Kateel Shree Durgaparameshwari Temple

Situated on the banks of River Nandini, amidst beautiful surroundings, is the spiritual energy center of South Kanara district. Goddess Durga is the loving and caring mother of the people of South Kanara. Surrounded by lush green fields and beautiful hills, Kateel has become a famous pilgrimage and a tourist center over the years.
Kateel is located 30KMs North of Mangalore. Traveling to Kateel in the winding roads amidst green hills and valleys is a very pleasant and memorable experience. Thousands of devotees visit Kateel daily to seek the blessing of goddess Durga.

Shree Durga Parameshwari

Mythology:

When Goddess slew Shumbha & Nishumbha, Arunasura, one of the ministers, had fled from the battlefield and saved his life. Later he became the leader of the Rakshasas (demons). He began to disturb the sages and destruct their Yajnas. As a result, the Devas stopped raining, which resulted in total draught and scarcity of water and food grains on the earth. Moved by the pathetic conditions of the people Maharshi Jabali, the great sage decided to perform a Yajna to appease the Devas. He approached Devendra and requested him to send Kamadhenu (a sacred cow) with him for the ritual. Since Kamadhenu had been to Varuna Loka, Devendra permitted the sage to take Nandini, the daughter of Kamadhenu in order to assist him as Homadhenu (symbolic cow for ritual) in his proposed Yajna. Jabali went to Nandini and put forth his request. In reply Nandini abused the earth and the people there and refused to accompany him. When the sage found that Nandini was firm in her refusal, he cursed her to flow as a river on the earth. As Nandini prayed Jabali for mercy, kindhearted sage advised her to pray Adhishakti to get freed from the curse. Accordingly she prayed Adhishakti. Pleased by her deep meditation Goddess appeared before Nandini and told her that she has to flow as a river as a result of the curse, because nobody can trespass the sentences (Rishi Vakya) of a holy sage. But she added "I shall take birth as your daughter in due course and purify you from this curse". Satisfied by this assurance Nandini emerged as a river from Kanakagiri on the day of Magha Shuddha Poornima and made the earth green once again.

Meanwhile Arunasura acquired a boon from Brahma, which made him free from fear of death by Trinity, Devas, men or women or by any two legged or four legged animals & creatures. Goddess Saraswathi also blessed him with Gayathri Mantra (Holy chants).

All these made him the most powerful. He defeated the Devatas and conquered Heaven. Disheartened by disastrous defeat, the Devatas, along with Trinity pleaded Adhishakti for the rescue. Goddess said that unless and until Arunasura is prevented from reciting Gayathri Mantra she too would not be able to destroy him. She suggested them to send Brihaspathi (Guru of Devatas) to distract Arunasura from his meditation of Gayathri, and make him get rid of Gayathri recitation so that she would be able to kill him. Brihaspathi approached Arunasura, flattered him, poisoned his ears and succeeded in diverting him from his meditation.

Now Arunasura vainly felt that he was more than God himself. He not only ordered his subjects to worship him but also troubled the sages and spoiled their Yajnas. As promised to the Devas, Goddess took the shape of Mohini, a charming woman and began to wander in the garden of Arunasura. Chanda & Prachanda, ministers of Arunasura saw her and informed the master about her beauty. Arunasura decided to marry her and approached her. When she turned deaf ears to his request & teased him for fleeing from the war field, in afraid of the lady who killed his masters Shumbha & Nishumbha, he became furious. When he tried to take her by storm, she disappeared inside rock. Arunasura broke the rock with his sword. Suddenly, a vast swarm of bees emerged from the rock and stung him. Devi had taken the form of a big, furious bee that is 'Bhramara' and stung him repeatedly till his last breath.

Now the Devas and the sages led by Jabali performed "Abhishekham" (holy bath) to Devi with tender coconut brought from the Kalpavriksha of Devaloka, and prayed her to bless the world with 'Soumya Roopa' (tender posture). According to this request Devi emerged in the form of 'Linga' (symbolic holy rock) in the middle of the river Nandini and is known as Shree Durga Parameshwari. KATI means waist and ILA means earth. So Kateel stands for that area of the earth, which is the Kati, or the center of the river Nandini. The Nandini is purified by the birth of Adhishakti in her "Kati" and Durga Parameshwari is here for the good of the universe and blesses those who come to her.

Other important Idols of Deities in the temple:

Rakteshwari: After entering main entrance, before entering into the temple, on the left side a big symbolic rock can be seen by us is called as Goddess Rakteshwari. Poojas performed everyday thrice to Goddess Rakteshwari. On every Sankramana devotees offer coconut sevas to the Goddess.

Mahaganapathi: In southern side of the main sanctum there lies idol of Shri Mahaganapathi. In the pit (homa kunda) in front of the Shri Mahaganapathi, priests perform Ganahoma (holy lighting) every day. Ganahoma and Pancha Kajjaya are the exclusive sevas offered by the devotees to the Lord Mahaganapathi.

Shasthara: Shasthara is another name of the Lord Ayyappan. His shrine lies in right side of the Shri Mahaganapathi.

Kshetrapala: On the southwestern side of the temple there lies an abode of Shri Kshetrapala. Special poojas and coconut sevas are offered to Shri Kshetrapalas on occasion of festivals. Daily poojas will be offered to him every night after main pooja to the Goddess Shri Durga Parameshwari.

Abode of the Naga Devata: There are two abodes of Naga Devatas. One is near Shri Kshetrapalas abode, which is inside the temple and another is outside.

Brahma's Shrine: Outside the temple on the right side of the premises we could find one shrine dedicated to Brahma. Devotees and believers strongly believe that in the event of loss of any important personal possessions the oath of doing certain poojas or sevas will fulfill their desires of finding and getting back of their lost items.

Contact Details of Kateel Shree Durgaparameshwari Temple

KATEEL SHREE DURGAPARAMESHWARI TEMPLE
Kateel post, Mangalore,
Dakshina Kannada District.
Pin Code-574 148,
Karnataka State, India

Phone: +91 824 2200361 / 2200591 / 2200561