Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple is situated in the bank of Shambhavi River at Bappanadu village of Mulki town.The place Bappanadu means Bappa’s village. It is 29 K.M. north to Mangalore following National Highway No.17. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Shree Durgaparameshwari.
About Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple :
Bappanadu Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple is situated in the bank of Shambhavi River at Bappanadu village of Mulki town. It is 29 K.M. north to Mangalore following National Highway No.17. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Shree Durgaparameshwari. The place Bappanadu means Bappa’s village. As per the legend Bappa a Muslim merchant is responsble for temple construction. Annual festival (Brahma Rathotsava) of the temple falls in the month of April. Bappanadu Dolu (musical drum) is well known and There is a large drum that is kept in the side of the temple.
Attractions Of Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple, Mulki In Karnataka :
Shonitapura was ruled by a demon named Darigasura. He was an enemy of Lord Vishnu and other Devatas. The demon Darigasura worshipped Lord Brahma and procured a boon to defeat Lord Vishnu and the Devatas. He ultimately defeated the Devatas and Lord Vishnu and snatched Lord Vishnu’s ammunitions. Darigasura asked his wife to keep the ammunitions in the temple for safe keeping.
Meanwhile, Goddess DurgaParameshwari appeared in the form of seven women (Sapta Durgas) in front of Lord Vishnu and promised to kill the demon. The Sapta Durgas then went to Shonitpura. They were accompanied by a deity named Guliga. One of the Sapta Durgas, Bhagawati, disguised herself as an old woman and appeared before the demon requesting him to provide her a meal. The demon asked the old lady to go to his wife. He also informed her to let him know if she didn’t get a meal.
Bhagawati went to Darigasura’s wife and asked for the ammunitions instead. When his wife did not comply with Bhagawati’s requests, she went to Darigasura and wrongly informed him that his wife had denied her a meal. Hearing this, Darigasura ordered his wife to give Bhagawati what she had asked for. His wife gave away the ammunitions.
When the demon realised that he had been deceived by the Sapta Durgas he waged war against them. The deity Guliga was defeated. But after seven days, the seven goddesses defeated the demon and he ran away and took shelter in the underworld.
Goddess Bhagawati took the form of Bhadra Kali and began searching for Darigasura. When the demon came to worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Bhadra Kali killed him. The Sapta Durgas accompanied by Deity Guliga, then visited Lord Vishnu and asked him to create a sandalwood boat to carry them from Vaikuntha (heaven) to Bhoolaka (earth).
The boat came to Bhoolaka and crossed Kasaragod, Kumble, Uppala, Pattattur, Manjeshwara, Udyavara, Ullala and Kudroli along the southern coast of India. From these places, it came to Sasihithlu, located near Mulki. The seven goddesses decided to settle there after taking tender coconut from a low caste devotee. At the intersection of Rivers Nandini and Sambhavi at Mulki border, a symbolic form of the Devi known as Goddess DurgaParameshwari emerged.
History :
Once there was a demon called Darigasura ruling Shonitapura. He had enmity with Devatas and Lord Vishnu. In antagonism and with the intention of defeating the Devatas and Lord Vishnu he worshiped Lord Brahma and got a boon. With a help of this boon he defeated Devatas and Lord Vishnu and snatched the ammunitions from Lord Vishnu and handed over that to his wife and told to keep that in worship place. While Lord Vishnu was mourning for his lost ammunitions Goddess Durgaparameshwari appeared before him in the form of seven angel-women (Sapta-Durgas) and promised to kill a demon.
These Sapta-Durgas went to Shonitapura accompanied by one Deity called Guliga. Bhagavathi one of the Sapta-Durgas appeared before demon Darigasura while he was on the way to take a bath in the River, in disguised form of an old woman and begged for a meal. Darigasura advised her to go to palace and ask a meal with his wife. And also told her to tell him that if she didn’t get a meal. Accordingly Goddess Bhagavathi visited the palace of Darigasura and met his wife but asked for ammunitions of Lord Vishnu to be returned. While wife of Darigasura opposed to return, Bhagavathi willingly and wrongly informed Darigasura that his wife is not ready to give her a meal.
Hearing that Darigasura ordered his wife to give Bhagavathi what she wished. Darigasura’s wife gave the ammunitions of Lord Vishnu to Bhagavathi accordingly. Knowing deceived by Goddess Bhagavathi, demon Darigasura became furious and declared war against Sapta-Durgas and attacked them in ambush. He defeated Deity Guliga in war. But after seven days of furious war demon Darigasura was defeated by Sapta-Durgas and ultimately he ran away and took hide in underworld.
Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple Architecture :
One of the main Shakti worship centers in Karnataka is the Sri DurgaParameshwari temple. The main deity is in the form of a linga or a symbolic statue. One of the special features of this temple is that Muslims are also allowed to visit and accept prasad from the temple. The main sanctum has been constructed in the 14th century architectural style. There are two inscriptions in the Sri DurgaParameshwari Temple. Although one of them is damaged, the other one is intact. This inscription dates back to 1141 A.D. and belongs to Tedi. From this inscription, it is evident that many non Brahmins also participated in the temple activities.
How to Get to Sri DurgaParameshwari Temple :
The Sri DurgaParameshwari temple lies at a distance of 29 kilometres from Mangalore. The nearest airport and railhead is at Mangalore and the town is well connected by roads.
This is one of the most beautiful and important temples in Karnataka and every year scores of devotees come to this temple to seek blessings from Goddess DurgaParameshwari.