Monday, October 11, 2010

Durga Parameshwari temple - Kateel

 Navarathri festival is on and I thought a  post on   Mother Goddess  Durga whom we all worship during these nine divine nights is apt for the season. Navarathri is victory of  good over evil, and this temple I visited also has the Divine Mother Durga  as the presiding deity.

 Kateel Durga Parameshwari temple stands gloriously in the middle of  river Nandhini surrounded by thick and lush greenery. Kati, means middle and Ila means  area in  Tulu language, a local dialect spoken in Dakshina Kannada. This temple is at a distance of  29 Kms. from Mangalore city.  Nandhini, believed to be the daughter of Kamadenu  was cursed by a rishi and she flowed as a  river on earth. She requested Goddess Durga to redeem her and the Goddess  after  killing the demon Arunasura resided in the form of a Linga in the Kati of river Nandini. By the presence of  Mother Goddess, Nandhini was relieved from the curse and thence She blesses Her devotees.
How to Reach:
Mangalore is well connected with air, road and rail. Many private buses ply to this temple . Private cabs are also available and one can hire them at reasonable rates.
Accomodation- Budget , luxury and deluxe hotels are available in Mangalore.


61 comments:

kiran sawhney said...

Such beautiful post specially during Navrathri. I know you have been meditating a lot these days. May Goddess Bless you.

Mridula said...

The colors are so royal!

SG said...

Nice post. Happy navaratri to you and your family. Now I know why Nandhini is a common name among the people in and around Mangalore.

Just curious. Have you been to Kanaga Durgai Amman temple in Vijayawada?

chitra said...

Kiran,
Thanks a lot. May the Goddess shower blessing on you too.

chitra said...

Mridula, thanks.

chitra said...

SG,
Happy Navarathri wishes to you and your family too. I haven't visited Kanaga Durgai Amman temple. May be I will add that to my wish list.

Sridharan said...

Nice post Chitra... Colorful pictures.
I remember visiting Mangalore way back in 2007 on my way to Sringeri. I had a 2mp canon camera and clicked a number of pictures.
I liked this trip in Karnataka very much..

Sushma Mallya said...

Happy navrathri to you and your family chitra...and this is a very lovely post,have heard a lot abt this temple but never got a chance to visit...

sm said...

beautiful pics
like them

Amrit said...

Chitra,

Very beautiful picture and concise yet descriptive write up.

chitra said...

Sushma,
While making the post, I remembered you and thought you would have visited the temple. May be you can visit it during your next trip.
Wish you a very Happy Navarathri.

chitra said...

sm,
thanks for the comment.

A,
Happy you liked my post. Thanks.

Archana said...

The Goddess is my favourite and I especially like her aspect of killing the demon.

The idea of the Goddess as Linga is striking! I had never come across it before. Is there a Shiva temple attached to the Goddess temple?

Samvedna said...

happy navraatri ! I love these days..one feels so pure..

chitra said...

Archana,
Usually there would be a Sivalingam in all the temples along with the Goddess. But I don't remember seeing one. Even Chotttanikkara temple in Kerala, Goddess is a swayambhu, and is like a Linga.

chitra said...

Samvedana,
It is a time to rejoice, purify one's mind with meditation and prayers. Wish you a Happy navarthri

SathyaSridhar said...

Hai!! Chitra,,

Happy Navarathri to you dear.Very nice Goddess Durga temple dear. The temple pics looks nice you hv done a great job dear.

subu.ps said...

Thanks for the updates on the temples. Got to check your site before venturing into tours.

R. Ramesh said...

keep your blog going buddy...u r doing a gr8 job and am sure those gods n goddesses will showr their blessings for this awesome work..

Bikram said...

this was goood :) the temple looks majestic EK din bhagwaan na chaha to saare dekhoonga :)

chitra said...

Satya,
Happy to see you back. Take care dear. happy Navrathri, see you.

chitra said...

subu,
I think we will learn a lot from each other. I enjoy your blogs too and can use info. as a guide.

chitra said...

Ramesh,
thanks dear friend. I hope I will be able to contribute more and more by God's grace and my friends sincere wishes.

chitra said...

Bikram,
Bhagavan kyon nahi chahenge, If you wish , bulawah aayega.

Arti said...

Loved to know about this divine form of the Mother... Many thanks for sharing this divine post!
Happy Navratri to You:)

chitra said...

Arti,
Happy Navarathri to you and your family. thanks.

Martina said...

I love all these stories - colorful and intense, just like the temples and places! Have a lovely week :)

Anonymous said...

:-)

Bhagyareema said...

Happy Navratri. And thanks for putting these pix, in this way even if one cannot physically visit these temples; can see it virtually

Felicity Grace Terry said...

How lovely to read of a Mother Godess. I love the colours of this temple, those lilacs are stunning. How do you celebrate these nine nights? I could always google I suppose but I prefer a more personal answer and know you have a wonderful way of explaining these things.

chitra said...

Martina,
It's busy week. Thanks for visiting.

chitra said...

Appu, thanks.

chitra said...

Bhagyareema,
I was just reading your blog. Thanks for finding your way here.

chitra said...

