Mundkur
Mundkur is a temple village in Karkala Taluk, Udupi district Karnataka, India. The Durga Parameshwari temple located here is 1200 yrs. old.
History
Legend has it that Goddess Durga Parameshwari slayed the demon Mundaka here. The idol was initially placed by Bhargava Rishi in 800 AD and was facing the west. During the jain rule, a king turned the idol towards east to take out buried riches from underneath the idol. Since then, the idol is east-facing.Mundkur Durga is Kuladevi for the Brahmin community of Bhargava Gothra and most of the devotees from GSB,Bunts,Billavaas, Kulaals,Harijans...etc worship as Mane Devi(Goddess of their original House).Christians and Muslims worship with flowers and Various poojas which can be seen even today. Jainpete, Jain Basadi,Kalkuda and Jattinga Daivaas can be seen here and Jain community is not living, which is said to be dueto the curse of Devi to the bad attitude of Jain Ruler who turned the idol from west to east. Jain devotees visit and seek the blessings in different occassions; but they don't stay here.
Deities
The prime deity is SriDurgaparameshwari in the form of Mahishamardini,holding the demon Mahisha upside down and piercing thrishul on his body. Hence the name Mundakke oori nintha OOru became Mundkur in the later stage as per one version. Other deities such as Ganesha,Navagraha, Dhoomavati, Raktheshwari, vyaghra chamundi(Pilichandi),Vaarahi(Panjurli)and Rakshopi Devatha (Protector from evil Spirits)are also there in the temple vicinity. Kaje Maari Gudi is 3 km away where Durga is worshipped as Maarikamba.In olden days children belonging to six families worshipped Durga as Marikamba under a big Mangoe tree. Later this became a legend and was known as KUKKUDADI(Under the Mangoe Tree). Every tuesday pooja is done and alternative tuesday Pathri Darshana is performed where the woes of devotees are heard by Devidarshana patri and solutions are given which comes true. Hundreds of devotees have got their wishes fulfilled and devotees come from far and wide seeking blessings of Maarikamba. The generous donors have started Annadaana on the days of Devidarshan. The devotees offer different sevas including Maripooja and Special Gaddige Pooja, Flowerpooja, Thulabharam, Archana, Chandika Havan, Kadali Havan...etc. Devotees come here from different destinations irrespective of caste and religion including Muslims and Christians in large numbers seeking sollutions for their various woes/problems and it is true that they get blessed within very short period.
Festivals
The annual Car-festival happens in the kumbha masa every year which is on Feb 17th or 18th. Navaratri, Deepotsava are other special days for the goddess.Jalaka(dipping in river shambhavi)takes place on the next day of the car festival.
Brahmakalasha
In the year 2006,the Garba Gudi, Theertha Mantapa, etc. were reconstructed by dedicated devotees under the guidance of Vedamoorthi Jayarama Acharya ,Chief Priest of the Temple and the Managing Trustee, Mundkur Nadiguthu Jagadishchandra Hegde. The Mumbai commitee is headed by Sri J V Shetty, Rtd CMD of Canara Bank; Sri Annedaguthu Jayarama Shetty; Sri Raghu T shetty of Mulladka GuruPrasad;Sri M G Karkera,Director,Arcadia Group; Sri K V Acharya of Sriraj,Mundkur. The Punarprathishta of Goddess Durgaparameshwari was done in Newly built Sanctum Sanctorium on February 02,2006 followed by the Brahmakalasha on February 05,2006.The Inauguration of rennovation was done by HH Sri Vidya Sagara Theertha Swamiji of Krishnapur Math, Udupi on May 19,2005;and Pejavar Math HH Sri Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji dedicated the New constructions on the lotus feet of Sri Durga on January 31,2006 sponsored by dedicated devotees.