Mangaladevi Temple

Mangaladevi Temple
Statue of Mangaladevi inside the temple
Mangaladevi Temple Location in Karnataka
Geography
Coordinates	12°50′57″N 74°50′36″E / 12.8491°N 74.8432°E / 12.8491; 74.8432Coordinates: 12°50′57″N 74°50′36″E / 12.8491°N 74.8432°E / 12.8491; 74.8432
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Dakshina Kannada
Locale	Bolar, Mangalore
Culture
Primary deity	Mangaladevi
Important festivals	Dasara
Architecture
Architectural styles	Kerala architecture
History and governance
Date built	9th Century AD
Website	http://www.mangaladevitemple.com/

The Mangaladevi Temple is a Hindu temple at Bolara in the city of Mangalore in the South Indian state of Karnataka, situated about three km southwest of the city centre. The temple is dedicated to Hindu god Shakti in the form of Mangaladevi. The city of Mangalore is named after the presiding deity, Mangaladevi. The temple is of significant antiquity and is believed to have been built during the 9th century by Kundavarman, the most famous king of the Alupa dynasty during the 9th century under the aegies of Matsyendranath. As per another legend, the temple is believed to have been built by Parashurama, one of the ten avatars of Hindu god Vishnu and later expanded by Kundavarman.

The temple is built in Kerala style architecture, which is common in all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala and Western Ghats, with most of its structure made of wood. The presiding deity, Mangaladevi in the central shrine is in a seated posture. There are shrines around the sanctum for other deities.

In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by hereditary trustees. The temple is open daily from 6 a.m to 10 am, 12 pm to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm.

Mangalore was named after the Hindu deity Mangaladevi, the presiding deity of the temple or a synonym of Tara Bhagvati of the Vajrayana Buddhist sect. According to local legend, a princess from Malabar named Parimala or Premaladevi renounced her kingdom and became a disciple of Matsyendranath, the founder of the Nath tradition. Having converted Premaladevi to the Nath sect, Matsyendranath renamed her Mangaladevi. She arrived in the area with Matsyendranath, but had to settle near Bolar in Mangalore as she fell ill on the way. Eventually she died, and the Mangaladevi temple was consecrated in her honour at Bolar by the local people after her death. The city got its name from the temple.