Puttur Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple is a 12th-century temple located in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, popularly known as Puttur Mahalingeshwara.
In the distant past, three elderly and highly learned Brahmins of the Shaiva tradition were traveling through the southern part of India. They were carrying a Shiva Linga that they had obtained from the sacred Hindu pilgrimage site of Kashi.
All three were devout followers of Shiva. During their spiritual journey, they eventually arrived at a place called ‘Gayapada Kshetra,’ which is now known as Uppinangady in Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada.
At Uppinangady, one of the three Brahmins decided to travel towards Puttur, leaving the other two behind. He eventually reached Puttur one evening, carrying the Shiva Linga with him.