Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple
Bappanadu Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple is situated in the bank of Shambhavi River at Bappanadu village of Mulki town. It is 29 K.M. north to Mangalore following National Highway No.17. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Shree Durgaparameshwari. The place Bappanadu means Bappa’s village. As per the legend Bappa a Muslim merchant is responsble for temple construction. Annual festival (Brahma Rathotsava) of the temple falls in the month of April. Bappanadu Dolu (musical drum) is well known and There is a large drum that is kept in the side of the temple.
Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari temple is one of the main Shakti worship Centre of the South Kanara district of Karnataka. Here main deity is in the form of Linga (symbolic statue). Eligibility of Muslims for accepting prasadas (blessings) of the temple is one of the special features of the Kshetra. Muslims also participate in the temple festivals. Even today the prasadas of the very first day of the festival is given to the house of Bappa Beary. But in spite of all these legendary and mythological views and following of the traditional cultural activities based on these views, the proper historical documents depicting the period of the temple is very rarely available.
As believed by the local people Bappa a Muslim merchant has taken important role in the construction of the temple. But confirming the role of the Bappa Beary in construction of the temple is not available. Whether Bappa was a Muslim or he is a Bapa Pai (a Saraswath Brahmin) or he is a follower of Jainism is still a point to ponder. The name Bappa also comes in one copperplate inscription (1607 AD) available in Kotageri Jain Basadi in which it is said ” Moose Kavi son-in-laws offered Varaha 113 on this Kunhappagu to Bappa “.
How to reach temple:
From Mangalore City there are plenty of service busses available to Mulki and Udupi. Since the temple is situated near the Udupi Mangalore High way it is very convenient even for new visitors to reach by catching these busses and getting down at Mulki or Bappanadu. From Mangalore to Bappanadu the distance is 29 K.M.