Shree Manjunath temple at Kadri, in Mangalore is a
popular tourist destination. Devotees visit the temple to seek the Lord’s
blessing. This old temple has a varied history. It is said initially it was a Buddhist
place of worship and learning. Later as Buddhism declined, it merged into the
Hindu Shaiva tradition and became a renowned temple. The most intriguing thing
here is, the temple is below, at floor level and the water tanks on a higher
level. And still above, amidst the greenery and plants is the quiet monastery where
swamis and sadhus especially from north India come to spend some time here
before they proceed further in pursuit of religion and god.
Kadri Manjunatha Temple is a historic and an
ancient temple in Kadri in Mangalore, Karnataka in south India. It is
considered to be around 1500-2000 years old. It is one of the most visited temples
in Mangalore, along with Mangaladevi temple, after which Mangalore city is
named. The temple of Manjunatheshwara on the hills of Kadri is said to be built
during the 10th or 11th century. It was converted to a complete stone structure
during the 14th century. The chief deity of this temple is
Manjunatha, which incorporates a Shiva ling. The bronze statue, about 1.5 meter
tall of Lokeshwara (identified as Brahma) in a seated position with three
faces and six arms, is tipped to be the oldest and the best bronze statue in south
India.
It has an inscription dated 968 AD, engraved on the
pedestal. The inscription states that King Kundavarma of the Alupa Dynasty
installed the Lokeshwara idol in Kadarika Vihara. It mentions Mangalore as
‘Mangalapura’. The image has three faces and six arms, and holds flowers in two
of the arms. The crown depicts a Dhyani Buddha. The image has an ornate Prabhavali,
and two attendants. It is very well preserved with enameled eyes. There are two
other undated bronze images of similar class and craftsmanship. One of them is
identified as Avalokiteshwar (called Narayana) and other as Buddha (called
Vedavyasa). Another stone inscription in Tulu, Kannada and Malayalam scripts
from 12-13th century AD, in the temple's kitchen, states that the ruler and the
local landlords contributed land for the temple. A 1730 AD text, Kadli
Manjunath Mahatmyam gives an account of the association with Natha Mantha.
It is believed that Parashurama who was
living in Sahyadri, killed the kshathriyas who were arrogant and cruel
and donated the lands to Kashyapa. He prayed to Lord Shiva for a place to live.
Lord Shiva assured Parashurama that if he performed a penance at Kadali
kshethra, Lord Shiva would reincarnate as Manjunatha for the betterment of the
world. As per Shiva's orders, Parashurama threw his axe into the sea and
created a place for his penance. Yielding to Parashurama's prayers Lord Shiva
appeared to him as Manjunatha with Goddess Parvathi and stayed at
Kadri for the betterment of the world. As per the orders of Manjunatha, the Sapthakoti
manthras become the seven theerthas. Hence Mangalore is also known as
Parashurama bhoomi.
This temple has Hindu and Buddhist history.
Buddhism was practiced here till the 10th century AD. But after the
decline of Buddhism, the devotion
of Manjusri and Avalokiteśvara continued in this region.
The Nath cult embraced Buddhism and continued
Tantric Shiva tradition as well. As a result, many Buddhist temples
came into the Hindu fold. According to M Govinda Pai this temple was
known as Kadri Manjunatha, where Manjunatha relates to Shiva
and Kadri is derived from Kadri Vihara which was
Buddhist monastery of Vajrayana cult.
King Kundavarma of the Alupa dynasty left
an inscription on the base of the Avalokiteśvara image stating that he was
devotee of Shiva. This image was not of Buddha, but of Bodhisattva,
who was being worshiped as integrated form of Shiva. Further M Govinda Pai has
concluded this was center of Bodhisattva Manjusri's cult. And later
on this Bodhisattavs were identified as Saivite deities. Shiv ling and Bodhisattva were
worshiped together for centuries at this place until it was converted
completely to a Saivite temple. Knadarika Vihara provides firm
inscriptional evidence for this transformation. After the 11th century Brahmins took
possession of the temple.
In front of the temple, at an elevation, there are
a number of water tanks with natural and warm water spring. It is called
Gomukha. It is believed that the water flows from river Bhageerathi in Kashi
and thereby it gets its name as Kashi Bhageerathi theertha. The water from this
spring is let into nine ponds of different sizes adjacent to it. Visitors wash
themselves in these ponds before entering the main temple. There's a garden
surrounding the tanks. When one walks down from here in front of the temple,
there is a tall bronze Deepa Sthamb. During Karthika maasa, Deepothsava is held
here with the burning of the lamps. There are statues of Machendranath,
Gorakanath, Shringinath, Lokeshwara, Manjushri, and Buddha in the temple.
The Annual Jathra Mahothsava (temple festival) is
held during the month of January. The nine days of festival starts on the day
of Makara Sankranthi. Bhandara of Malaraya Daiva is paraded from Kadri
Kambala Ganada Kottige house. Theertha Snana (holy bath) is held in the
morning, followed by Dwaja Sthambha Arohana, lighting of Kanchi Sthambha, and Bali
Uthsava on the same day. Bali Uthsava is held for four days, where Lord
Manjunatha consecutively visits the four kattas in the four directions
-Bikarnakatte Savari, Mallikatte Savari, Mundana katte Savari and Konchadi
katte Savari.
On the seventh day of festival, after the Savari's,
‘Seventh Deepothsava’ is held and Maha Anna Samtharpaney (mass meal) is served, thousands
of devotees assemble to accept the Prasadam served to all. This entire event draws a large number of devotees every year.
Devotees arrive in large numbers from Mangalore and all over India and even from abroad to witness the Rathothsava.
Maha Rathothsava – the following day, Maha
Rathothsava takes place. Devotees from
all over assemble to seek the blessings of Lord Shree Manjunatha and to be a
part of the grand ceremony. Later Belli Rathothsava (silver chariot) follows.
And later the festival draws to a close after some rituals.
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