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Hindu Temples :-
Goddess Durga Temples
Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel
Kateel is a sacred place for Hindus in Dakshina Kannada. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari. The holy temple is situated in the middle of the sacred river. The temple surrounded by panoramic scenes and fascinating greeneries. The devotees overwhelmed with pious emotions when they glance at the flowing water in the river, which embraces all around the lower layer of the temple. Kateel is 29 K.M. distances from Mangalore city.
Mythology (story from Purana):
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:
Chamundi:
Near Pre-university College of the temple authority there lays a shrine
dedicated to Goddess Chamundi (another form of Goddess Durga Devi). Special
poojas performed on the occasion of Vrishaba Sankramana day.
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.
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.
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.