The Mridanga Saileswari Temple, located in Muzhakunnu, Kannur district, Kerala, India, is a renowned Hindu temple. It is among the 108 Durga temples of ancient Kerala and is devoted to Goddess Durga, also known as Mridanga Shaileshwari. Legend has it that the temple was established by Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The primary deity worshipped at the temple is Mridanga Saileswari, a four-armed form of Durga holding a conch and discus in two hands pointed upwards. Her front right hand is raised in a blessing gesture towards devotees, while her front left hand rests on her waist. The goddess is believed to have two forms, Mridangaleswari and Sreeporkali.
The temple is open from 5 AM to 12:30 PM and from 5 PM to 8 PM. The main offering at the temple is Neyvilakku (Ghee lamp).
The temple is enveloped by lush trees, giving it the appearance of a forest temple. Its name, “Mridangashaila Nilayam”, derives from the legend that a Mridanga, a percussion instrument, descended from the heavens onto this very spot, hence the name.