Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early modern · Hindu · India

Sirsi Marikamba Temple

Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka · 14.6123°, 74.8396°

Marikamba, a fierce form of DurgaUndeterminedKaavi
Sacred since
1688 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1688
Undetermined

History & significance

Built by the townspeople of Sirsi in 1688 and decorated with kaavi murals, a now-vanished coastal Konkan technique. Gandhi's refusal to enter it in 1934 over animal sacrifice led to a local campaign that ended the practice, and its biennial Sirsi Jathre is reckoned South India's largest fair.

Sthala katha — the legend

The seven-foot image of the goddess is said to have been recovered from a pond on the road to Hangal.

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Thirunangur · India
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Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
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Thiruvanpurushothamam
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Perarulaalan Perumal Temple (Thirusemponsei Koil)
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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Undetermined