Sri Sharavu Mahaganapathy Temple

20 December 2006

Mangalore is known as a pilgrim center and boasts of many sacred temples like Sharavu, Kadri, Mangaladevi, Kudroli etc. Out of these Sri Sharavu Sharabeshwara - Sri Mahaganapathy Kshetra is an outstanding, pious center of great illustrious history of marathon 800 years. Since the temple is located in the heart of the city, locating and reaching the temple is very easy. It is at a walking distance from Hampankatta and also can comfortably reached by autorickhaws.
The name "Sharavu" is derived from "Shara" which means arrow. About eight centuries back, the "Sthalapurana" or local legendary depicts, a very powerful king, Maharaja Veerabahu of tuluva region, killed a cow by sheer mistake by shooting it with an arrow. He in reality meant to shoot the tiger which was standing besides the cow. But, his unculpable terrible sin had to be erased, for which he did install a "Shiva Linga" as per the suggestion of a great seer Sri Bharadhwaja.
This Shivalinga has been worshipped by the Maharaja as Sharabeshwara. This sacred place was termed thereafter as "Sharavu" and the newly formed temple tank as "Sharatheertha".