Kaikini is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Bhatkaltaluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka. One of the ancient temple, Shree Shivamuneeshwara Shantadurga Temple, established in the year 1752, is situated in Kaikini. Every year the Navratri festival is celebrated with pomp and splendour. Devotees from far away places like Mumbai, Mangalore, Bangalore, Pune, Dharwad, etc. visit the temple for this annual ritual of the Navratri festival. Shri Shivamuneeshwar Shantadurga Devasthan, Kaikini, is an ancient and powerful shrine of Holy MotherShree Shantadurga and the saint Shree Shivamuni, belonging to KAIKINI Family of Chitrapur Saraswat Community, located in Kaikini Village of Bhatkal Taluk, Karnataka State, Seven Kilo Meters North of Shri Chitrapur Math, Shirali. This Holy Shrine is dedicated to Goddess Shri Shantadurga. The very location of the temple, its antiquity, and the divinity of the magnificent temple creates a memorable feeling of devotion and piety. This Holy Shrine was built by Shree Shivayya Pandit of Kaikini family who later came to be known as ‘Shivamuni’ after taking Sanyasa Deeksha from his Guru Shri Swami Chidanand of Bailur Math. He was an ardent Sadhaka of Holy Mother Shree Shantadurga. The following deities are worshiped in this temple since times unknown. Shree Shivaling on the Samadhi of the Saint Shri Shivamuni Shree Shantadurga and Shree Mahakali which were brought by the ancestors from Goa when leaving their home during the cruel times of Portuguese Inquisition. Shree Gopalakrishna and Shree Chakra which was received by Shri Shivamuni from his Guru Shri Chidanand as Holy Prasad. Shree Shivamuni attained Samadhi by being merged with the Eternal and Supreme Brahman in Shakayear 1674, Angirasa Samvatsara in the forenoon of Saturday, Vadi of 5th Adhika Ashadha, when the Sun was in Dakshinayana in the sign Mithuna with the planet Jupiter. His Holy Samadhi is in this Temple of Shree Shantadurga, the Presiding Deity, and hence the name of the temple is "Shree Shivamuneeshwar Shantadurga Devasthan". This temple is situated in beautiful serene and natural green surroundings sanctified by the presence of Parivara Devata, Shree Kshetrapala and Holy Shree Naga Devata in the outer surroundings and Shree Shivaling, Shree Shantdurga, Shree Mahakali, Shree Gopalakrishna and Shre Chakra, in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Temple was renovated in 2014 and Shikhara Kalasha Sthapana, Shri Naga Punarpratishtapana was performed on Friday, 9 February 2014 by Param Poojya Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji, Mathadhipati, Shri Chitrapur Math, Shirali.
Demographics
As of 2001 Indiacensus, Kaikini had a population of 9293 with 4518 males and 4775 females.
