Shri Karikaana Parameshwari (Bhandureshwari) Temple

Shri Karikaana Parameshwari Temple (also called Karikanamma) sits atop a hill in the Western Ghats near Honnavar, Uttara Kannada.The presiding deity is Devi Parameshwari—a local form of Kali/Parvati. The garbhagudi (sanctum) is famously fashioned from a single rock, and devotees speak of the goddess’s presence manifesting in stone at this spot.

Worship here is centuries old, local tradition holds continuous pooja over a long period, with the shrine re-established/installed by Shri Shridhara Swami in the 20th century after the structure had deteriorated.

Architecture

Set on a meadow-like crown of the hill, the temple’s bright, stepped vimana contrasts with the surrounding evergreen forest. The compact complex opens to cliff-edge viewpoints and stone paths; nearby, through a short forest walk, lies the Ondadike (Vandadke) Shambhulingeshwara shrine to Shiva.

History

Devotees recall an earlier forest shrine here (hence the name “Karikanamma”), later brought into regular worship by Shridhara Swami. The spot became better known regionally once motorable access was developed, turning it into both a pilgrimage and scenic halt.

Sthalapurana

According to legend, Goddess Parameshwari, a fierce form of Parvati, revealed herself on a hilltop near Honnavar in the form of a natural rock. For centuries the site was regarded as sacred, and the hill itself was believed to be under her protection. Later, the great saint Shri Shridhara Swami recognized this divine manifestation and consecrated the temple, establishing regular worship. Devotees believe that the goddess, called Karikaanamma or Bhandureshwari, guards the surrounding forests and blesses all who come to her. Local lore even says that wild animals, including tigers, never enter the temple’s precincts, respecting the goddess’s presence.Surrounded by thick forests and overlooking the Arabian sea, the temple is both a holy shrine and a natural sanctuary where the goddess is worshipped with great devotion, especially during Navaratri with grand rituals and homas.

Festivals

Daily worship follows the Devi tradition, and the temple is especially vibrant during Navaratri, when Chandika/Chandi Homa and special alankara are performed for the goddess. (Chandi Homa is a Durga-centric fire rite reciting verses from Devi Mahatmyam, widely observed in Shakta temples.)