Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

Mangaladevi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Adi Parashakti is in Mangalore, Karnataka. The city has its name after Mangalapura and eventually became famous as Mangalore or Mangaluru. People believe that worshipping Goddess Mangaladevi will grant you success and prosperity in any new ventures and will protect one against evil influences.

Mangaladevi Temple – Facts

Deity	Goddess Mangaladevi
Location	Mangalore, Karnataka
Entry Fee	Free
Best Time to Visit	October to March
Darshan Timings	6:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Poojas	Pushpanjali Pooja, Devi Mahaatme Parayana, Rudra Abhishekam
Festivals	Navratri, Ugadi, Annual Temple Festival

What are the timings of Mangaladevi Temple?

Here are the darshan timings of the Mangaladevi Temple:

Rituals	From	To
Morning Darshan	6:00 AM	1:00 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM	8:30 PM

There are several poojas that take place during the given darshan timings. Devotees can participate in these poojas during the timings mentioned below.

Rituals	Timing
Morning Pooja	6:00 AM
Afternoon Pooja	1:00 PM
Evening Pooja	8:30 PM

What are the poojas and sevas performed at Mangaladevi Temple?

A devotee can perform around 42 types of Poojas and Sevas in the Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore.

• Devi Mahaatme Parayana: The priest recites the verses from the Devi Mahaatme, a set of hymns and shlokas describing the greatness of the Goddess.
• Ashtotthara Archana: The priest recites 108 names of the Goddess along with the offering of the Kumkum on behalf of the devotee.
• Thrishathi Archana: The priest recites 300 names of the Goddess in front of the Goddess on behalf of the devotee.
• Pushpanjali Pooja: This includes decoration of the Goddess with flowers and recitation of shlokas in praise of her by offering flowers one by one on behalf of the devotee.
• Thrimadhura Naivedyam: The priest offers Sugar, Honey, and Butter to the Goddess as Bhog or Naivedyam for the day on behalf of the devotee.
• Panchamrutha Abhisheka: The priest bathes the deity with five holy “Amrit” or Nectar. They are Milk, Honey, Curd, Sugar, and Ghee.
• Rudrabhishekam: The Pooja is for Lord Shiva who is worshipped as fire or Rudra. The puja wipes out all sins and purifies the atmosphere. It also removes all sorts of planetary related ill-occurrences. The Mondays of the month, as well as the Pradosham days, are ideal for performing the Pooja.
• Ranga Pooja: This includes worshipping the Goddess with either 24 rows of Deepams or with 64 rows of Deepams on behalf of the devotee.
• Naga Thambila: The priest bathes the deity Lord Subrahmanya, who is the “Protector of Snakes” with Panchamrit that is with milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar.

Some other Poojas include:

• Vidyarambha: The couples with children of age 2 – 5 can perform the Seva as a start to the education of their children. The performing of this ritual is special because the presiding deity Sri Mangaladevi is the Goddess of intelligence and knowledge.
• Sathyanarayana Pooja: The Pooja is for to Lord Vishnu. The Pooja can take place on any day but is extremely auspicious to perform it on the eve of Chithra Pournami. Devotees perform it to attain peace, prosperity, to remove obstacles and to be free from the negative thoughts. The Pooja usually begins with Ganapathi Pooja and then the Navagraha Pooja.
• Chandika Yagna: The Chandika Homam requires the presence of 7 priests. They chant the 700 verses and hymns from the Devi Mahatmayam. Offerings of the Payasam (sweet pudding or Kheer) are made to Agni during the chantings.
• Tulabhara Seva: This Seva includes the devotee sitting on one side of the Tula or the weighing balance. On the other side, offerings are arranged until the weight of the devotee and the offerings balance themselves. The offerings are then donated to the Temple.
• Silver Palanquin Pooja: In this Pooja, the idol of the Goddess is taken around the temple premises in a silver palanquin and worshipped amidst chants and hymns.
• Vahana Pooja: The devotees can also do the Vahana Pooja, in which new vehicles are decorated and the Goddess is worshipped to bless the journeys in them.
• Dodda Rathotsava: The Goddess is taken around the Temple Complex in the big Chariot or Ratha on behalf of the Temple.

What is the significance of the Mangaladevi Temple?

The significance of the Mangaladevi Temple is that the deity of the Mangaladevi Temple is a figure of the Goddess holding a Dharapatra and a Linga. The Linga symbolizes the destructive power of both Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti.  Devotees believe that the main shrine is as old as the Treta Yuga.

