Buddhist Vihara, Shiva's abode

Located in the centre of Mangalore, perched on a hill, is a temple complex with a perennial spring, ponds, a hermitage besides the main temple, popularly known as the Kadri Temple.

The origin of the Temple and the hermitage is attributed to two sages of the Nath cult.

This temple bears marks of Hindu and Buddhist religions. Buddhism was practised here till the 10th century A.D.

After the fall of Buddhism, the devotion of Manjusri and Avalokitesvara followed.

The Nath cult introduced tantric Shiva traditions.

As a result, many Buddhist temples came under Hindu influence.

According to historians, this Temple is known as Kadri Manjunatha. Manjunatha means Shiva and Kadri is derived from Kadri Vihara which was a Buddhist monastery of Vajrayana cult.

Confluence of religions

The Lokeshwara or Avalokitesvara statue is identified with Halala Lokeshwara of the Buddhist pantheon and Manjusri or Manjugosha with Lokanatha.

The presence of the reliefs on the pedestal of the two-headed Buddha figure is really conspicuous.

King Kundavarma of Alupa dynasty, left an inscription on the base of Avalokitesvara sculpture, stating he was devotee of Shiva.

This image was not of Buddha, but of Bodhisattva who was being worshiped as an integrated form of Shiva.

Historians concluded this was centre of Bodhisattva Manjusri cult. And later on this Bodhisattva were identified as Shaivite deities.

Shiva linga and Bodhisattva were worshiped together for centuries at this place until this was converted completely to a Shaivite Temple.

Firm inscriptional evidence for this transformation in the 11th century is cited.

The chief deity of this Temple is Manjunatha with a Shiva linga.

The 1.5 m tall statue of Lokeshwara in the seated position with three faces and six arms is tipped to be the best bronze statue in India.

The inner Temple is a neat sized structure with a pyramid-shaped roof. The Temple, as the inscription indicates, has been built in the 10th or 11th century, also evidenced by the installation of the Lokeshwara statue in 968 A.D.

The balipitha (sacrificial platform) in front of the Temple also gives us a time frame of 10th century.

Within the Temple premises to the west, is the temple of Goddess Durga, and to the north, the temple of Lord Ganesha.

Devotees throng here on a daily basis and on special days, this Temple sees thousands.

The natural spring at an elevated spot in the Kadri Hills behind the temple has been a perpetual water source for a long time.

It is called gomukha and believed to be a gift of Bhagirathi river, Uttar Kashi. The water from this spring flows into seven ponds of different sizes right next to it.

People cleanse themselves in these ponds as a part of a purification ritual before entering the sanctorum.

This place of Hindu worship has been a prime spot of Mangalore even in the past.

The surroundings here used to be ecologically pure and natural, but is gradually losing out to modern development.

Preserving the priceless environment and history of Mangalore should be the immediate concern of the society.