Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
Shiva (as Vishweshwara, a swayambhu linga) temple · Yellur, Udupi, Karnataka, India
The Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple at Yellur (also spelled Yelluru) in Udupi district, coastal Karnataka, is a Shiva temple whose linga is regarded by devotees as swayambhu, or self-manifested. The deity is worshipped as Vishweshwara, the 'lord of the universe', a name also used for Shiva at Kashi.
Daijiworld reported in 2008 that the temple is more than a thousand years old and serves as the place of worship for nine neighbouring villages, including Yellur, Belapu, Kunjoor, Kutyar, Padoor and Nandikoor. A Vijayanagara-era stone inscription dated 1509 CE has been read at the temple, and the shrine was extensively renovated in 2008–09.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
According to the legend recorded on Wikipedia, the linga was found by a local woman gathering firewood at the place where her son Yellu had been buried. Her cry asking whether her son was there is said to have given the village its name, which tradition derives from 'Yelluna ooru' (Yellu's village). Devotees believe a mark left on the linga at its discovery can still be seen.
Another tradition, also summarised by Wikipedia, holds that the deity came from Kashi in answer to the devotion of a local ruler, and that the god emerged from beneath the ground. These accounts are matters of local belief. Wikipedia also notes that the saint Vadiraja Tirtha mentions the temple in his travel work Tirtha Prabandha, and preserves a story that Nandi moved aside so that he could see the deity when he arrived to find the temple closed.
Among the offerings most associated with the temple, according to Wikipedia, are abhisheka with tender coconut water, the lighting of oil lamps and the offering of gold coins.
Heritage
History of Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
In 2021 Outlook, carrying a PTI report, described a stone inscription at the Yellur temple read by Shruthesh Acharya, a research student working under Professor S. A. Krishnaiah of the Oriental Archives Research Centre, Udupi. The 12-line inscription in granite, about two feet high and wide, is dated Shaka 1434 in the month of Jyeshtha, which the report equates with 1509 CE in the reign of the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya. Its top carries the sun, moon, Nandi, a lamp, a Shivalinga, a royal sword and a flower, and the text names Thimmaiah Dandanayaka and the localities of Puttige, Aikala and Yellur.
Wikipedia states that Vishweshwara of Yellur is mentioned in at least twelve inscriptions and in the Kaifiyats (local historical records), though it does not detail them. The temple is the common shrine of a group of surrounding villages, an arrangement Daijiworld also describes.
In November 2008 Daijiworld reported that a renovation costing about ₹6 crore was well advanced, funded largely by devotees, and that the interiors were being renewed without altering the original structure. The committee had visited temples across the country to study their architecture before starting work. The renovated temple was reconsecrated with Brahmakalashabhisheka ceremonies held from 4 to 12 March 2009.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is an active place of worship serving several villages, and traditional coastal Karnataka temple customs apply. Dress modestly and follow the guidance of the temple staff, particularly regarding offerings such as tender coconut abhisheka. Confirm current timings and seva arrangements with the temple administration before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
Maha Shivaratri
Listed by Wikipedia as the temple's main festival.
Location
How to Reach Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
Yellur is a village in Kaup (Kapu) taluk of Udupi district. Check road directions and local transport from Udupi or Padubidri before travelling.
Location: Yellur, Udupi, Karnataka, India
More in Hindu temples in Karnataka · Shiva (as Vishweshwara, a swayambhu linga) temples · Temples in Kapu Taluk · Temples in Udupi District
Questions
Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur: Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is worshipped at Yellur temple?
Shiva is worshipped as Vishweshwara in the form of a linga that devotees regard as swayambhu (self-manifested).
How did Yellur get its name?
According to local legend, a woman searching for her buried son Yellu discovered the linga, and her cry gave the place the name 'Yelluna ooru', later Yellur.
How old is the Yellur Vishweshwara Temple?
Daijiworld describes it as more than 1,000 years old, and a stone inscription at the temple has been dated to 1509 CE in the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
What is the 1509 inscription at Yellur?
It is a 12-line granite inscription dated Shaka 1434, read by researchers of the Oriental Archives Research Centre, Udupi. It names Thimmaiah Dandanayaka and the localities of Puttige, Aikala and Yellur.
When was the Yellur temple renovated?
A major renovation took place in 2008–09, ending with Brahmakalashabhisheka ceremonies from 4 to 12 March 2009.
Which villages worship at Yellur temple?
Daijiworld lists nine villages: Yellur, Belapu, Kunjoor, Kutyar, Maniyoor, Nandikoor, Adve, Santoor and Padoor.
Sources and attribution
- Outlook (PTI) — Stone inscription dating back to year 1509 found at temple (4 Aug 2021)
- Daijiworld Media Network — Udupi: Yellur Sri Vishweshwar Temple Renovation Underway (23 Nov 2008)
- Wikipedia — Sri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur
- Wikipedia — Yellur, Udupi
Further reading: Mahathobhara Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Yellur on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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