The Mangaladevi Temple’s historical importance resulted in the naming of the place itself as Mangalapura. In present times, the city of Mangalore gets its name from the Goddess of Mangalapura or Mangalore.

Mangaladhara Vrata is a unique ritualistic fast observed by the devotees of Goddess Mangaladevi. This Vrata is kept by maidens to find a suitable match for marriage for them. This Vrata is also called Swayamvara Parvathi.

What is the history of Mangaladevi Temple?

As per the history of Mangaladevi Temple, the origin of the Mangaladevi Temple runs back to a demon Vikhasini who was Hiranyakashyapu’s daughter. She waged a war against the Devaloka and Lord Indra. Though the demon army was strong, Indra defeated them in a fierce battle.

Hence, it shattered Vikhasini’s ambition of commanding the Devaloka and she realized that she needed God’s grace to enhance her powers.

She wanted a son with the Gods who would be highly powerful and competent enough to avenge Lord Vishnu and destroy him as revenge for Vikhasini’s father’s death. So She performed severe penance and gained the attention of Lord Brahma. Eventually, He asked her to wish for a boon. She wished for a son who would slay Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma refused to state that the holy trinity is immortal. However, he said that she will attain a son from Lord Shiva who will be brave and invincible.

Narada and Lord Brahma visited Kailash and warned Lord Shiva of future developments. Lord Shiva along with Parvati, Lord Brahma, Narada, and Goddess Saraswati went to Vaikuntam and expressed their anger in front of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu however, calmed them by saying that everything will be rectified when the time comes.

Vikhasini disguised herself as Goddess Parvati and lured Lord Shiva into submission. After the act, she left for her kingdom and during the journey; she feared that the Devatas will harm her son. She asked Bhoodevi (Goddess Earth) and with her permission, buried her fetus inside the Earth. Eventually, as time passed, a great demon was born and was named Andasura by Vikhasini. She told Andasura about the fate of Hiranyakashyapa and asked him to seek revenge by killing Lord Vishnu.

The legend continues…

He attacked the Devaloka and destroyed anything that came in his path.  Then the holy trinity gathered and asked the Supreme mother, Adi Parashakti for help. She agreed to help her children and asked them for their weapons. So Lord Brahma gave his Danda, Lord Vishnu gave his Chakra and Lord Shiva gave his Trident to Goddess Adi Parashakti. She merged Lord Shiva’s power of destruction with her and acquired his third eye.

Meanwhile, Andasura roamed through the Devaloka in search of Lord Vishnu. Narada directed him to a place where Goddess Parashakti, disguised as a beautiful and captivating maiden was waiting for him. Seeing her, the demon came close to her and misbehaved. At an opportunistic moment, Goddess Adi Parashakti slew him with the trident.

She also addressed his children from the spot that in the Treta Yuga, “Lord Vishnu will incarnate as Parashurama and slay the 21 generations of evil Kshatriyas. He will retrieve the land from Lord Varuna and the spot where he will do penance will be where I killed Andasura. He will build a shrine with a Linga and a Dharapatra”.

After several centuries, the legend continues through Veerabahu, the king of Tulunadu. He did not have any son so he made Bangaraja as his successor. Bangaraja ruled his kingdom well and brought immense prosperity to the region. Goddess Mangaladevi appeared in his dreams and informed him that the shrine’s remains are there under a mound where the Nethravati and the Phalguni rivers intersect.

Bangaraja along with Saint Bharadhwaja rediscovered the shrine and constructed a small temple around it. However, nature took its course hid the temple amid abundant vegetation of the surrounding forests.

What is the architecture of the Mangaladevi Temple?

The Mangaladevi Temple architecture resembles a Kerala style of construction. Huge stones form the walls of the temple. Intricate carvings are also there on the inner walls of the Mandapam. The Gopuram has two stories. The area within the rectangular walls around the Temple is Kshetra – Madiluka. All the shrines are present inside this Kshetra.

The Dhwajasthambam is directly in front of the main entrance. A Deepasthamba is inside the temple complex with figures of the 8 Dwarapalikas around it. The Mangaladevi Temple also has a clean complex with all the modern facilities available to the pilgrims.

The origin of the Mangaladevi Temple has two different versions. Some believe that the 9th-century Ahepa King Kundavarman built the temple while others believe that Kundavarman just discovered a pre-existing temple and extended the shrine by building several additions. Some people believe the Ballal family of Attavar built the temple to commemorate a fallen Malabar princess.

What is the dress code at Mangaladevi Temple?

