Talakadu once famed for temples are now drowned under the sand dunes, yet there are few temples. Among all these temples are five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are famously known for Panchalinga darshan, is believed to be very auspicious. The temples are namely:
• Vaidyanatheshwara Temple
• Vasukishwara or Pataleshwara Temple
• Saikateshwara or Maruleshwara Temple
• Arkeshwara Temple and
• Mallikarjuna Temple
These five temples are believed to be the five faces of Shiva famed as Pancha pathi. In honor of these five Shiva temples a fair is held called Panchalinga darshan. It is conducted during an auspicious period according to Hindu Panchang. It is believed that taking the darshan of these five Shivling darshan during the certain period of auspicious time helps in attaining peace and prosperity. This pancha linga darshan is usually held once in twelve, seven, five or three years at Talakadu where devotees undertake the darshan to fulfill their desires. Depending on the astrological calculations, the darshan in twelve years cycle is broken. But usually the occasion is held every once in twelve years on a new moon day of Karthika maasa (On a monday when the planet Sun is in the zodiac sign of scorpio). Devotees start the ritual by dipping in the dawn at Gokarna theertha. Then they start worshipping Gokarneshwara, Chandikadevi and then the main deity Vaidyanatheshwara. Then the devotees start bathing in northern, eastern, southern and western stretches of the river Cauvery and continue to worship Lord Arkeshwara, Lord Pataleshwara, Lord Maruleshwara, Lord Mallikarjuna accordingly by returning to Vaidyanatheshwara temple after each worship. And finally by worshipping Lord Keerthinarayana, devotees conclude the ritual of the day.