Karthika Masam Temples in Karnataka: Dharmasthala Laksha Deepotsava and Shiva Temples for 2026

Quick answer: Karthika Masa 2026 runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026 in Karnataka, with Karthika Pournami (Karthika Hunnime) on Tuesday 24 November 2026. The best-known Karthika Masam temples in Karnataka are Dharmasthala Manjunatha, Murudeshwar, Gokarna Mahabaleshwara, Nanjangud Srikanteshwara, Kukke Subramanya and Male Mahadeshwara Hills. Dharmasthala is famous for its Laksha Deepotsava, a festival of one lakh lamps held in Karthika. Its exact dates are announced by the temple each year.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. It covers each temple's deity, district and legend as commonly told, and the Karthika deepotsava traditions of Karnataka. We do not give darshan timings, seva prices or event dates. Please check the temple's official website before you travel.

Karthika Masa 2026 in Karnataka: dates and deepotsava traditions

In Karnataka, Karthika masa is the month of lamps. Across the state, temples hold Karthika deepotsava, when rows of clay lamps are lit around the shrine, on the steps of temple tanks and along the outer walls. Families light lamps at home every evening, and many hang a lamp high outside the house. Mondays (Karthika Somavara) are kept for Shiva worship, and Karthika Hunnime is one of the brightest nights of the year.

• Karthika Masa begins: Tuesday 10 November 2026 (Kartika Shukla Pratipada), in the amanta calendar.
• Karthika Somavara: every Monday of the month, with special abhisheka and lamp offerings at Shiva temples.
• Karthika Hunnime (Pournami): Tuesday 24 November 2026.
• Karthika Masa ends: Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Amavasya).

Many temples hold their own Laksha Deepotsava or deepotsava on a day of their choosing within the month, so dates differ from temple to temple. See our Karthika Masam 2026 guide for the meaning of the month and its observances.

The temples at a glance

Karnataka temples to visit in Karthika Masa

1. Dharmasthala Manjunatha and the Laksha Deepotsava

Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala stands on the Nethravathi river in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada. Lord Manjunatha, a form of Shiva, is worshipped by Madhva Vaishnava priests, while the temple is administered by the Jain Heggade family, whose head serves as the Dharmadhikari. This harmony of traditions, together with free annadana for every pilgrim, makes Dharmasthala one of the most respected temples in South India.

The temple's great Karthika event is the Laksha Deepotsava, when the temple and the town are lit with lamps over several days and the deity is taken out in procession. The festival is traditionally accompanied by a gathering on religious harmony and a literary gathering. The exact dates are announced by the temple each year, so please check the official Dharmasthala website before planning. Read our full Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple guide.

2. Murudeshwar

Murudeshwar is a coastal town in Bhatkal taluk of Uttara Kannada, where the temple stands on Kanduka Giri, a small hill with the Arabian Sea on three sides. It is famous for a giant seated statue of Lord Shiva, often described as one of the tallest in the world, and for a very tall gopuram. According to the Atmalinga legend, a piece of the cloth covering the Atmalinga fell here when Ravana tried to pull it out at Gokarna. A lamp offered to Shiva beside the sea on a Karthika evening is a memorable experience. See our Murudeshwara temple guide.

3. Gokarna Mahabaleshwara

Gokarna, in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada, is one of the holiest Shiva kshetras on the west coast. The Mahabaleshwara temple enshrines the Atmalinga. In the well-known legend, Ravana obtained the Atmalinga from Shiva on the condition that it must not be placed on the ground. Lord Ganesha, disguised as a cowherd boy, placed it down at Gokarna, and it could not be moved again. Ravana's great effort to lift it gave the Lord the name Mahabala, the mighty one. Devotees bathe in the sea and at Kotitirtha before darshan. Gokarna is also known for its ancestral rites.

4. Nanjangud Srikanteshwara

Nanjangud, on the Kapila (Kabini) river in Mysuru district, is home to the Srikanteshwara temple, also called Nanjundeshwara. The name recalls Shiva drinking the poison (nanju) that rose from the churning of the ocean, which turned his throat blue. The temple is very large, with a tall gopuram, and it is often called the Dakshina Kashi of Karnataka. It is a short trip from Mysuru, and devotees visit in large numbers on Karthika Mondays. Many families also combine it with a visit to the Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi Hills.

