Temple Description

According to mythology, the Goddess was responsible for defeating the demon Darigasura, who had been a formidable foe to the Devas due to a boon from Lord Brahma. After the demon was vanquished, the Goddess and her sisters, known as the Sapta Durgas, descended from their celestial realm and settled near Mulki to benefit earthly devotees. It is believed that the Goddess manifested symbolically where the Shambhavi and Nandini Rivers converge in Mulki.

Later, a Muslim merchant from Kerala named Bappa Beary was traveling along the Shambhavi River for trade. His boat came to a sudden halt in Mulki when it struck an underwater obstacle. This obstacle turned out to be the remnants of five lingas and pedestals from a temple that had collapsed due to recent flooding. The river water turned a deep red, prompting Bappa, a devout man, to perform his namaaz and then rest in the boat. In a dream, the Goddess appeared to him and instructed him to build a temple in her honor.

With the assistance of a local Jain ruler named Mulki Sawantha, Bappa Beary used his entire fortune to construct the temple. The rituals were performed with the help of a priest named Baila Udupa. Bappa chose to settle in the area, which subsequently became known as Bappanadu, meaning “Bappa’s village.”

For the past 40 years, local troupes have frequently performed a Yakshagana titled “Bappanadu Kshetra Mahatme,” which recounts the story of Bappa Beary and the temple he helped establish.