Maharshi Parshuram is believed to have founded 7 temples in Dakshina Karnataka and these temples are together known as Parashurama Kshetra. The seven temples or sacred places are:
- Kukke Subrahmanya (famous naga temple),
- Udupi (famous Sri Krishna temple),
- Kumbhashi (Harihara temple in Kumbhasi has its origin in Krita yuga and Bhagavan Parashurama installed two murtis of Hari and Hara and it was then called Harihara Kshetra. It was in dwapara yuga when bheemasena fought with kumbhasura and killed him the name Kumbhasi came about)
- Koteshwara, (temple dedicated to Shiva)
- Shankaranarayana (temple dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu),
- Kolluru (Mookambika Temple)
- Gokarna (Shiva Temple)
These holy places are compared with seven holy places in Rama Kshetra, namely, Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanthika and Puri.
The belief is that visiting these places will help in self realization.