Today’s blog on temple is very special, since it is about a special divine temple in Mangalore, which is a very special town as this is close to my native place. The temple we are visiting today, is the Someshwara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Beautiful beach by the temple
This is really a small temple, but an ancient one located on the Arabian sea coast in Mangalore. I visited this temple with my family on a lovely breezy evening and with no expectations whatsoever. However I came back with a lifetime of memories.
Historically it is said to have been built by Kings of Alupa Dynasty in the 10th century A.D. The temple was under the rule of Kadambas of Banavasi, and Chola Kings of Ullala in the 12th century A.D and then renovated under the Vijayanagara Kings.
After visiting the temple, I took a walk on the beach that is just right beside the temple. When I walk on the beach, the rule I follow is “never walk with footwear on”! You should always walk on the beach bare footed, with the waves kissing and hugging your feet now and then.
The waves of the sea, and the silence between the waves – this is music. The beauty of the rocks and pebbles that have weathered years and years of water gushing on them – this is endurance. And the feeling you have when you close your eyes on this beach is divinity! I really felt Lord Shiva in every wave, every drop, every pebble, and every sand. The feeling is so hard to explain, but I was so sure he is right there.
This shloka kept persisting in my thoughts and I want to describe it here –
Karpoora Gauram Karunaavataram |
Samsaara Saaram Bhujagendra Haaram ||
Sada Vasantam Hridaayaravinde |
Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami ||
The meaning of this popular shloka goes like this – One who is pure white like camphor, who is compassion incarnate, the essence of worldly existence, whose garland is the king of serpents, always present inside the the heart like a lotus.
I salute to Shiva and Bhavani together!
I will always remember how I experienced divinity on that shore of the ancient Someshwara Temple in Mangalore.
Note: This is a loose translation of original article in Kannada published in Udayavani Desiswara. The original article can be found at the link below:
