Uppinangady Temple – Sahasralingeshwara - Mahakali Temple Story - Festival

Sahasralingeshwara Temple at Uppinangady in Karnataka is dedicated to Shiva and Mahakali. The place is famous for thousands of lingas in the nearby river. The original Shivling of the Uppinangady Temple is covered by sand and is on the banks of Netravati River – to the left of the temple. Worship is offered by removing the sand during annual temple festival.

Shri Sahasralingeshwara Mahakali Temple is very old and is associated with the Mahabharata period. To the right side of the temple lies the sacred confluence of the Netravati and Kumaradhara rivers.

Sahasralingeshwara Temple also has a separate shrine dedicated to Goddess Mahakali. The form of Mahakali worshipped is the ferocious one – that of her annihilating the demon Rakhta Beeja.

It is believed that this sacred site, through virtuous and liberating rituals, serves as a pathway to salvation (Moksha Dham).

The presence of Sahasralingeshwara, Mahakali, and Kalabhairava has earned it the name Southern Kashi.

Uppinangady – Sahasralingeshwara - Mahakali Temple Story

Legend has it that Shivlings found in and around Sahasralingeshwara Temple were created by Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers.

From the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana, there's a legend about the Pandavas and a mystical creature known as the Purushamriga. For the Rajasuya Yagna, Yudhisthira sent Bhima to capture this beast. 

On his journey, Bhima encountered Hanuman, who gave him strands of hair from his tail to help control the Purushamriga. 

Whenever Bhima found himself lost or unable to keep up with the strange animal he was chasing, he would drop a single hair, which would instantly transform into a Shiva Linga. It is said that he dropped a thousand hairs in the area, leading to the formation of many Shivlingas. 

This is how the name Sahasralingeshwara (Sahasra = thousand; Lingeshwara = Lord of the Lingas) originated, explaining why so many Shiva Lingas are found in the river sand and river bed near the temple.

There is also a separate shrine dedicated to Kal Bhairav form of Shiva.

Uppinangady Temple Location

Sahasralingeshwara Temple is located at Uppinangady, on NH 17 about 60 Kms from Mangalore. Nearest most important town is Puttur in Dakshina Kannada District which is around 12 km away.

Kabaka-Puttur Railway Station is the nearest station to the temple situated at a distance of about 13 kms from the temple.

Importance & Spiritual Significance

• Because the temple is at the confluence (Sangam) of two rivers, the site is considered especially sacred. It is believed that during rainy season (when rivers rise and meet), devotees can take a holy bath at the Sangam and perform worship. Such acts are thought to purify one’s sins and help in attaining Moksha (liberation).
• The temple is popularly referred to as Dakshina Kashi (“Southern Kashi”) for its spiritual weight, akin to the importance of Kashi (Varanasi) in the north.
• There are special rituals for purification performed here: e.g. Vedic purification rituals like Shatha Rudra Patana, Trikaal Pooje, Suvasini Pooje are performed here under temple Tantris. 

Uppinangady Temple is open from

6:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Uppinangady – Sahasralingeshwara - Mahakali Temple Festivals

The most important festival in the temple is the Maha Shivratri. 

There is a festival called Makhe Jatre (or Makhe Jathre) which takes place multiple times a year:

1. Full moon day (Pournami) of Magha month
2. Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Magha month
3. On Shivaratri

Other special worship practices: Mecchi Nema; worship of Mahakali in her fierce form (when needed, e.g. to ward off epidemics).

When rivers are in flood and the Sangam takes place right in front of the sanctum, that is considered especially auspicious. Devotees try to take bath in the Sangam and then come for darshan.

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