Mundkur is a small village, in Udupi district, Karnataka, situated on the bank of Mulki (Shambavi) River on Kinnigoli - Balman road. The place is known for a Durga Parameswari temple. According to Dr Gururaja Bhat the worshipping Durga idol installed originally during ca. 13 century AD. The picture below presents a scene of temple car festival during the annual festivity of the temple. The ornate wooden car or chariot is topped with a globular wood and cane superstructure, decorated with numerous red and white flags. The colourful and vibrant car festivals have continued to inspire devotees since years.
Traditional anecdotes connected with the temple describe that one bad rakshasa called Mundakasura was pestering people in this region. The Godess Lord Durga Parameswari killed him and brought solace to the people, and so on.
Mundkur or Mundakur village is known as Munder in Tulu. I presume that the name Munder came into being on account of the fact that it was a early settlement of Munda tribes in Tulunadu. There are many villages in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts that carry the name of Munda tribes: Munduru, Kalla Mundkur, Mundaje, Mundodi, Mundadi, Mundoli etc. The reference to tribal term Mund- is specific in all these place names. Linguistic and anthropological studies have suggested that Munda tribes of Austro-Asiatic origin predated Aryans and Dravidians in
These villages appear to relics of bygone settlements of earliest recorded settlers in our land. Besides, one of the tribals in Tulunadu are popularly known as Mundaladakulu (= Mundala people).
Dear Dr.Ravi,
ReplyDeleteRiver Shambhavi starts from Sanur(Near Karkala)passes through Mundkur(From East,South and West sides)Joins Arabian Sea near Mulki.
Mundkur Temple came into existance during early 8th Century,(not 13th Century) immediately after Polali Rajarajeshwari temple as per Dr.P.Gururaja Bhat and other records by different scholars.
Regards M A Acharya
Thank You, Acharya.You can write an additional note on Mundkur and email me, so that it can be hosted on the blog in your name.
ReplyDeleteI shall soon add map of the area showing peculiar bend R.Shambavi is having near Mundkur.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI was told by our elders that my family migrated from Mundkuru several hundred years back to Bondantila Near Vamanjur.
We are Kota brahmins with Angirasa Gotra. Do you know anyone with same Gotra in Mundkuru? Our mane devata is Durga and hence it's tallying with origin (as there is a Durga temple in Mundkuru)
I am constructing our family tree and hence any info will be usefull.
Regards
Rajarama Rao B.
(rbanneng@rediffmail.com)