Travel Diary of Sriram and Soumya

 Mangaladevi Temple, Mangalore The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shakthi in the form of Mangaladevi, the presiding deity from whom the city derives its name. An ancient temple with historical significance and dating back to the 9th century, it is under the protection of ASI. I wonder why they covered the roof of the entire temple with metal sheets. I always felt higher energy levels in temples where the sanctum was exposed to the elements. Sri Mangaladevi in the central shrine is in a seated posture and reminded me of Parmekkavu in Thrissur.  The temple was built by Parasurama Swamy, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu and later expanded by Kundavarman of the Alupa Dynasty in the 9th century. It seems the king retrieved and installed the lingam and the dharapatra symbolising Mangaladevi. It is disappointing that the temple has no space that separates it from the main road. There is a Nagaraja sanctum in an elevated platform in front of the Dwajasthambam. I like th...

 Sharavu Temple, Mangalore This temple was built in the 12th century by Tuluva King Veerabahu. The Shrine of Lord Sharabeshwara is located on the western side of the temple and that of Mahaganapathy is on the south. The story of its origin and importance of the temple is narrated in the Skanda Purana. It is an exceptional religious place having a great history of more than 800. years. The name "Sharavu" comes from the word "Shara," which means "arrow". King Veerabahu built the temple to atone for killing a cow. This Shivalinga is worshipped as Sharabeshwara. I like the “kavacha” or the metal covering - of the lord. In the Sharavu temple the lord is covered with a silver kavacha that shows him as a mustached Shiva. The officiating priest here has whiskers which are similar and I wondered if he kept his as a mark of devotion to his Sharabeshwara. The all wood on granite plinth structure is beautifully finished with carved wooden brackets. The sanctum faces w...