Syed Madani Dargah
Ullal has the well-known dargah of saint Syed Mohammed Sheriful Madani. It is said that he came to Ullal from Medina about 400 years ago and camped in the mosque at Melangady of Ullal village and later married a local girl residing at Holakere of the village. He is credited with having performed several miracles and won admiration of the people.
The month-long 'urus' festival is held to commemorate him, at his tomb in Ullal once in five years. This is continued even now and attracts a large number of people of various castes, class, creed and communities.
The dargah, which was originally built shortly after the saint's death, was renovated and expanded four times. The present magnificent structure was constructed in 1970 and was designed by architect Fiazuddin Ahmed of Hyderabad.
An Arabic College with an attached hostel and an Arabic High School at Ullal and eleven other Arabic schools at different places are being run by the management of the Syed Madani Dargah.
Jumma Masjid Zeenath Baksh
The Jumma Masjid Zeenath Baksh situated in the Bunder area is a notable mosque. It is said to have been originally built several centuries back by early Arabian visitors who had landed on the west coast under the leadership of a saint named Malik Deenar. The mosque must have undergone several structural alterations in the course of subsequent centuries. It is stated that this place of worship was given the present form at the instance of Tipu Sultan towards the end of the eighteenth century. The wooden pillars, pulpit etc. in this mosque have exquisite and delicate ornamental carvings which are worth-seeing.
The Idgah Mosque on the Light-House Hill near the St. Aloysius College is a quadrangular structure where the Muslims of Mangalore offer the Idgah prayers after a mass procession which begins from the Jumma Masjid, Bunder. The Idgah Mosque is said to have been got constructed by Tipu Sultan towards the close of the eighteenth century. The Shamir Mosque in Dongarakery, which appears to be about two centuries old, has a dargah attached to it where the mortal remains of saint Shah Amir lay buried.
The Mangaladevi Temple
(in full: Mahatobhara Shree MangalaDevi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Bolara in the city of Mangalore, India, situated about three km southwest of the city centre. This temple has influenced the name and importance of Mangalore. The name Mangalore is derived from Goddess Mangaladevi, the main deity of the temple.
The temple dates back to the ninth century when Kundavarma, the most famous king of Ahepa dynasty, was ruling Tulunadu. During this period there were two holy saints of the NathMachendranatha and Gorakanatha, who came from Nepal. They reached Mangalapura, crossing the river Nethravathi. The place where they crossed the river came to be known as Gorakdandi. They chose a place near the banks of the Netravathi which was once the centre of activities of sage Kapila. cult,
Hearing about the arrival of the two saints, the king came to meet them. Introducing himself as the king of Tulunadu he paid his respects and offered them patronage. Pleased with the humility and virtues of the king, they informed him that his kingdom needed to be sanctified. They requested him to grant them land so that they could build a hermitage and make it a centre for their religious activities under his protection and patronage.
This ancient history surprised the king. He then came to know that his land was dedicated to mother Mangaladevi. The two saints took the king to the sites where all these historical events had taken place. They asked the king to dig the place and relieve the linga and the Dharapatra symbolising Mangaladevi and install them in a shrine along with Nagaraja for providing protection.
Kundavarma carried out the advice of the two sages. A grand shrine of Sri Mangaladevi was built on the hallowed place. The two sages themselves guided and supervised the execution of the work. The temple attained special significance as Mother Mangaladevi granted special favours, especially to maidens, who worshipped the goddess by observing Mangaladharavrata (Swayamvara Parvathi) and got their wish of a suitable husband fulfilled.
Even today the two temples Mangaladevi and Kadri have maintained their connection. The hermits of Kadri Yogirajmutt visit Mangaladevi temple on the first days of Kadri temple festival and offer prayer and silk clothes.
St. Aloysius College, Church - Mangalore
The St. Aloysius College Church was constructed in 1885 by Rev. Fr. Joseph Willy.It is designed on the architectural style and pattern of the Orator of St. Philip Neri in Rome. It has a marvelous gallery of paintings done by Br. Anthony Moschemi from 1902 to 1904. He had come from Italy in 1889. A number of scriptural episodes are powerfully drawn here and there is a panorama of the Biblical history from the creation of man to the resurrection of Christ. Besides the extensive murals on the walls, there are large canvas-paintings on the ceilings, loft, etc. He had attained an amazing degree of excellence both in the fresco technique and in the medium of oil colours. There are several master-pieces of this accomplished artist here such as the birth of Christ, baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, Christ with children, wedding feast at Cana, last supper which are highly fascinating and leave a lasting impression on the visitor's mind. This brilliant artist with a vision did more religious paintings in Bombay and Cochin also.
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