PW,
Navrathri signifies the fight between the demon Mahishasura and Mother Goddess Durga which ends on the 10th day with the death of Mahisura. Mahishasura is the evil and his death epitomises the victory of good over evil.

The present day celebration while following the tradition harbours around community eating,socialization with cross invitations to attend functions and improving inter personal relationships.This being normally school vacation is also an excellent past time for children.
What is actually done: During these nine days, houses get decorated and various idols and dolls are neatly stacked on odd number of steps called Kolu stand with maximum of nine steps signifying Navrathris(9 nights) The dolls will consist of various forms of Gods and Goddesses , and other things related to life like market scene, couples with children ,locomotives , gardens etc. we invite married women and little children home and we honour them with bangles, Betel leaves and arecanut,fruits and coconut- honouring ladies is considered to be equal to worshipping Mother Goddess. Eighth day we worship Goddess Saraswathi the Goddess of Knowledge. During this time, books , implements, musical instruments and tools are kept in front of the Goddess and worship is offered. Tenth day of the festival known as Vijaydasami is considered to be very auspicious for starting any new ventures including schooling for little ones.

During these nine days we spend chanting Goddess name and every evening after lighting oil lamps we sing devotional songs and worship the Goddess. We offer fruits, sweets and preparations made of pulses and we use nine different pulses on all nine days and all this is served to the visiting guests after the worship is over. The singing of Bhajans and devotional songs are a kind of self motivation and conditioning of our mind to realise the good in this world.

Every region or State has its own style of celebrating this festival. I have explained the way we celebrate this festival in Southern India. In East India this is known as Durga Pooja.

Anonymous said...

Happy Navratri to you and family Chitra. We are far away and no temples here. I will show my kids your post tomorrow so they can have an idea about the festival.

Thank you Chitra

Urmi said...

Very beautiful, colourful and gorgeous temple. Wonderful description.

anupama said...

Dear Chitra,
Good Morning from Thrissur!
An apt post for Navrathri Season.Today evening we keep books and musical instruments for pooja.
HAPPY VIJAYADASHAMI!
The temple photos are amazing!
May Goddess Saraswathi Bless You To write more and more posts.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Sasneham,
Anu

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Thank you for such a thorough answer. I'm always fascinated by your explanations.

StarTraci said...

I always love the beautiful bright colors of the temple. And you are so knowledgeable and I love how you ahsre the details about the goddesses and how the temples are created around them. I just love coming here!

Thank you for being such a great friend this last week. I always feel your kindness all the way around the globe.
:-)
Traci

dawnkiron said...

I ve been Mangalore many times. But did not know of this temple. In dec likely to go, shall surely visit this temple.
very gud to let us know abt these temples.

Usha

chitra said...

Babli, Thanks you dear, Wish you a Happy Durga Pooja.

PW, I am happy you enjoyed reading about navrathri.

chitra said...

Stranger,
I am happy you enjoyed my post and I am sure your children will enjoy too. Happy Navarathri to all of you.

chitra said...

Traci, I am so happy you found my post interesting. I also know what you were going thru' last week. Hugs dear. take care.

chitra said...

Usha
This temple is very famous and you would find the visit as an enchanting experience.

Insignia said...

The Kateeleshwari is revered upon in the area of Mangalore and Udupi. Have you heard the devotional songs?

chitra said...

Insignia,
I haven't heard songs on Kateeeshwari. May be next time, I would try to get some CD's

Unknown said...

Hi,

Very informative post!!:)

Dr.Sameena@

www.lovelypriyanka.blogspot.com
www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

chitra said...

Thanks Dr. Sameena.

G.G.G said...

Happy Navami Chitramma..

Loved the cute li'l post..I too loved Kateel temple.The place has abundance of devi energy...so powerful :-)

chitra said...

Thanks Poorni,
I came to know about the temple because of you. God bless you.

ജയരാജ്‌മുരുക്കുംപുഴ said...

good narration, nice pictures, ... navarathri aashamsakal......

chitra said...

Thanks Jayaraj.Happy mahanavami and vijayadasami to you.

Short Poems said...

Such a beautiful post, great pictures :)

chitra said...

Thanks for the comment, Short Poems.

raji said...

hi chitra ..gud u visited kateel during a navratri ,u must have enjoyed the decoration and glory of the godess.Did u take the famous black glass bangles and jasmine flowers which the "archaka"gives?ts special there

chitra said...

Raji,
I visited Kateel earlier to Navarathri. Never knew abt. those bangle thing. That is nice info. If I get an opportunity next time,I would try to make it during the festival time.

Sorcerer said...

wow! nice..I really had to catch up the posts i missed

Nice as usual!

chitra said...

Sorci, Long time...., Thanks for the visit.

R. Ramesh said...

hey chitra ji..thanks yar...take care best wishes:)

Deeptii said...

Hi chitra..nice write up..You could also visit my blog which has a write up on kateel sri durgaparameshwari shrine. http://deeptii1710.blogspot.com/search/label/Temple%20Tales

chitra said...

Sure Deepti. I shall check yours too.