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"Chitrapura," named after a tiny village, "Kulai" in Mangalore Taluk, is now a famous pilgrimage center of Goddess Durgaparameshwari and a seat Madhwa mutt of Pejavara peetha founded by Shree Shree Vijayatheertha Swamiji in the 13th Century. Goddess Durgaparameshwari is worshipped here in the form of Linga - a rare phenomenon to witness, and she is believed to be an incarnation of Jaladurga. One of the saptadurga Devi and considered as a powerful shakthisthala.

As the legend goes, the Saptadurga sisters where incarnation took place stayed as Shaktidevatas at Chitrapur, Sasihitlu, Polali, Kateelu, Murdakar, Kunjaru, and at Bappanadu places after killing the DARIGASURA, a Demon king. The places where this Durgadevi has stayed came to be known as Shaktikendras.

It is believed that "Chitrapura," the name being called, came after the Demons Chitrasura and Vichitrasura were killed by Jaladurga, the younger sister of Sapta Durgas. The story goes like this; the two demons followers of Darigasura were wandering in search of Jaladurga to take revenge of their master's death and on their sojourn happens to meet a Gandharva by the name of Chitraksha along with his two beautiful wives. By seeing the beauty of his wives, they took them away by defeating him in the fight. Helpless Gandharva prays God Hari for his rescue. At the instruction of Sreehari, Goddess Jaladurga, with her divine power, kills these two demons and rescues the wives of Gandharva. However, she blesses the dying Rakshas by calling the place of their death in their name Chitrapura or Vichitrapura. She also stays there along with Mahakali, her aid in the battle in the form of Udbhavalinga.

Historically it is also told that there lived two couples by the name Kantu and Kaldi who were earning livehood by fishing and in cane work. One day Kaldi, who was sharpening her knife on a stone to cut the cane, finds blood coming out of the stone in the process. Astonishing with this strange happening calling it as vichitrasangati. She dies on the spot with fear. It is believed the stone she was sharpening is the Udbhavalinga of goddess Durga stayed there in the form of linga. The place where this strange thing happened has got its name as Chitrapura.

Incidentally, Sri Vijayatheertha Swamiji of Madhwa seat of Dwaita principal of Madhwacharya happens to travel on the way where goddess jaladurga stayed in udbhava linga form came to know her existence in his dream and asked by Sridurga to construct a temple for her at that place identifying her as the Bloodmark on a stone in the vicinity. She also directs him to build a temple for the Harijan woman Kaldi who died by seeing the stone's blood while sharpening her knife. Accordingly, the very next day, on his search Sri Vijayadwaja had to pass through a river that was overflowing and seeks the help of a boatman for the purpose. The boatman refuses to take him on his boat. As such, the Swamiji, with his divine power, crosses the river and curses the boatman for getting the form of a worm. However, as the boatman requests his mercy, the saint blesses him with an alternative to his transformation by calling the temple being constructed by him according to the wishes of Sri Durga Devi as Pulupinalaya is the temple of worms. As such, the temple is being called pulipinalaya also. Then continuing his so form, Swamiji finds the strong formation Sri Durga Devi and performs poojas and Arathi amidst his disciples and village people. He seeks the help of Sree Veeraprathana Harihararaya of Vijayanagar, who comes to Mangalapura and directs the palayasur of the place Sri Pandavideva who was reluctant in the beginning to do so but agrees to provide all help fearing the wrath of Sri Harihavaraya. The temple was thus constructed in the direction of Shree Vijayatheertha and with the assistance of Paleyagar Pandarideva. Sri vijayateertha Swamiji then performs the Asthabhanda Bramha Kalashotsava and other poojas to Sri Durgaparameswari and establishes a mutt there, which came to be known as Chitrapur Mutt, making one of his disciples as the head of the mutt calling him as Sree vidyadhiraja Theertha Swamiji and offers Kaliya mardhna Krishna Krishnavigraha for his daily poojas named as Kaliyamardhana Krishna. Sri Vijayatheertha Swamiji returns to his original mutt after establishes the temple and the mutt at chitrapur (13th century). The temple stone inscriptive reveals the fact of the offering made by paleyagar. Madarasa to Sri Durgadevi temple in 1320 AD, and by the sons of Bachappasenabova in 1326 AD and provides the records for its yearlong history of existence.