Sirsi Maarikamba Temple
Posted by Ashwini | Posted in Shri DurgaDevi | Posted on 10-06-2010
Tags: Maarikamba Jaatre Sirsi, Shakti peethas of Karantaka, Shakti temples of Karnataka, Shri Marikamba temple, Sirsi, Sirsi Jaatre, Sirsi Maarikamba Temple
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Built in 1688, Sirsi Shri Maarikamba Temple is one of the “Jagratha Shakti Peethas” in the State of Karnataka.Godess Shri Maarikamba is one of the forms of Mahalakshmi.She is the Maari (terror) for bad and mother for love.Hence she is Maarikamba.People believe that goddess protects the city and people from any evil/illness.
The Goddess
Marikamba Temple Sirsi
Every alternate year a big fair or ‘Marikamba Jaatre’ is celebrated here which attracts thousands of people from near by states also.
The legend says that a young woman from an upper caste married a man from a lower caste without knowing his origin. They were happily married and had two children.One day, she learnt about her husband’s caste from her children. Infuriated, she killed him. Later, she repented for her act and performed Sati. The jatre is held in commemoration of the act. It starts with the marriage of Marikamba and ends in setting fire to the pandal to symbolise the Sati.
The festival is celebrated for 5 days in the month of Feb/March and is one of the biggest “Car Festival” of Karnataka.Prior to Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Sirsi in 1934, buffaloes were being sacrificed at the temple. But the Mahatma prevailed upon the people to stop animal sacrifice, following which the practice was given up.
How to reach ?
Sirsi is around 425 Km from Bangalore and 102km from Hubli.There are good accommodations available in Sirsi.
Official website of the temple : http://www.marikamba.org/home.htm
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