About

If our beloved Goddess Shri Mahalasa Narayani, loved and adored by millions of her Kulavis and other devotees, appears in any of Her temples as sitting in a relaxed mood, it is at Her temple at Moodbidri.

The Moodbidri temple is not very famous and those wanting to visit the temple find it difficult even when in Moodbidri.

Though the temple is bang right on the main Karkala-Moodbidri Road (or the Mangalore-Solapur National Highway 13), the locals have always known it as Shri Mahamayi Temple.

The temple is small, but beautiful as always, and is over 300 years old.

Kulavis and other devotees are invited to visit this beautiful temple and pay their obeisances to the Sitting Mahalasa.

History

Shri Mahalasa’s Temple at Moodbidri is small, though beautiful.

Here, the unique fact is that Shri Mahalasa appears as though She is in a sitting posture.

There are no records available as to when exactly the temple was constructed, but She was established here over 300 years back.

It is also said that about 150 years back there was “darshan seva” (oracle) in the temple which was very famous. The King of Moodbidri, pleased with the “darshan seva” had gifted some land to the temple.

A major renovation was carried out and Jeernoddhara performed in 2015.

Some devotees brought Her idol and a Linga of Lord Ishwar 300 ago from Shri Mahalasa Narayani’s Temple of Mardol, it is said.

Lord Ishwar’s Linga is placed in the centre and a Kavacha of Shri Mahalasa Narayani is placed before it.

Parivar deities

Along with Shri Mahalasa Narayani, in the Graba Griha, other parivar deities are also present.

On the top of the 3-deck peetha, there is an idol of Lord Vithoba or Veera Vittala as He is called here. Giving Him company are Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Mahaganapati and Lord Hanuman.

On the central peetha sits the Linga worshipped as Shri Mahalasa Narayani. At Her feet is Her Utsava Moorthy, which is taken out especially during Navaratri.

On the bottom peetha are Lord Ganesha, Lord Shri Krishna along with Satyabhama and Rukmini, ‘benne’ (butter) idol of Shri Krishna in His Balakrishna avatar and Garuda.