Temple Description

The Kadri Manjunatheshwara Temple, dating back to around 1068 A.D., is a site of considerable historical interest. This temple, dedicated to Lord Manjunatha, reflects the Vijayanagara architectural style. Its current form suggests that significant structural developments were made in the 15th or 16th century A.D. The temple’s location on Kadri Hill enhances its appeal, with its scenic beauty, pre-historic caves carved into laterite mounds, and its religious and historical significance adding to its charm. Kadri Hill is also home to one of the largest centers of the Natha Pantha cult in South India. The caves on Kadri Hill warrant further archaeological investigation.

The origin of the name Kadri is debated. One theory suggests it derives from “Kadari,” meaning plantain, as the area was once overgrown with plantain trees. However, this explanation may be too simplistic. According to a Buddhist source, “Kadarika” means hillside pastureland. The earliest reference to this location appears in an inscription dated A.D. 968 on the pedestal of the renowned Lokeshwara image. This inscription notes that King Kundavarma of the Alupa Dynasty installed the image in the Kadarika Vihara. This indicates that “Kadarika” is the earliest recorded form of the name, with “Vihara” referring to a Buddhist monastery from the period when Buddhism flourished here in the 10th century A.D.