The Mangaladevi Temple administration has not imposed any strict dress code. However, it is recommended to wear decent clothes in the temple premises. Shorts, miniskirts, and beachwear are to be avoided.

What are the festivals celebrated at Mangaladevi Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Mangaladevi Temple are:

• Navratri: A large number of devotees visit the Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore from Karnataka and surrounding states to witness and receive the blessings of the Goddess. The Navarathri festival lasts for 9 days ending with Vijayadasami on the tenth day. The Lalita Panchami, Mahanavami Rathotsava, and Vijayadasami Vidyarambha are the special days during the Navratri period. The Chandika Homam, Ranga Pooja, and Rathotsava are the special poojas that take place for the Goddess Navami. Also, the practice of Vidyarambha meaning the “initiation of knowledge” for kids takes place on the Vijayadasami. Then the Sathyanarayana Pooja and the Avabrutha Mangal Snaan takes place on the two days after Vijayadasami. The Ayudha Pooja takes place on the eighth day of the festival when devotees worship all the weapons of the Goddess.
• Laksha Deepothsava: The festival occurs in the month of Karthik that usually falls in November – December. Devotees light around one lakh lamps (Laksha Deepams) in honour of the Goddess and decorate the whole Temple with it.
• Annual Temple Festival: The annual festival of the Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore begins in the month of March. Devotees perform several poojas and abhishekams for the Goddess. They also take the Utsava Moorthy or the idol around the Temple premises in different vehicles or Vahanas and worship it.

Besides these festivals, Ugadi, Mahashivaratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi are also important festivals in the Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore.

How to reach the Mangaladevi Temple?

Here’s how to reach Mangaladevi Temple:

• Air: Mangalore connects to many places via Bajpe International Airport, at a distance of 10 km from the city centre.
• Train: There are two main stations in Mangalore – Mangalore Junction and Mangalore Central.
• Road: One can board buses from Bengaluru, Goa, Chennai, Karwar, Pune, and Mysore.

Where to stay near Mangaladevi Temple?

A large number of private hotels are available for accommodating pilgrims and tourists alike. The rooms may range from standard to AC suites in five-star hotels. A large number of Government offices also operate guest houses in the city which one can contact and book.

Mangalore is a coastal city and offers beautiful beaches. Hence, resorts are abundant here.

Where to eat near Mangaladevi Temple?

Mangalore is bustling with restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines like Konkani, Seafood, Mughlai, North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Italian, and Thai. Several popular food joints are Hotel Narayana for Seafood, Hotel Guthu for authentic local cuisine and chutneys for North Indian Vegetarian and Giri Manjas for Seafood.

What are some of the temples near Mangaladevi Temple?

Some of the temples near Mangaladevi Temple are:

• Kadri Manjunath Temple: The temple is about 4 km from the city centre. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Manjunathaswamy, a form of Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the most popular spots in Mangalore and dates back to 1068 AD. The idol of Lord Manjunathaswany is the oldest representation of Lord Shiva in South India. The hill behind the temple is home to the Jogimutt and the Pandava caves.
• Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple: The temple is for Lord Ganapathi and dates back to 800 years. The temple finds mention in several Puranas like the Sthalapurana. Further, Sri Dashabhuja Mahaganapati, Sri Sharabeshwara, and Siddhi Lakshmi are the presiding deities of the temple. Its legends also relate to the legendary Tipu Sultan and his conquest of Karnataka.
• Gokarnanatheshwara Temple: The temple is for Lord Gokarnanatheshwara, another form of Lord Shiva and is in Kudroli, 5 km away from the city centre. The Saint Sri Narayana Guru consecrated the Shiva Linga at the temple in 1912. Several additions and renovations also took place recently. Moreover, the Gopuram is 60 feet high and has beautiful divine sculptures depicting several Gods and Goddesses.
• Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple: The famous shrine dedicated to Sri Durga Parameshwari is in Kateel, 26 km from Mangalore. The temple is on the banks of the River Nandini. Several legends associate with the temple, which also finds mention in the Puranas themselves. Devotees can also perform sevas like Annadanam, Vidyarambha, and Yakshagana in the temple.
• Kudupu Sri Anantha Padmanabha Temple: The temple is just 12 km away from the Mangalore city centre. The presiding deities are Lord Anantha (Lord Shiva) and Lord Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu). Moreover, the temple is famous for serpent worship. The deity, Sri Anantha Padmanabha faces west. The temple complex also consists of a Naga Bana (place for serpent worship) and several smaller shrines for Jarandaya, Goddess Shree Devi, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Ganapathi.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mangaladevi Temple