About

"Chitrapura" named after a tiny village "Kulai" in Mangalore Taluk is now a famous piligramage centre of Goddess Durgaparameshwari and a seat at Madhwa mutt of Pejavara peetha founded by Shree Shree Vijayatheertha Swamiji in 13th Century. Goddess Durgaparameshwari is worshipped here in the form of Linga - a rare phenomenon to witness and she is believed to be an incarnation of Jaladurga. One of the saptadurga devi and considered as a powerful shakthisthala.

As legend goes, the Saptadurga sisters where incarnation took place stayed as Shaktidevatas at Chitrapur, Sasihitlu, Polali, Kateelu, Murdakar, Kunjaru and at Bappanadu places after killing the DARIGASURA a Demon king. The places where these Durgadevi is stayed were came to be known as Shaktikendras.

It is believed that "Chitrapura" the name being called came after the Demons Chitrasura and Vichitrasura killed by Jaladurga the younger sister of Sapta Durgas. The story goes like this; the two demons followers of Darigasura were wandering in search of Jaladurga to take revenge of their master's death and on their sojourn happens to meet a Gandharva by name Chitraksha along with his two beautiful wives. By seeing the beauty of his wives they took away them by defeating him the fight. Helpless Gandharva prays God Hari for his rescue. At the instruction of Sreehari, Goddess Jaladurga with her divine power kills these two demons and rescues the wives of Gandharva. However she blesses the dying Rakshas by calling the place of their death in their name as Chitrapura or Vichitrapura and she also stays there along with Mahakali her aid in the battle in the form of Udbhavalinga.

Historically it is also told, that there lived two couple by name Kantu and Kaldi who were earning livehood by fising and in cane work. One day Kaldi who was sharpenning her knife on a stone to cut the cane, finds blood coming out of the stone in the process. Astonishing with this strange happening calling it as vichitrasangati. She dies on the spot with fear. It is believed the stone she was sharpening is the Udbhavalinga of goddess Durga stayed their in the form of linga. The place where this strange thing happened has got its name as Chitrapura.

Incidentally Sri Vijayatheertha Swamiji of Madhwa seat of Dwaita prinipal of Madhwacharya happens to travel on the way where goddess jaladurga stayed in udbhava linga form came to know her existance in his dream and asked by Sridurga to construct a temple for her at that place identifyig her as the Bloodmark on a stone in the vicinity. She also directs him to build a temple for the Harijan woman kaldi who died by seeing the blood from the stone while sharpening her knife. Accordingly the very next day on his search Sri Vijayadwaja had to pass through a river which was over flowing and seeks the help of a boatman for the purpose. The boatman refuses to take him on his boat. As such the swamiji with his divine power crosses the river and curse the boatman to get the form of a worm. However as boatman request for his mercy, the saint bless him with an alternative to his transformation by calling the temple being constructed by him according the wishes of Sri durgadevi as Pulupinalaya is the temple of worms. As such the temple is being called as pulipinalaya also. Then continuing his so form swamiji finds the stong formation sri durga devi and performs poojas and Arathi amidst his disciples and people of the village. He seeks the help of Sree Veeraprathana Harihararaya of Vijayanagar who inturn comes to Mangalapura and directs the palayasur of the place Sri Pandavideva who was reluctant in the begining to do so but agrees to provide all help fearing with the wrath of Sri Harihavaraya. The temple was thus constructed on the direction of Shree Vijayatheertha and with the assistance of Paleyagar Pandarideva. Sri vijayateertha Swamiji then performs the Asthabhanda Bramha Kalashotsava and other poojas to Sri Durgaparameswari and establishes a mutt there which came to be known as Chitrapur Mutt making one of his disciple as the head of the mutt calling him as Sree vidyadhiraja Theertha Swamiji and offers Kaliya mardhna Krishna Krishnavigraha for his daily poojas named as Kaliyamardhana Krishna. Sri Vijayatheertha swamiji return back to his original mutt after establishes the temple and the mutt at chitrapur (13th century). The temple stone incriptive reveals the fact of offering made by paleyagar. Madarasa to Sri Durgadevi temple in 1320 AD, and by the sons of Bachappasenabova in 1326 AD and provides the records for its yearlong history of existence.

Jathra Mahothsava:

Jatrathsava will be celebrated start for seven days starting from Magha Shudda Bidige. A jatra flag will be hoisted on this day which marks the starting of Jatrothsava. On the first day of the utsava Navaka kalashabhisheka to Sree devi will be held. In the afternoon Mahapooja will be held. Then after Simhadwaja will be hoisted on Dwajarohana during which time Sree Swamiji of the matt, Tantris and others will be present. After the Maha pooja Anna santarpane will be held. In the evening at 8 PM bali will proceed for Bali utsava. Then after Chandramandala utsava, Belli palquin (Silver Palquin) utsava will be held. The daily poojas and vishesha poojas will be held with Anna Santarpane for thousands of devotees. On the first and 6th day of the Utsava over 6000 devotees will be fed at the temple premises.

On the morning of 6th day Navaka kalashaabhisheka, Alankara Pooja, Rathashuddi will be held. Then after there will be Anna santrpane for over 6000 devotees will be held. The utsava moorthi will be taken for Vasanta Katte pooja after rahotsava. Then after Ashtavadhana Seva, Maha pooja, Hovina pooja will be held. In the night Shayanotsava will be held.

The next day Kavatodhgatane(opening the door), Rathotsava, Kalashabhisheka, Thulabhara Seve, Vasanta Pooja will be held. Then after there will be Anna santrpane for over 6000 devotees will be held. Then the Utsava moorthi will be taken for Avabratha snana and Jathra Utsava will be culminated.

Chitra Masa Rama Navami Utsava:

On this day there will be vishesha pooja, kalashabhisheka pooja will be held. Then after the pooja prasada will be given to the devotees.

Ugadi:

Sauramana Ugadi on the first day of Mesha masa, new year of Hindus will be observed as Ugadi festival. On this day Panchanga Shravana, Maha poojas will be held in the temple.

Navarathri:

Navarathri festival starts on Ashvayuja Shukla padya and on this day pooja programme will commence with Ganapati Pooja, Swasthi punyaha, Navakakalasha poojas. During navarathri festival time daily alankars to main deity will be held and worshipped the godess with the alankars of Durga, Arya, Bhagavathi, Kaumari, Ambika, Mahishamardini, Chandike, Saraswati, Vageshwari on each day. On the last day Mahapooje, Suhasini pooja, Annasantharpane will be carried out. There will be Cultural programme on the last day of Navarathri. During Navarathri days Chandika homa will be held. Nitya pooja, Bali poojas and Rathotsava will be held on Vijaya dasami day.

Sankashtahara Ganesha Pooja :

In the month of November based on kannada calender Sankashtahara Ganesha Pooje will be held in the temple.

Shravana Masa Upakarma:

Upakarma (the ceremony of wearing a new holy thread) is observed in the Temple in the Shravana Nakshathra (an asterism in the moon's path) of the Simha month under the stewardship of the Chief Priest of the Temple.

During Shravana and Kartika masa period Vishesha poojas will be held on all the days of the month. Like wise during April Navagraha poojas will be held. Sathyanarayana pooja will be performed during May. Similarly Krishna Janmashtami guru aradhana will be held. Varamahalakshmi Vrata will also be observed with Vishesha Alankara to Sree devi. On all these festivals thousands of devotees will gather and Anna santharpane will be held.

Pooja timings

Morning : 05:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Evening : 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Friday's & on special days :

Morning : 04:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Evening : 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM