Mangalore: Illuminated Kudroli Temple Provides Visual Treat

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 20: Maha Shivaratri festival is being celebrated today, in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the Trimurtis (three Gods, who are in charge of creation, care, and destruction). The festival falls a day before the new moon day in the month of Phalguna as per Hindu calendar.

Some legends say that Lord Shiva was wedded to Goddess Parvati on this day. There are also legends which claim that Lord Shiva manifested into 12 Jyotirlingas on this auspicious day, while some others say that the Lord had performed ‘Tandava Nritya’ on Shivaratri.

Maha Shivaratri means great night devoted to the service of Lord Shiva. On this day, temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are decorated, and people perform various pujas including Abhisheka with things items milk, honey, tender coconut etc. It is believed that spending time invoking blessings of Lord Shiva and staying awake on this night, duly chanting eulogies of the Lord, earn special virtues to the devotees and help them in erasing past sins and earning the patronage of the Lord.

To help the devotees remain awake at night, various programmes are organized in temples like Harikatha, Bhajans, Yakshagana performance, etc. Devotees are thronging temples like Lord Manjunatheshwara Temple in Kadri, and Lord Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dharmasthala, among others.

Lord Gokarnanatheshwara Temple at Kudroli in the city has been bedecked with attractive illumination on the occasion. The temple presents a divine look now, contributing richly towards enhancing the inner peace and divine experience of the visitors.