Shringeri Sharadamba Temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

                                       

                              From Polali, we started towards Shringeri. I still spell this word stuttering because of the chillness over there.  One of the excellent climate I have ever enjoyed was on that day at Shringeri. Since we did not get any lodges during that night, we got a rented house for a night’s stay. It was bit deep inside Shringeri. On reaching the place, we had a bad luck. Oops it’s a power failure in that area. After descending the bus when I looked up in the deep sky; I was amazed to see the sky full of stars... It may be simple to think about. But I have never seen such a beautiful sky in my entire life till now. Wow... I still feel the joy of enjoying the beauty. May be I was seeing a pollution less sky after a very long time. My retina gained more energy and finally the power came and we got settled in the room.

                              The next day our bus started towards Shringeri Sharada Peetam. It is a beautiful temple with Sharadamba as its main Goddess, the Goddess of learning and wisdom. The temples architectures attracted me a lot over there.  Before entering into the temple, you have a lot of shops to get the pooja items. Along with the shops, you have small shops selling fish foods (pori).. We just got one and went inside.

                       After worshipping the Goddess, we went near the pond to see the giant fishes marching one upon another. Yes I did a mistake, one fish food packet will be sufficient only for 4 or 5 fishes over there.  But there were hundreds and hundreds of huge fishes. The big fishes, I have seen in a temple pond ever. If you have little ones with you, try to get 2 or 3 fish food packets as they enjoy a lot seeing the fishes grabbing the food in water. You can click a lot of pictures here.

                 

                               The temple architecture is very great and I am sure you will be lost it its beauty. You have 2 singha statues there. The highlight is inside its mouth, you can find a round stone which cannot be taken outside.. Don’t know how they carved it on those days without any accurate machines or tools. After seeing everything we started to the hotels and had the breakfast there. It was good in a Mangalorian style. Many small hotels are available with hot foods.

                                 If you are about to go to Mangalore temples, do not miss this fabulous temple.

How to reach the temple:

The KSRTC  operates from all major cities to Shringeri.  There are also a good number of buses and private transport to Sringeri.

Distances from Sringeri:
Bangalore        : 340 Kms
Mangalore     : 120 Kms
Chikmagalur  : 103 Kms
Horanadu        : 80 Kms

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Moodabidri Jain temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

                   We went to this temple by around 7.30 pm. This temple is an ancient center of Jain learning. Moodabidri was a center of Jain religion, culture, art and architecture during 14th - 16th centuries built in 1430 AD. From outside, it seems to be a normal temple. Once you enter inside, the temple shows its beauty of architectures. We went by night and we were lost in the beauty of the lighting given to the pillars of the temple. This temple highlight is, it has 1000 pillars in and around the temple.  I took a photo of the beauty, where I was stopped taking pictures as it is prohibited. Later he told that I can proceed by getting a ticket of 100 rupees. 

                      Actually we went on a very fine day. It was a special occasion (lakshadeepam), where 100000 deepams (lamps) were to be lit. But we were not that lucky, since they told it will take time for that to happen. Others in the van, suggested leaving... as they were tired. So we missed a wonderful occasion which happens yearly once. Inside the main sanctum, is the brilliant metallic idol of Chandranatha. One more highlight in this place is among the 1000 pillars, no two pillars are alike, each has its own minute designs sculpted.

How to reach the temple:

                   It’s around 37 km northeast from Mangalore. Kindly ask the local people regarding how to reach the temple and the routes.

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Venur Bahubali Gomateshwara Temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

                       Venur Bahubali is a Jain temple with a huge Buddha statue. The highlight is, the statue is made from a single huge rock in the year 1604. The saint is shown completely nude, in the Jain custom. The status stands erect 38 ft. high. The statue stands facing westward on a high platform on the banks of the river Phalguni. When we went there there was some renovation works going on so we saw the statue with hanging woods and rods.

                       Near to this statue, you can find a Jain temple with Buddha as the main God. After seeing the statue we spent some time in the temple and we sped up to the bus for our next event as it was getting late.

          How to reach the temple:

                  Venur is around 50 kilometers north east of Mangalore and kindly ask the local people about reaching the temple.

  

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Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswar Temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

  

            Dharmasthala Temple houses the shrine of Shiva, Manjunatha, Ammanavaru, Chandranath and the Dharma Daivas. You can very well expect a lot of crowd to this temple and so plan accordingly. We waited in the crowd (lined up) for about 3.5 hours which reminded Thirupathi to me. But in case of Thirupathi you can sit and food will be provided. Here you have to stand and all biscuits, drinks, etc. are available at your own cost. Water is served by temple persons for all the devotees. 

