Our life is a mixture of bittersweet moments. While some fill us with immense excitement and positivity, others are somewhat difficult to cope with. Unfortunately, life does not come with any manual or roadmap. Whatever the phase we go through, we put our faith in the almighty God. We take our gratitude, wishes, and grievances to God and seek his blessings to go ahead in life. Our thirst for peace and righteousness takes us to countless temples. We spend time here surrendering ourselves to the almighty seeking his guidance and blessings.
Located in the temple town of Dharmasthala (in the state of Karnataka), the Manjunatha Temple is the epitome of spirituality and religious significance. It is popularly known as Sri Kshetra. This Shiva temple houses the primary deity of Manjunatheswara who has assumed the Shivalinga form. The temple is around 800 years old and is highly popular among people from different walks of life; they travel hundreds of miles to witness the revered Lord Manjunatha. The temple hosts numerous local and national festivals including the Laksha Deepotsava, Navratri, and others that attract both tourists and pilgrims. One of the most important things that most of us consider while visiting a temple is its timing. Prior information about the opening, closing, and pooja timings of the temple helps us arrange our travel itinerary accordingly.
Shri Dharmasthala Temple Timings
The table below shows the opening and closing times of the temple along with the day.
| Days | Temple Timings (for visitors) |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Monday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Friday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6:00 am to 8:30 pm |
Please note: Amidst this period there are some intermittent closures for the Mahapoojas. We will share the details below.
Detailed Temple Routine
The gates of the temple open at 4:00 am every day; visitors can start visiting the temple from 6:30 am. Let us look into the detailed day-to-day temple routine.
| Timings | Event | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 am to 11:00 am | Darshana | The temple opens from 6:30 for tourists after the daily cleansing rituals. The time from 6:30 am to 11 am is dedicated to darshan purposes. |
| 8:30 am to 10:30 am | Shatharudrabhisheka & Pooja | This pooja is performed at the temple premises to remove all the evils and achieve prosperity. The temple is open for visitors during this time. Please note that the regular darshan of the deity continues during this time along with the pooja. |
| 11:00 am | Shiva Sahasranamavali | From 11:00 am onwards the Shiva Sahasranamavali begins; devotees sing praises and accolades to lord Shiva in his numerous forms. You can still visit the temple during this time. |
| 11:30 am | Maha Naivedya Samarpana | Food is offered to lord Manjunatheswara during this time. Once the maha naivedya is served to the lord the annadana begins. |
| 12:00 pm | Mahapooja | An elaborate pooja is performed during this time. The idol is decorated followed by the abhisheka. Please note that the temple closes for Darshana during the Mahapooja. |
| 12:10 pm | Nithyabali | The temple remains closed for darshana during this time as well. Nithyabali is conducted 3 times a day. |
| 12:15 pm to 2:30 pm | Darshana | After the Mahapooja and Nithyabali, the temple reopens for Darshana. The Darshana continues till 2:30 pm. |
| 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Darshana | The shrine opens for Darshana from 5:00 pm. Pilgrims can visit till 8:30 pm. |
| 8:30 pm | Mahapooja | The temple closes for Mahapooja at 8:30 pm. Lord Manjunatha’s idol is decorated and chantings of hymns and sounds of Vedic instruments fill the temple campus. |
| 8:45 pm | Nithyabali | The temple remains closed at this time. It reopens for Darshana the next day at 6:30 am. |
Pooja & Archana Timings
The pooja and archana timings of the temple.
| Event | Timings |
|---|---|
| Darshana & Pooja | 6:30 am to 11:00 am 12:15 pm to 2:30 pm 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm |
| Abhisheka & Archana | 8:00 am and 1:00 pm |
| Aarti | 10:00 am and 7:00 pm |
Office timings
The table shows the temple office timings for you to contact in case of any queries.
| Timing | Moning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 am to 2:00 pm | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm |
Please note that these timings can vary during special events and ceremonies.
Guidelines
In the previous segment, we shared almost all the details about the temple timings. That said, to ensure a smooth trip there are some mandatory practices that you should follow while visiting the temple
- Children below the age of 2 years are not allowed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum
- Men must remove their vests and shirts while entering the Sanctum Sanctorum
- Keep your bag in some safe place before entering the temple
- Do not carry any eatables inside the temple
- Smoking and spitting is prohibited within the temple premises
- The use of mobile phones is not allowed within the temple
- Make sure to keep the temple clean
Best time to Visit
The best months to visit the temple are from November to February as the weather is ideal for exploring. If you want to enjoy the festive vibes at the Manjunatha temple then you can visit during the Maha Shivaratri Festival held in February or March. However, please note that the temple is the most crowded during these festive times.
Talking on a daily basis, visiting the temple early in the morning or late in the evening is ideal. Morning visits from 6:30 am to 8:00 am are best if you want to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and participate in the morning rituals. On the other hand, the evening visits from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm are very calming; they are especially perfect if you want to watch the evening Aarti. Also, the temple is generally less crowded during these times.