Nestled amidst the lush greenery on the southern banks of the Payaswini River, the Gudde Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple is located in Adoor, Kasaragod. Built in the 13th century, this sacred site is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as a Shiva Linga. The temple's historical significance is enriched by a Sanskrit inscription written in Kannada, attributed to Kirthivarman II, a ruler of the Western Chalukya dynasty. According to legend, this site was the battlefield for the Kiratha Yudham, where Lord Shiva, disguised as a hunter, engaged in combat with Arjuna, the Pandava prince from the Mahabharata. After blessing Arjuna with divine arrows following the battle, Shiva
more inspired the construction of this temple, which Arjuna is said to have built. The epic tale of Kiratha Yudham is immortalized in the carvings on the Valiya Bali Kallu (sacred stone) within the temple complex, adding a mystical charm to its spiritual ambience.
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