Mangla Devi Temple

Introduction:

Bangaraja proved a worthy successor to Veerabahu. He ruled his kingdom well and brought more glory and fame to his kingdom.On a certain night while he was sleeping Goddess Mangaladevi appeared in his dream

Location:-About 5kms from Thekkady.

How to Reach:-Mangalore is well connected by bus to all major towns in Karnataka.

Best Season:-Anytime, but best during Oct-May

Mother Goddess bade him to relieve from the remains the Shivashakthi Linga and the Dharapatra and install them in a shrine newly built. Then, she further said arrangements be made for the regular worship in the temple. She promised him that these services would bring him glory and happiness.

The king, not being able to decide as to what he should do consults sage Bharadhwaja. Bharadhwaja saint was very much pleased with the king and encouraged him to fulfill the wishes of the Mother goddess. He wanted him to know the past events, which had made the place a hallowed and blessed one. Listening to the story of Vikhasini, Andasura and also sage Parasurama, Bhangaraja decided to execute the responsibility entrusted to him by Goddess Mangaladevi herself.

Thus a beautiful shrine was built and the Linga Symbolizing Shiva and Shakti, along with Dharapatra were installed. Once again the splendor of the shrine began to attract the pious people.

At the later stage, Kundavarma once again renovated the temple where it was in a dilapidated condition under the guidance of Matsyendranath and Goraknath, holy saints of the Natha cult. In Tulunadu, Kundavarma, the most famous king of Alupa Dynasty was ruling. At that time, there came two sages named Matsyendranath and Goraknatha from Nepal. They reached Mangalapura (today's Mangalore), crossing the river Netravathi. The place where they crossed the river came to be known as 'Gorakdandi'. They chose a place near the bank of Netravathi, which was once the centre of activities of sage Kapila. He had his hermitage there and it was a great centre of education.

Hearing about the arrival of two saints the king came to meet them. Introducing himself as the king of Tulunadu he paid them his respects and offered them help and patronage. Pleased with the humility and virtues of the king they brought to his knowledge that his kingdom was a hallowed place and it was sanctified by the activities of holy saints and sages in the past. They requested him to grant them land so that they could build their hermitage and make it a centre of their religious activities under his protection and patronage.