Shri Sharavu Mahaganapati temple in the city
of Mangalore which is well-known as a pilgrim centre.The temple is located in
the heart of the city and easily accessible.It is one among the ancient temples
of Dakshina Kannada District. The story of its origin and importance of the
temple is narrated in the Skanda Purana.
This temple was built in the 12th century
by Tuluva King Veerabahu.More than 800 years ago King Veerabahu ruled the
famous Tulu Kingdom. One day, Veerabahu went on a hunting expedition during
which he killed wild animals that devastated the farmers’ crops. He came to a
vast forest area with a famous Shiva temple - Swarna Kadali Kshetra. He
worshiped Lord Manjunath there with intense devotion. He saw a thick forest to
the west.
In the middle of the forest, the Tulu
king saw a tiger and a cow standing close to each other and thought that the
tiger was about to attack the cow. The king shot an arrow at the tiger but
unfortunately it killed the cow instead. Upset at this incident of gohatya, the
king ran to sage Bharadwaja for a remedy for this sin.
The sage advised the king to construct
a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at the spot where the gohatya was committed.
The sage said that such an act would not only expiate the king’s sin, but also
ensure the prosperity of coming generations. The four square mile area where
the cow had died acquired the name ‘Sharapattana’ or ‘Sharavu.’Sage Bharadwaja
then later gave the king instructions about constructing the temple. First,
before constructing the temple, the Tulu king had to build a tank to the north.
To the temple’s south, a stone idol of the cow had to be built. The sage assured
the king that by the power of his meditation, he would see to it that the water
of River Nethravathi, flowing near the Gorakshram, emerged from the gomukha as
theertha.
The Shivalinga that would be installed
at the spot would be known as Sharabeshwara and the tank would be called
Sharabeshwara Thatak. Then the king had to construct the sanctum-sanctorum,
mukhamantap, paulis and the gopura. Sage Bharadwaja himself would install the
Shivalinga. The king, in order to please Lord Shiva, had to feed one lakh Brahmins.
The sage told the king that the deity Sharabeshwara would now be called as
Kashi Vishwanath Himself.
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Sharatheertha which is called Ganga theertha (holy water of
Ganga), and Sharapura would become famous as Kashi Kshetra (abode of Kashi
Vishwanath). Later, one day, Lord Ganapathi would visit the place and would
manifest Himself on the southern wall of the temple. In view of his proximity
to Lord Sharabeshwara, the temple would be known as Shri Sharavu Maha
Ganapathy Temple. Veerabahu then with all his strength started constructing
the temple as per the sage’s instructions.
Time to Visit
Annual festival in April which is celebrated during Ganesh
Chathurthi in September and Laksha Deepothsava in November is the best time
visit.
Large numbers of devotees throng to this temple during the
special auspicisous festival like Ganesh Chaturthi and Samakranthi. Sacred
Darshana of the deity is a blessing for the visitors. Other famous
attractions in the temple are Rathothsava and Deepothsava or 'Festival of
Lights', celebrated with much enthusiasm and piety.
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