The Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple is one of the most popular temples in the Hampankatta area of Mangalore.
The name ‘Sharavu’ is derived from ‘Shara’ which means arrow. About 8 centuries back a very powerful king, Maharaja Veerabahu of the Tuluva region killed a cow by mistake by shooting it with an arrow. He in reality meant to shoot the tiger which was standing beside the cow. Upset at this incident of gohatya, the king ran to sage Bharadwaja for a remedy for this sin. As per the suggestion of the sage, he installed a “Shiva Linga”.
This Shivalinga has been worshipped by the Maharaja as Sharabeshwara. This sacred place was termed hereafter as “Sharavu” and the newly formed temple tank as “Sharatheertha”.
This temple attracts thousands of devotees every day. On special occasions like Sri Ganesh Chaturthi, Rathothsava starting on Chandramana Yugadi, Deepothsava, and on Shankasti Chaturthi days, a very large number of devotees do have the sacred “Darshana” of Lord Sharabeshwara Lord Mahaganapathy. This temple is indeed the center of a variety of cultural activities like Yakshagana, Dance Drama, etc. and also of humanitarian as well as social service activities.
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