Shri Maha Ganapti Mahamaya Temple

This is one of the Kuladevata Temples with Bhats, Puraniks, Mallyas, Kudvas and Nayaks. The deities were in Goa in the area called Golti and Naveli. On account of the hostile religious policies pursued by the Portuguese rulers around 1560 A.D., these devotees left Goa. Being unable to take with them the idols, they invoked the presence of the deities in the silver trunk of Lord Ganesha and the face cover of the mother goddess Mahamaya and took it with them.

They reached Bhatkal and being unable to construct a temple immediately, kept these two symbols in a shop of a devotee. Later on, they constructed a temple in Shirali where it stands today.This temple is near the Chitrapur Mutt samsthan, Shirali. The main festival is the Car Festival on Margashira Shudda Navami (in the month of Nov./Dec.).