On the banks of the little Madhuvahini river near Kasaragod stands the Madhur temple — properly the Madanantheshwara-Siddhivinayaka temple, with its striking three-tiered, copper-plated “elephant-back” roofs. Its presiding deity is Shiva, but the temple is loved above all for a Ganesha, and for two legends that Kerala’s far north tells with delight.
The boy who drew a god
By tradition, the temple began as a Shiva shrine after an old woman named Madaru, of the local Tulu Moger community, found a self-manifested (udbhava) linga here. The Ganesha came later — and by accident. A boy, the story goes, idly drew the figure of Ganapathi on the southern wall of the sanctum while playing. Instead of fading, the drawing is said to have grown day by day, fatter and larger, until the children began calling him “Bodajja” — the big-bellied one. That affectionate, pot-bellied Ganapathi is now the deity people flock to Madhur to see.
Tipu’s sword and the well
The second legend belongs to the turbulent late 1700s. When Tipu Sultan of Mysore swept through Tulunadu and the far north, he is said to have meant to demolish Madhur as he had another temple nearby. But after drinking water from the temple well, the story goes, he changed his mind and marched on — leaving, to satisfy his soldiers, a single cut of his sword on the well’s masonry. That mark, tradition holds, can still be seen. Like all such tales it is legend rather than documented history, but it is part of how Madhur remembers itself.
Visiting
Madhur is about 7 km from Kasaragod town, an easy stop on a northern temple route. It is an active temple with a traditional dress code, and non-Hindus are not permitted into the sanctum — but the tiered roofs, the river setting and the stories make it worth the short trip.
- Madhur is about 7 km from Kasaragod town, on the Madhuvahini river.
- It is a traditional temple with a dress code; non-Hindus are not permitted into the sanctum.
- Combine it with Chandragiri Fort and the Malik Deenar Mosque for a day around Kasaragod town.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Madhur temple famous?
Madhur (the Madanantheshwara-Siddhivinayaka temple) near Kasaragod is a Shiva temple best loved for its “Bodajja” Ganapathi — said by legend to have grown from a boy’s drawing on the sanctum wall — and for its distinctive three-tiered elephant-back roofs.
What is the Tipu Sultan legend at Madhur?
By tradition, Tipu Sultan intended to demolish the temple but, after drinking from its well, changed his mind and left — making only a single sword-cut on the well to satisfy his soldiers. The mark is said to still be visible; it is a local legend rather than documented fact.
Can non-Hindus enter Madhur temple?
As at most traditional Kerala temples, non-Hindus are not permitted into the sanctum, and a dress code applies. The temple exterior, roofs and river setting can still be enjoyed.