Shree Chitrapura Durgaparameshwari Temple
"Chitrapura" is a small village in the "Kulai" ward of the Mangalore city in Karnataka, India. The village now houses a famous 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 a unique form of Linga. It is very rare to find this deity in this form.
The deity is believed to be an incarnation of Jaladurga, who is one among the saptadurga devi (7 durga) and is regarded 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 Shreehari, 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 livelihood by fishing and in cane work. One day Kaldi who was sharpening 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.
Our Approach
Jatrothsava will be celebrated 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 Shree devi will be held. In the afternoon Mahapooja will be held. Then after Simhadwaja will be hoisted on Dwajarohana during which time Shree Swamiji of the matt, tantras 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.
On this day there will be vishesha pooja, kalashabhisheka pooja will be held. Then after the pooja prasada will be given to the devotees.
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 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.
In the month of November based on kannada calender Sankashtahara Ganesha Pooje will be held in the temple.
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 Shree devi. On all these festivals thousands of devotees will gather and Anna santharpane will be held.