           Many waited till half the line and returned back to their vehicles as the line took a lot of time to move. So if you have old persons and babies with you, plan accordingly. Special tickets are available to move faster, but it cannot be afforded by normal people. Worst thing I found was, few babies and young kids were unable to resist the crowd and since u can’t move back and come to the same place, few kiddos urinate there. In few places iron rods were standing in sides without any safety cups. Many got a good slam from the iron rods. The business people around the iron cages had a good business. Then we finally moved towards the main God.  He dwelled in a Gold plated gopuram which glittered in sun. But the whole gopuram was covered such that you can’t see it from outside and hence it has lost much of its beauty. 

            This temple is very famous for its Annadhanam (free food).  The dining hall is known as "Annapoorna". There is no differentiation between rich and poor here .The dining hall was very much crowded and we got a seat in the half cleansed floor. They kept banana leaf one and by one. A guy came and just started shedding the rice from the bowl. He never listened to our words. You need more or very less, he gives the standard quantity that he can give in one shot. So many included me wasted the food. Next a guy came and poured sambar for the rice from his hip level. I got bit of sambar in my face and pants followed by rasam. Only rice is yet to be put in face. Next without even asking a guy poured butter milk (moor). Now my leaf has lot of rice mixed with sambar, rasam and butter milk. Many enjoyed the food but sorry I did not. 

              I understand, it’s really difficult to serve such a large crowd. They can better give annadhanam (free food) for limited persons so that they can serve better. As far I know, Annadhanam means serving with hospitality, not just giving food. It lacked the hospitality, which I did not like there. Anyhow, opinion differs. From there, if you walk for some time, you can see a big Buddha statue, but since we had less time we returned back to our bus and started to the next spot.

How to reach the temple:

You can ask any one and they will help you out for the route to this temple.

Distances from Dharmasthala

•   Udupi: around 100 Kms.
•   Mangalore: around 75 Kms
•   Subrahmanya: around 60 Kms
 

 

 

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Kukke Subramanya Temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

       We started to this temple by early morning. The climate and the scenic beauty were superb. We took a walk from the room to enjoy the climate and we did not ask anyone for the way to the temple; as a lot of crowd was moving towards the temple. It was foggy ; the climate was cold and we enjoyed it. 

      

      Many dressed in white dhothies and were moving fast towards the temple. Shirts and baniyans are not allowed inside the temple. This is Sachin Tendulkar’s favorite temple. Kukke Subrahmanya, dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya is mainly worshipped as he has the divine power of the snake. This temple is very famous for Sarpa Samsakara or Sarpa Dosha (Nagadhosam). You can find many pigeons and few other birds around this temple. 

    

      The temple lies in the banks of Kumaradhara River where a few people take a holy dip and go. It is not clean, but still they have a dip over here. Near to the lake is a park where you can spend a few minutes. The park was maintained in a descent manner. 

       Small steel snake sculptures were sold which was bought by a few to get rid of Nagadhosham.  Inside the temple, few were doing angapradeshana (rolling around the temple). I don’t know about devotees, but beggars have a permanent position in almost all the temples. After visiting the temple we had breakfast there in a nearby hotel. There are lots of hotels around the temple and you have to wait to get seat to eat during auspicious days. Tiffin was really good in a Mangalorian style.

How to reach the temple: 

This is around 105 km from Mangalore. The nearest airport is the Bajpe Airport, the Mangalore International Airport, at a distance of 115 km. The nearest Railway station (Nettana station) is around 12km from the temple.

 

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Kadri Manjunatha Temple - A temple tour to Mangalore

                  This temple was built in a high position from the road level. Few silver and gold plated ornaments were glittering near the entrance for sale. The temple had a lot of doves within it. When we went there, the temple was closed and the doves over there entertained us in flocks. 

                  The temple is built with a style of Keralite architecture. The chief deity of this temple is Manjunatha. There is a Shiva lingam sculpted on him. From the temple in the elevated position (two stories high) there are ponds which is used by our people as swimming pool. Super architecture has been made on those olden days.

                  There is a hill close to the temple with some stone caves called as caves of Pandavas. In the half way to the caves, you can find a small temple with a big Hanuman statue. On the topmost point, you can find the history of the yogi’s who stayed over there. Old people may struggle a bit climbing the topmost point.

How to reach the temple: 

Its just around  2 – 3  Kms from the heart of the city and you can reach easily.


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