Bappanadu Sri DurgaParameshwari Temple – Karnataka

Address

Bappanadu Sri DurgaParameshwari Temple – Karnataka

Bappanadu, Mulki
Dakshina Kannada District
Karnataka,
Pin code: 574154

Amman

Sri DurgaParameshwari

Introduction

• The Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple is located in Bappanadu village, Dakshin Kannada district, Karnataka, on the banks of the Sambhavi River.
• The main deity of the temple is Goddess Sri Durga Parameshwari.
• Lord Shiva is also worshipped in the form of a linga (symbolic statue) in the temple.

Puranic Significance:

• Shonitapura, the region once ruled by the demon Darigasura, was a stronghold of evil. Darigasura was an enemy of Lord Vishnu and the other Devatas.
• Darigasura worshipped Lord Brahma and obtained a boon to defeat Lord Vishnu and the Devatas. He successfully defeated the Devatas and captured Lord Vishnu’s weapons.
• Darigasura hid the weapons in his temple, which prompted the appearance of Goddess Durga Parameshwari in the form of Sapta Durgas (seven goddesses).
• The Sapta Durgas, led by Bhagawati, devised a plan to trick Darigasura. Bhagawati, disguised as an old woman, asked Darigasura’s wife for food but ultimately requested the weapons instead. Darigasura’s wife, unwilling to give the weapons, was tricked by Bhagawati’s false complaint, leading Darigasura to give the weapons away.
• When Darigasura realized the deception, he waged war against the goddesses but was eventually defeated. He fled to the underworld, where he was slain by Goddess Bhadra Kali, who was a form of Bhagawati.
• The Sapta Durgas, accompanied by Deity Guliga, then traveled from Vaikuntha (heaven) to Bhooloka (earth) in a sandalwood boat created by Lord Vishnu. This boat passed through various coastal regions of India, including Kasaragod, Kumble, Uppala, and more.
• The boat reached Sasihithlu, near Mulki, where the goddesses decided to settle after receiving tender coconut from a low-caste devotee. There, at the confluence of Rivers Nandini and Sambhavi, the symbolic form of Goddess Durga Parameshwari emerged.

Special Features:

• The Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari and is one of the main Shakti worship centers in Karnataka.
• Bappanadu, the village where the temple is located, is named after the merchant Bappa, who constructed the temple.
• The temple was built in the 14th century architectural style and has two inscriptions, one of which is intact and the other damaged.
• The main sanctum houses the deity, and there are many unique features and rich historical and cultural aspects associated with the temple.

Festivals:

• The temple celebrates a significant festival on the Meena Masa Shuddha Chathurdhashi day, which lasts for 8 days. Each day of the festival has a unique feature, highlighting the grandeur and importance of the occasion.

Century/Period

14th century

Nearest Bus Station

Mulki 

Nearest Railway Station

Mangalore

Nearest Airport

Mangalore

Location on Map

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