Mangaladevi Temple
Purusha and Prakriti are twin aspects of Divine glory manifest in the universe Prakriti has an existence, like Purusha, through ephemeral. The latter appeals to some, while the former to some others. It is all a question of one's outlook and one's perspective. Shiva is often referred to as "Ardhanareeshwara", and the feminine part of him embodying Parvathi is thought of as being more effective and powerful. It is whereupon, perhaps, the worship of the Mother Goddess has become increasingly popular and pronounced.

Religion is man's life long quest to seek "solace" and protection in a Supreme Being, by way of a refuge from the turmoil's and tribulations of existence. God, the Supreme Being, as he is addressed in simple terms, forms the central point of religious experience. God can be viewed as "personal", symbolised in a male or female power. But, God, seen from the philosophical gaze, is purely "impersonal" and "absolute". He is in the nature of "a sprit" or "chethana" as termed in Sanskrit. To look upon God as "a person", however is an error.

This land is hailed as "Parashurama Srusti". On one of the mountain tops Lord Vishnu is enshrined in his incarnation of Varaha. Holy Netravati flows from his eternal eye gushing down the Sahyadri mountains into the plains to form a sacred conjunction with Kumaradhara to ultimately be in union with the Lord of the western sea. Manjunatha and Sahasralingeshwara are the hallowed divinities that bless the devotees in this region, as they throng in their ever increasing numbers, year after year.

The Taulava kings ruled this land of beauty and plenty in the days of yore. Goddess Devi who is Vindhyavasini, in her resplendent glory, once felt an irresistible desire to grace the Taulava kingdom by her holy presence. Accordingly she chose her benevolent "adsthana" the place situated to the south of the Kadali Kshetra of Lord Manjunatha. Sage Parashurama, through his perspective gaze of knowledge, came to know of the Transcendental Mother's bening arrival. Offering his obeisance to her, he hailed the goddess in slokas of scintillating brilliance and charm.

The divine mother was immensely pleased with the devotion of Bhargava and told him that she would dwell in his place as "Mangala Devi" to be worshipped by devotees, with "Pujas" and "Utsavas" in the ages to come. She also ordained that since she would well in all her spiritual glory, Bhargava would receive her choicest blessings, for his "aradhana" of her in a mind that is chaste and pure.

Bhargava, in fullest obedience to her dictate, enshrined the goddess, as per her divine instruction, in a temple carved to perfect design by none other than Vishwakarma himself. It is thus that the holy shrine came to be established by the great sage Bhargava.

The transcendental glory of Mangala Devi is revealed to millions of devotees in many a miraculous happenings. There was once, in the days of yore, a king called Veerabhahu who was ruling the coastal country of Tulu Desha. He was a great bhakta and ardent disciple of sage Bharadwaja. In his old age renunciation came to him as befits a great devotee. With the kind permission of his guru Bharadwaja, he handed over his kingdom to the Anegondi king, Bhangaraja, and went to the forest with his queen, for spending the rest of his life in solitude and meditation.

Bhangaraja kept up the tradition of the Talava kings by giving a very good government to his subjects. The glory of tulu desha rose to such a ecliptic heights that Lord Vinayaka thought it fit to take a decision to establish himself in the sacred abode of sharapura, (Sharavu,) which formed a part of the holy land of Mangalamba. To fulfill his divine wish Vinayaka approached Goddess Mangala and appealed to her to appear in the dream of Bhangaraja to ordain him to build a bountiful city in her name, so that Vinayaka, too could dwell in that prosperous city along with his Sire, Sharabheshwara, and his Matre, Mangala. The Goddess, pleased with the divine wish of her beloved son, ordained the king Bhangaraja to construct the marvelous city of Mangalapura in her name so that his name too might reverberate in the distant corners of Baratha Varsha with its echoes of resonance. Bhangaraja, awoke from his dream, offered his prayers to the Goddess, and immediately set upon himself the task of rebuilding the temple and along with it the beautiful city, in the hallowed name of the divine mother. He was indeed the chosen man, twice blessed, for the performance of a duty par excellence, which history record in letters of gold.

His task done, the blessed king Bhangaraja in utmost humility and devotion, offered his prayers to the goddess, with a stator of unparalleled beauty and charm. Goddess Mangala Devi supremely pleased with his devotion blessed the king with a promise to preside over the destiny of the bountiful city named after her, even and anon. For himself Bhangaraja built a palace at the heart of the harbour-land. The city so built by the ancient king extended from Kaladi Kshetra to Bharadwajashrama, where people of all castes and creed lived in blissful harmony and peace.

Narrow winding streets, lofty coconut trees, quaint gable-roofed houses, beautiful beaches, temples and churches, the heady fragrance of the Mangalore Mallige, the aroma of spicy coconut curries Yes! Mangalore is indeed a city of vivid contrasts. Unfolding an enchantment that never ends