Day-3: Coastal temples off Mangalore + Kateel

December 26, 2023

- We started from Mangalore at 7:30 am and drove North...along the coast and eventually reached Kateel. 

- All these temples are either by the coast or just a few kilometers to the East of the coastal highway. Between each temple, just 5-10 km...hence, you can cover them sequentually.

(1) Durga parameshwari temple (at Chitrapura)

- Serene, tranquil as seen in the pic

- No crowd.

(2) Sadashiva temple + (3) Maha Ganapati temple (at Suratkal)

- Temple is by the beach. All Kerala style temples. This point need not be repeated.

- Very beautiful and off the beaten path

- Since it is full moon, chandi homa preparation was in progress. 

- Sadashiva (linga) is the main shrine. Alongside, is the Ganesha shrine.

- At the back of the temple is a sit-out area. The temple is at a height.

- As you look down, you can see rocks and boulders and further down the sand, and beyond that, the blue of the ocean.

- One of the cleanest beaches seen. Nature is at its best.

Back of the temple

View from the back of the temple

(4) Gnana-shakti Subramanya temple + (5) Mahalingeshwara mahaganapati temple (at Pavanje)

- Both the temples are at the same location- one at the base and another higher up.

- One of the best temples of the day

- Elaborate archana. Spent a lot of time at the temple.

- From the Subramanya temple, you climb a flight of steps.

- From the top, you can view the Pavanje river flowing towards the Arabian sea.

- River is surrounded by a sea of coconut groves

- Place is spotlessly clean. Nature is pristine and beautiful. The river with ripples was glistening in the sun like serial-bulb lights that go on and off. Not an exaggeration. It looked exactly like this, in the bright sunshine.

Pavanje river as seen from the top of the temple

(6) Subramanya temple (at Thokkur)

(7) Shree Durga Parameshwari temple (at Bappanadu)

- This is a prominent, popular temple and can be seen from the main coastal highway

- Today is full moon- Chandi homa was in progress with many devotees. Not overly crowded.

(8) Adi Janardana temple (at Seemanthur)

- Krishna is holding a gada in his left hand and a lotus on his right.

- There are 2 Krishna idols in the temple. Apparently, the old-idol was worn out and a few hundred years ago, a new idol was constructed. That is a replica of the main-idol. However, the village fell into decline. It was attributed to the swapping of the old idol with the new idol. The old idol was again installed as the main-idol. The new idol is now at the back. Hence "Adi Janardana" because this main-temple idol was "aadi" (existed before) to the new idol that was made.

- Very peaceful, off the beaten path...temple.

- No other shrine in temple other than Janardana.

- As mentioned earlier, the outside gopuram, may look ordinary. But once you step inside, each temple is exquisite.

The pic is from the back of the Adi Janardana temple- it is truly far from the madding crowd!

(9) Durga Parameshwari temple (at Kateel)

- Kateel's main temple is the Durga Parameshwari temple

- Temple again follows the Kerala architecture

- There is a little stream behind the temple and across the stream, is the anna-prasadam hall.

- In keeping with most other temples following this architecture, in the prakara, is a Ganesha shrine.

- Close to the prasada area, is an elephant, that evokes curious interest from passersby.

- At this time of the year, the place is festive with Yakshagana on one side, a procession with a deity on the other- all of this, after sunset.

Post lunch session:

(10) Somanatheshwara temple (at Nellli Teertha)

- There is a tiny cave inside the temple (Jabali rishi's cave). Need to crawl and go in. But the cave was closed at that time.

- The location is picturesque.

- Inside the temple- we have kshetra-paala (with ugra expression), the main deity and Ganesha.

Temple chariot
The place may be remote- but preparation for a Yakshagana was in progress 

(11) Durga Parameshwari temple (at Muchur) 

(12) Putthige Somanatheshwara (at Mudbidri)

- A new temple is under construction. Though most of it appears ready for the onlooker, it is 2 years away from completion, we are told.

- Just beside the under-construction temple, is the make-shift temple, with idols of Somanatheshwara (orginal deities from the previous temple)

Miniature inside the temple- on how it will be.
Gives an idea of the similar "template" used for all these temples

(13) Annapurneshwari (at Hosanadu)

- This is "Hosa-nadu". Not to be confused with "Hora-nadu". Both places have Annapurneshwari

- The deity is most beautiful

- There are paintings on the walls and ceiling from "samudra mathanam" and other mythological tales.

- Immaculate upkeep of the temple- very clean and no crowd at all.

- Outside the temple- a huge Hanuman

- Had dinner at Kateel Durga Parameshwari temple.