Legend has it that a girl who worshiped a particular form
of Mother Goddess was harassed by her family. Unable to tolerate the attitude of
the family especially of her father, she jumped into a boiling limestone and
got melted. The fishermen who saw the incident worshiped her. A voice in the
heaven asked them to worship her as she will bring peace and prosperity. After
a few days a murti (idol) appeared from the limestone and she was known as
Urimasani. She later became Masanikamma.
Later on many kings of the region had the fortune of getting
help from her in battles. She was thus worshipped before going into battles.
The kings who became devotees of her built her temple at Periyapatna in
Karnataka.
The main murti worshiped in the sanctum sanctorum that of
Goddess Masanikamma is immovable. A separate utsva murti is used for festivals
and rituals.
The most important festivals in the temple are the annual
Rathostsava in February – March and the Navratri festival in September –
October.
The shrine is open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM for
worship.
Periyapatna is located on Mysore-Mangalore highway at a distance of 70 km from Mysore.
Periyapatna is located on Mysore-Mangalore highway at a distance of 70 km from Mysore.