Here’s a detailed guide to Uppunda Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, located in Uppunda village of Byndoor Taluk, Udupi district, coastal Karnataka:
🏛️ History & Sanctity
- Per the Skanda Purana, Sage Matanga Rishi worshipped Goddess Durga at Uppunda. She is considered the Shanthika Durgaparameshwari, a divine sister of Kollur Mookambika Devi tucked in nearby Western Ghats.
- The temple is one among the revered Parashurama Kshetra shrines lining coastal Karnataka, holding great significance for local tradition and sailors alike.
🧘 Deity & Temple Features
- The presiding deity is Sri Durga Parameshwari. The shrine houses subsidiary deities including Ganesha, Subrahmanya, Nagas, Shiva, and Krishna/Narasimha, reflecting region-specific myths and rituals.
- The idol and temple architecture combine simplicity with coastal style, and a golden Sri Chakra is worshipped here as part of the ritual system.
⏰ Timings & Daily Rituals
- Darshan hours:
- Morning: 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Evening: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily.
- Festivals: Responsibilities include rituals across Ugadi, Ram Navami, Naga Panchami, Simha Masa, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navarathri, Vijayadashami, Shivratri, and many more.
🎉 Annual Events & Festivals
- The most prominent event is the Kodi Habba (Chariot Festival)—car festival held annually in Kumbha month, culminating in the deity being processioned around the village and blessing devotees at designated platform stops where kuladevata (ancestral) rituals are performed.
- In 2021, Uppunda celebrated the Ashtabandha Brahma Kalasha Mahotsava, a major consecration ceremony followed by Manmaha Rathotsava (grand chariot procession) after a 25-year gap. It featured elaborate homas, kalasha rituals, and darshana rites from Feb 27 to Mar 8, including kalasha-sthapana, homa, rathotsava, and chūrṇa utsava culminating in Dhvajavarohana (flag-lowering) festival.
📍 Location & Accessibility
- Address: Uppunda village, Byndoor Taluk, Udupi district, Karnataka. Pincode: 576232. Situated along NH‑66, near the Sumana River and Arabian Sea coastline.
- Proximity:
- ~32 km from Kundapura
- ~66 km from Udupi
- Nearest rail link: Byndoor Mookambika Road Station (~1–2 km)
- Approx. 120 km from Mangalore Airport
✅ At-a-Glance Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Deity | Devi Durga Parameshwari (Shanthika goddess) |
| Legend | Matanga Rishi, sister of Mookambika legend |
| Parashurama Kshetra | One of seven coastal shrines |
| Darshan Timings | 6 AM–1 PM, 5 PM–9 PM daily |
| Key Festivals | Kodi Habba (Chariot Festival), Navaratri, others |
| Landmark Events | Ashtabandha Brahmakalasha Mahotsava & Rathotsava |
| Nearby | Sumana River, NH‑66, Byndoor railway station |