1.00 PM
- Evening:00 PM -8.30 PM. (Fridays till 9.00 PM)
Daily Pooja timings
- 6.00 AM, 1.00 PM, 8.30 PM and 9.00 PM on Fridays
Website: www.mangaladevitemple.com
Legend of Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangalore
The history of the temple dates back to the tenth century when two sages came to visit Mangalore from Nepal. The sages were named Machhendranatha and Gorakanatha. Hearing about the arrival of the two sages, the ruling king came to meet them. He offered all help and patronage and paid his respects to them.
Delighted by the humility of the King, the sages asked him for a piece of land to build a temple. The King came to know about the temple built by Parshurama which was the Temple of Mangaladevi. The sages then took the King to all the places which had historical importance and asked him to dig the place and build a temple.
The King did as he was asked to and a grand shrine of the goddess stood at the holy place. Since then, the temple attained special significance and has become a part of the history of the city of Mangalore.
Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangalore: Architecture
The temple has an architecture which reflects the style of Kerala and has most of the structure made from wood. The Hindu god, Mangaladevi is in a seated posture inside the temple. A rectangular wall around the temple encloses all the shrines located inside the temple boundary. The central shrine has the image of the deity which can be reached through five steps.
Festivals at Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangalore
The temple has a two-storied tower and special pujas are performed during the Navaratri festival. Special pujas are performed on all the nine days of the festival. A large number of devotees gather at the temple of the day of Dasara which is the tenth and the last day of Navaratri festival.
On the day of Dasara, the decorated goddess is mounted on a chariot and the grand procession moves to Marnamikatte, where the god Mangaladevi and Shamivriksha are worshipped. The devotees believe that the worship of the goddess brings them prosperity and happiness. The Vedic Brahmins perform various pujas and rituals on a regular basis.
The temple has a rich heritage, Keralian style architecture and a historical significance. The temple has easy access through buses and autos. Travelling to the ancient city of Mangalore will not be complete without a visit to this temple.