Located
amidst an enchanting landscape teeming with lush greenery, the
Mallikarjun temple is renowned for its colorful festivals observed with
pomp and pageantry. Built by the ancestors of the Kshatriya Samaj in
16th century, the Mallikarjun temple was subsequently refurbished in
1778. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mallikarjun, an incarnation of
Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the location of the temple was the place
where Lord Shiva united with his consort Parvati after a long period of
separation.The unique feature of the temple architecture is as assembly of exquisitely carved wooden pillars inside the temple building. The six pillars in the mandap are decorated with scenes from the Puranas and epic of Mahabharata. Elegantly carved silhouettes of dwarpals (doorkeeper) stand guard on either side of the door leading to the inner sanctum of the Mallikarjun temple.
The Mallikarjun temple enjoys a unique niche among the Goan temples for a host of ritualistic festivals. During the famous annual festival or Jatra, the idol of the deity is taken out in a procession to the nearby Kindlebag beach and the deity is bathed accompanied by other rituals. The Veeramel festival coincides with the traditional Shigmo festival held in April.
How to Reach Mallikarjun Temple
The Mallikarjun Temple is located 5 km from Chaudi, the headquarters of Canacona taluka. You can hire taxis or autos to reach the temple.
