Kateel is a very famous pilgrimage and tourist centre. Its location is at the banks of river Nandani. Surrounded by panoramic sceneries and beautiful hills, Kateel is one of the Spiritual places to visit in Mangalore.

Goddess Durga Parameshwari exists in the beautiful and grand temple of Kateel. Goddess Durga Parameshwari is also named as ‘Bhraamare or Bhramarambha’. This holy temple of the goddess Durga is situated in the sacred water of the Nandini River. Shree ‘Durga Parameshwari Temple’ (included in the Mangalore tour package.)

Kateel Durga Parameshwari temple history

Once a severe drought hit this place and it didn’t rain for years and the situation became worse. Inhabitants forced Brahmins to eat meat. The situation disturbed great Sage Jabali.

With “Divya Drishti”, Sage Jabaali found that ‘Arunasura’, the ‘rakshasa’ escaped from his death indeed. At that time, Devi Durga killed ‘Shambasura’. Sage Jabali wanted to end all suffering caused to humans. He decided to perform a ‘yagna’ to impress ‘Devas’ so that they can live happily.

He went to ‘Devendra’. And asked to take permit ‘Kamdhenu’ to Earth for ‘Yagna’. Instead of ‘Kamdhenu’, ‘Devendra’ asked ‘Jabaali’ to take “Nandini”, Kamdhenu’s daughter. Nandani refused to accompany Jabaali to earth (she knew all the evil spirits there). In his anger, Jabaali cursed her saying that she will bear on Earth as a river.

Nandani asked for Mercy after realising her mistake. She went for praying to Goddess Durga as Jabaali asked to do. Nandani expressed her words to Devi Durga to purify her. 

Godess Durga addressed Nandini that she herself would be born as Nandani’s Daughter in the centre of the river and thus, Nandani can attain purification. Nandani emerged as a river on Earth and Jabaali performed his yajna. Therefore Maa Durga herself appeared in the middle of the river where now stands the structure of the temple.

Interesting facts about Kateel Durga Parameshwari 

“Kateel” means the exactly central area of the earth. This place is named “Kateel” because of the temple’s location is in the centre of the river. With four divine hands, the Devi is seen in a seated posture with the beauty of heaven. Durga Parameshwari, the ultimate soul of Traditional dance and song. There is a separate cultural team for this traditional play who are dedicated to “Yakshagana”.

Kateel Durga Parameshwari Brahmakalasha

It is a very popular holy event in this temple. This event usually holds several holy and traditional rituals including “Suvarna Dwaja Prathishta”, “Brahmakalasabhisheka”, “Naagamandala”, “Koti Japayagna”, ”Sahasra Chandikayaaga”.