Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
Shiva as Madanantheshwara, with Ganapathi as Siddhivinayaka temple · Madhur, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
The Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple stands on the banks of the Madhuvahini river at Madhur, about 7–8 km from Kasaragod town in northern Kerala. The river is also known as the Mogral. The presiding deity is Shiva, worshipped as Madanantheshwara, but the temple is best known for its image of Ganapathi as Siddhivinayaka.
Kerala Tourism records that the temple was first built by the Mypadi rulers of Kumbla in the 10th century and renovated in the 15th century. It is known for its three-tiered sanctum in the gajaprishta (elephant-back) style, for its wood carvings, and for the appam offerings made to Ganapathi.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
The temple began as a Shiva shrine. According to the Madhur grama panchayat, Ganapathi, at first a subsidiary deity, gradually became the more prominent and popular deity. The Kasaragod District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) describes the south-facing Ganapathi in the main sanctum as the most revered image here. Subsidiary deities listed by the panchayat include Kashi Vishwanatha, Dharma Shastha (Ayyappa), Subrahmanya and Durga.
Appam, a sweet made of rice, ghee and jaggery, is central to worship here. The panchayat names the Udayastamana Pooja and Madhur Appam, prepared inside the temple, as the most important offerings. The rarest ritual is the Moodappa Seva, in which the large Ganapathi image is entirely covered with appam. Kerala Tourism notes that it is conducted only occasionally and was last held in 1992.
Wikipedia describes Madhur as one of six important Ganapathi temples of the old Tulunadu region. It also records that the temple runs summer Veda classes for young students, which Kerala Tourism also mentions, covering the basics of Sanskrit.
Heritage
History of Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
According to a legend recorded by the panchayat, DTPC and Wikipedia, an elderly woman, named Madhu or Madaru in different accounts, discovered a self-manifested (swayambhu) Shiva linga here, and the place came to be called Madhur after her. A second legend tells of a young boy serving at the temple who drew a figure of Ganapathi on the southern wall of the sanctum. According to the legend, the drawing grew until it became a lifelike image, worshipped today as Siddhivinayaka and known locally as 'Bodda Ganesha'.
Kerala Tourism credits the original temple to the Mypadi rulers of Kumbla in the 10th century and links it to the Kumbla ruler Jai Simha I. Wikipedia notes that it was later taken over from the Kumbla rulers of the Mayipady palace by a devaswom board. A well-known local story concerns Tipu Sultan's campaigns in the region. According to local lore recorded by Kerala Tourism and the panchayat, Tipu intended to destroy the temple but changed his mind after drinking water from the temple well. A sword or dagger mark on the outer wall is pointed to as a sign of his visit.
Architecture and sacred features
The sanctum (sreekovil) rises in three tiers, with a copper-covered roof shaped like the back of an elephant (gajaprishta), as described by Kerala Tourism, DTPC and the panchayat. Kerala Tourism describes the temple as a blend of Hindu and Jain styles; DTPC calls it a blend of Kerala and Karnataka architecture. Carved wooden pillars and beams, stucco images and the Namaskara Mandapam in front of the sanctum show scenes from the Ramayana and other episodes from mythology.
The temple has a cloistered courtyard and a deep well within the compound. The panchayat notes that during the monsoon the Madhuvahini sometimes floods into the inner courtyard. DTPC notes that the complex contains a number of smaller shrines.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Madhur is a traditional Kerala temple, and the customary dress and conduct rules of Kerala temples are generally expected. Crowds are heavy on Ganesh Chaturthi and during the annual festival. DTPC publishes morning and evening darshan hours; confirm current timings, dress rules and offering arrangements with the temple office before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with A devaswom board (per Wikipedia) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
Ganesh Chaturthi
One of the temple's main festivals, attended by tens of thousands of devotees, according to the panchayat.
Madhur Bedi
A five-day annual festival, according to Kerala Tourism.
Moodappa Seva
A rare offering in which the Ganapathi image is covered with appam; Kerala Tourism records that it was last held in 1992.
Location
How to Reach Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
According to the Kasaragod DTPC, the temple is about 7 km from Kasaragod town and about 190 m from the Madhur bus stand. Kasaragod railway station is about 8.6 km away and Mangalore International Airport about 60 km away.
Location: Madhur, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
Nearest airport: Mangalore International Airport (about 60 km, per DTPC Kasaragod)
Nearest railway station: Kasaragod (about 8.6 km, per DTPC Kasaragod)
More in Hindu temples in Kerala · Shiva as Madanantheshwara, with Ganapathi as Siddhivinayaka temples · Temples in Madhur (Ct) · Temples in Kasaragod Taluk · Temples in Kasaragod District
Questions
Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is worshipped at Madhur Temple?
The presiding deity is Shiva as Madanantheshwara, but the temple is most famous for Ganapathi, worshipped as Siddhivinayaka.
What is the Moodappa Seva at Madhur?
It is a rare ritual in which the large Ganapathi image is completely covered with appam. Kerala Tourism notes that it is held only occasionally and was last conducted in 1992.
What is the legend of the Madhur Ganapathi?
According to legend, a boy serving at the temple drew Ganapathi on the sanctum wall, and the drawing grew into a lifelike image, now worshipped as Siddhivinayaka.
Why is the temple called Madhur?
According to local tradition, the place is named after a woman, Madhu or Madaru, who discovered the self-manifested Shiva linga here.
What is the gajaprishta style?
It is a roof shape resembling the back of an elephant. At Madhur the sanctum rises in three tiers with a copper-covered gajaprishta roof.
What is the Tipu Sultan story at Madhur?
According to local lore, Tipu Sultan meant to destroy the temple but changed his mind after drinking from the temple well; a sword or dagger mark on the outer wall is pointed to as a sign of his visit.
How do I reach Madhur Temple?
Madhur is about 7 km from Kasaragod town. DTPC Kasaragod gives Kasaragod railway station as about 8.6 km away and Mangalore International Airport as about 60 km away.
Sources and attribution
- Kerala Tourism (Government of Kerala) — Madhur Temple
- Kerala Tourism (Government of Kerala) — Sri Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple
- Madhur Grama Panchayat (LSGD, Government of Kerala) — Madhur Sri Madanantheswara Siddhi Vinayaka Temple
- District Tourism Promotion Council, Kasaragod — Madhur Temple
- Wikipedia — Madhur Temple
Further reading: Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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