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Marikamba Temple, Sagara

Coordinates: 14°10′00″N 75°02′00″E / 14.1667°N 75.0333°E / 14.1667; 75.0333
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Marikamba Temple, Sagara
Marigudi
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeityMarikamba Devi
FestivalsNavaratri and Marikamba Fair
Location
LocationSagara
StateKarnataka
CountryIndia
Marikamba Temple, Sagara is located in Karnataka
Marikamba Temple, Sagara
Location in Karnataka
Geographic coordinates14°10′00″N 75°02′00″E / 14.1667°N 75.0333°E / 14.1667; 75.0333

The Marikamba Temple is located in Sagara in the Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It features the image of the goddess Marikamba Devi. The temple was built in the center of the city during the reign of Venkatappa Nayaka who ruled over Keladi and Ikkeri kingdom during the 16th century. Marikamba was the family deity of the Nayaka dynasty.[1]

History

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Adi Shankaracharya, the philosopher saint of Hindu religion, during one of his tours around South India visited Sagar. During his stay in the town goddess Marikamba appeared in his dream and told him to establish a temple for her at this place. He then consecrated the foot prints of the goddess at the outer limits of the city. During this period (1596), Kadamba, Chalukya and Hoysala dynasties were at war with each other. At this time, Venkatappa Nayaka, ruler of the Keladi and Ikkeri kingdom, adopted this deity as his family goddess seeking blessings to attain victory in the battle. After he won the battle, he shifted the footprints of the goddess from the outskirts to a central location in the city and built a temple to house the footprints.[1]

During the early 1950s, there was a move to shift the temple from the center of the city to the outer limits. At the time, the city was affected by the plague epidemic, the cause for which was attributed to the proposal of moving the temple.[1]

Fair

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Every three years, in the month of February or March, a 9-day fair is held at the venue of the temple. Known as the Marikamba Jathra (‘Jathra’ means "fair"), it is one of the major festivals of Karnataka. It has socio–religious importance and is attended by a large number of devotees from all regions of Karnataka.[2] On this occasion, a 16 feet (4.9 m) high chariot, colourfully decorated and carrying the image of the idol, is taken out on a procession.[3]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sri Marikamba Devi Temple – Sirsi" (in Kannada). Sagar City Municipal Council. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  2. ^ Udaya sagar (8 February 2023). "Nine-day Marikamba Jatra starts in Karnataka's Sagar town with 'mangalya puja'". Times of India. TNN.
  3. ^ "Sagar decked up for Marikamba Jatre". The Hindu. 1 May 2005. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2013.

Further reading

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