Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple at Kateel is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari, also known as Bhramari. The holy temple is situated in the middle of the river Nandini. Thousands of devotees visit Sri Durga Parameshwari temple at Kateel every day to seek blessings from goddess Durga Parameshwari.
About Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple :
Kateel is a sacred place for Hindus in Dakshina Kannada. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari. The holy temple is situated in the middle of the sacred river and is surrounded by panoramic scenes and fascinating greeneries. The devotees are overwhelmed with pious emotions when they glance at the flowing water in the river, which embraces all around the lower layer of the temple. Kateel is 29 K.M. distances from Mangalore city.
After entering main entrance and before entering into the temple, on the left side a big symbolic rock can be seen that is called as Goddess Rakteshwari. Pooja are performed everyday to Goddess Rakteshwari. On every Sankramana devotees offer coconut sevas to the Goddess. There also lays a shrine dedicated to Goddess Chamundi, another form of Goddess Durga Devi.
Free meals are offered to devotees and visitors every noon and night. Devotees accept these meals with great devotion and treat this as a grace of Goddess Shree Durga Parameshwari. Since Goddess Shree Durga Parameshwari likes dance and music, a play team is dedicated exclusively for the cultural activity of Yakshagana (folk play) depicting the miraculous power and grace of Goddess.
Attractions Of Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kateel In Karnataka :
The temple of Goddess Durga Parameshwari in Katil is one of the most sacred and most visited temples in Karnataka. The sanctity, serenity and beauty of this place attract most of the pilgrims and visitors throughout the year.
It is really amazing to know that the temple is situated such that it is surrounded by River Nandini on all sides. The entrance of the temple is marked by well-carved and painted arch. One has to cross a small bridge that connects the temple and the road and leads you to the outside hall. The hall has a small book stall that sells the books on the importance of the temple, the place and the Goddess.
Once you cross the bridge, on your left there is the entrance that leads you to the inner compound where you can see the temple. The walls of the temple are of wooden unlike in most of the other temples.
The temple opens in the morning at 4:00 am. After cleaning the idol of the main deity, devotees and visitors are allowed to have a darshan. The first pooja of the day will be performed at 6:30 am during which the devotees can have the fantastic opportunity to see original stone idol of the Goddess. Later 10:30 am the Goddess is adorned with jewellery and garlands, called as Alankara. Devotees can then have Alankaara Darshan of the Goddess. In the afternoon hours, i.e. at about 12:30 pm, Maha pooja will be performed and prasadam will be distributed to the devotees. Towards evening, Pradhosha Pooja will be performed at 7:00 pm. It is then followed by various other poojas like Kumkumarchane, Sahasranama, Durga Namaskara, Huvina Pooja etc. that a devotee can perform for some amount. The tickets will be available at the counter outside. At 9:30 pm in the night, Maha Pooja is performed and the temple is closed for visitors at 10:00 p.m. But at the time of the festival or when there are some special poojas performed by devotees the temple will remain open till 12 O clock in the midnight.
Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple Overview :
This lovely temple is located in an islet in the middle of the Nandhini River. It is a famous pilgrimage center with thousands of pilgrims visiting the temple to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga Parameshwari.
Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple Mythology :
When the Asura Arunasura was perpetrating atrocities on the people of the Earth and terrorizing the Devas with the assurance of the boons he had got, Sage Jabali prayed to Devi Durga to rid the world of the Demon. She granted his request and appeared before Arunasura as a beautiful woman. When he came near, she told him who she was and that she had come to put an end to his tyranny. Enraged, Arunasura tried to attack her with his sword. The goddess turned to stone. Arunasura’s sword cut across the statue and a swarm of bees emerged from it and stung him to death.
Meanwhile, the planet was afflicted by a severe drought. Maharishi Jabali sought the help of the divine cow Kamadhenu to relieve the people from this drought. As she had gone to Varunaloka, he asked her daughter Nandhini to accompany him to Earth. When Nandhini repeatedly refused, the sage cursed her to become a river. This river now flows around Kateel. Kateel is formed from two base words ‘Kati’ which means center and ‘Ila’ which means area. Thus Kateel is the central region that relieved human-kind from the menace of Arunasura and the peril of a severe drought. Kati Ila later became Kateel through common usage.
Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple Facts :
- The main idol in the temple is the Durga Parameshwari idol
- There also idols of Sashtara or Ayyappa, Ganesha, Brahma and Chamundi
- The temple trust provides Annadhana – free meals- to devotees twice daily
- Yakshagana, the traditional folk dance of Karnataka, forms an important part of festivities here
- The temple trust runs several educational institutions
Festivals :
The Annual Festival begins on Mesha Shankaranthi and continues for eight days
Vasanthotsava, Pattnaje, and Kadiru Habba are special celebrations here
Nagapanchami, Ganesha Chathurthi, Krishna Janmashtami and Deepavali are also celebrated here
How to Get to Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple :
The nearest airport and railway station are located in Mangalore and Kateel is easily accessible through bus routes.
