Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple

Shree Rajarajeshwari temple is located at Polali in Kariyangala Village of Bantwal Taluk in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka State. Shree Kshetra Polali is in the heart of this village surrounded by high hillocks and wide paddy fields. River Phalguni flows from east on the northern side a furlong way from the temple. It turns left towards south at the back of the temple in the Western side. This place was being called as Pural and the deity in the temple was known as Porala Devi in several old records and ancient epigraphs available.

Puliapura is its Sanskrit version. In Kannada this is called Polali. It is believed that King Suratha got the temple constructed, installed the image and placed his own crown on the head of the image. This is an ancient temple. This temple has been alluded to in the Ashokan inscriptions and in the reports of the foreign travelers who visited India. Queen Chennammaji of Keladi visited Polali and got a grand chariot constructed for the temple.

Being a pilgrimage Centre, Polali attracts travelers and tourists with its natural scenic beauty and serenity. Polali Chendu is a unique festival in this temple, which will be performed during annual festival of the temple.

Daily worship, Special worship, Religious services and Festivals: Daily poojas and special poojas in this temple are done as laid down in Durgagama and Skandagama. The daily morning pooja is regularly done at 8.30 a.m. The noon Mahapooja is daily conducted at 12.30 p.m. and the night pooja takes place at 8.30 p.m. The ‘Kartika pooja’ and the Flower pooja’ offered by the devotees are performed only during the time of the daily poojas and not at other times.