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Shree Kshetra Mandarti , Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple

Place Information

Durga holds a prominent place within the higher echelons of the hindu pantheon but the worship of Sri Durga Paramesvari at Mandarthi a hamlet to the north of Udupi offers many fascinating contrasts. A Dhvajasthamba has been  set up in front of the temple but no Dhvajarohana takes place. Mari pooja is observed in the temple along with agamic worship of Devi including Chandi Homa and Navarathri. Folk traditions like walking on fire, animal sacrifice near the altar of Chamundesvari and Nagamandala performance are observed with equal fervour. The shrine was carlier a bhutalaya in the same time is poetically praised as a Sarpa Sundari. In short, this harmony of indigenous and Brahmanical cultures has created a deep solidarity amongst the various hierarchical groups of the Hindu society.

The Sthala Purana has woven these religious perceptions and notions into a legend according to which five naga kanyas (serpent maidens) by name Devarathi, Nagarathi Charurathi Mandarthi and Neelarathi are cursed by Nandi to remain unmarried and to suffer in a forest fire. Subsequently a rash behaviour on their part subjects them to  anthor curse by a sage called Vyagrapada that they would be entangled in a bamboo grove. Their prayers to siva and parvati against these curses are answered in the form of a saviour called Devavarma the king of Avanthi who rescues the serpents from a blazing fire using a bamboo basket. He later releases these maidens into places of their choice and while the first three serpents crawl back into their pits, Mandarthi is deified acquiring fame day by day. Devavarma marries Jalajakshi who is coveted by mahisa, born of malini a Kirata girl and Vyagrapada Risi. The demon chases Jalajakshi to the palace; a battle ensues between him and the king in which huge snake pits swallow all the arrows of Mahisa. At the behest of Risis, the prays to Devi and she ultimately kills the demon with the help of virabhadra, Hayguli,kalkuda and bobbarya. In doing so, she also calls upon chamundi to kill all the rakshasas and Vyagresvari to kill giants hidden in animal bodies. This legend accounts for the shrines of hayguli, kalkuda, bobbarya and Chamundi around the sanctum of Durga Paramesvari as her parivara Devathas.