5. Kukke Subramanya

Kukke Subramanya, on the Kumaradhara river in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada, is dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya, worshipped here together with the serpent king Vasuki. It is one of the most important temples in India for Naga worship and for rites to remove Sarpa dosha. Its biggest festival, Champa Shashti, falls in the next month, Margashira, so it is not part of Karthika. Even so, many devotees visit in Karthika, often on the same trip as Dharmasthala. Check the temple's official website for festival dates.

6. Male Mahadeshwara Hills

The Male Mahadeshwara temple stands at MM Hills in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, in forested hills near the Tamil Nadu border. Mahadeshwara, lovingly called Madappa, was a Shaiva saint whom devotees worship as a form of Lord Shiva, and he is pictured riding a tiger. The temple's great festivals fall around Deepavali, Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi, and lamp worship is popular in Karthika. See our Male Mahadeshwara temple guide.

Planning a Karthika temple trip in Karnataka

• Coastal circuit: Dharmasthala and Kukke Subramanya are often combined, and Udupi and Mangaluru are nearby. Gokarna and Murudeshwar lie further north on the Uttara Kannada coast and pair well together.
• Mysuru circuit: Nanjangud is an easy trip from Mysuru, and MM Hills can be added if you allow a full day.
• Deepotsava dates: each temple announces its own deepotsava dates. Always confirm on the temple's official website.
• Crowds: Mondays, Karthika Hunnime and deepotsava nights are the busiest. Book accommodation early if you plan to attend a deepotsava.
• Timings: special Karthika arrangements change each year. Check the temple's official website before you travel.

Tips for NRIs visiting in Karthika

• Dress: traditional or modest clothing is expected. Some coastal Karnataka temples ask men to remove shirts before entering the sanctum; follow local instructions.
• Annadana: several of these temples serve free meals to pilgrims. Respect the queue and the rules of the dining hall.
• Elders and children: deepotsava nights are crowded. Keep children close and agree on a meeting point.
• From abroad: if you cannot travel this year, light a row of lamps at home on Karthika Hunnime and on Mondays, and take part in deepotsava events at your local temple.

Frequently asked questions

When is Karthika Masa 2026 in Karnataka?

Karthika Masa 2026 begins on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and ends on Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Amavasya), following the amanta calendar used in Karnataka. Karthika Pournami (Karthika Hunnime) is on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

When is the Dharmasthala Laksha Deepotsava in 2026?

The Laksha Deepotsava at Dharmasthala is held during Karthika masa, and its exact dates are announced by the temple each year. Please check the official Dharmasthala website for the 2026 announcement before you plan your trip.

What is Laksha Deepotsava?

Laksha Deepotsava means a festival of one lakh (one hundred thousand) lamps. At Dharmasthala and at several other Karnataka temples, rows of lamps are lit around the temple and the town during Karthika, and the festival is accompanied by processions and cultural and religious gatherings.

Is Kukke Subramanya Champa Shashti in Karthika?

No. Champa Shashti, the most important festival at Kukke Subramanya, falls in the following month, Margashira. Kukke is still visited by many devotees during Karthika, and some families plan one trip that covers both months. Check the temple's official website for the dates.

Which Karthika temples in Karnataka are linked to the Atmalinga legend?

Gokarna and Murudeshwar are both linked to the Atmalinga legend. In the story, Ganesha tricked Ravana into placing the Atmalinga on the ground at Gokarna. When Ravana tried to pull it out, pieces of its covering were scattered, and one of them is said to have fallen at Murudeshwar.

Where can I find darshan timings and seva details?

We do not list timings, seva prices or contact details, because they change, especially during festivals. Please check each temple's official website before you travel.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. It covers well-established facts about these Karnataka temples and their legends as commonly told. Karthika Masa 2026 dates follow the Drik Panchang amanta month. The Dharmasthala Laksha Deepotsava dates are announced by the temple each year, so we have not given a date. We have also not given darshan timings, seva prices, distances or transport details, which change. Please check each temple's official website before you travel.

Related guides

• Karthika Masam 2026
• Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple guide
• Murudeshwara temple guide
• Male Mahadeshwara temple guide
• Kotilingeshwara temple guide
• Karthika Pournami 2026
• Karthika Snanam and Deepa Daanam 2026
• Karthika Masam 2026: Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh