TALES FROM THE PAST

SRI SHANKARNARAYANA KSHETRAM, UDUPI DIST. (KAR) Shankaranarayana is considered one of the seven Parashurama Kshetram created by Maharshi Parashurama. This is one of the rare temples where we can see the confluence of Shiva and Sri Vishnu. It is also known as Kroda after Kroda Maharshi. Once, two demons Kharasura and Rattasura were harassing people. Maharishi meditated upon Shiva and Sri Vishnu together. Pleased with his meditation, the two came here as Shankaranarayana and killed the demons. Here, the main deity is in the form of Udbhava Linga. The swayambhu lingam of Shiva and Narayana is one feet below the ground, inside the Garbhagudi. It is not possible to see the lingam. The Shankara Lingam is on the right and Narayana Lingam on the left. While Shankara Lingam is round, Narayana Lingam is flat with foot prints of cow on it. These are believed to be that of Kamadhenu who dripped milk on the Lingam. There is water around Udbhava Linga at any time of the year. This holy water is call...

SRI SIGANDHUR CHOWDESHWARI KSHETRAM, SIGANDUR (KAR) Here, Devi is also called Sigandureshwari because of the name of the place Sigandur. The murti of Devi was found 300 years ago on the banks of the holy Sharavathi River. It is said that once a person called Sheshappa went for hunting near Sigandur and got lost inside the jungles. When he was resting below a tree, Devi came in his dream and asked him to build a shrine here. He told his experience to a Brahmin Duggajja and the two built a shrine. People with land dispute and people who lose their valuables reach Sigandur for solution. It is said that more than 20,000 such cases have been solved here. People who want to safeguard their land from the thieves get a board from the shrine. The board says “Shri deviya rakshane ide (meaning the land is safeguarded by the mother) and keep this board near the land. There is also a Bhoota Sthana here. It is said that Sri Veerabhadra in this Bhootada katte is taking care of security of Sigandhur.

SRI SIGANDHUR CHOWDESHWARI KSHETRAM, SIGANDUR (KAR) Here, Devi is also called Sigandureshwari because of the name of the place Sigandur.The murti of Devi was found 300 years ago on the banks of the holy Sharavathi River. It is said that once a person called Sheshappa went for hunting near Sigandur and got lost inside the jungles. When he was resting below a tree, Devi came in his dream and asked him to build a shrine here. He told his experience to a Brahmin Duggajja and the two built a shrine. People with land dispute and people who lose their valuables reach Sigandur for solution. It is said that more than 20,000 such cases have been solved here. People who want to safeguard their land from the thieves get a board from the shrine. The board says “Shri deviya rakshane ide (meaning the land is safeguarded by the mother) and keep this board near the land. There is also a Bhoota Sthana here. It is said that Sri Veerabhadra in this Bhootada katte is taking care of security of Sigandhur.

SRI APATSAHAYESWARAR, ALANGUDI (TN)  Navgraha kshetram dedicated to Shiva and where Sri Dakshinamurthy is worshipped as Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter/Brihaspati). The shrine is renowned for its tri-glories, i.e. Moorthy, sthalam and theertham (Holy Water). This place is believed to be the one where Shiva consumed the deadly poison (Ala Visham) that came out after samudra manthan. Hence, Shiva came to be called Apatsahayesvarar (One who defends from danger). Kshetram is believed to have been constructed by Amuthokar (a Shiva bhakt). He was the minister of King Masukuntha Chakravarti and was beheaded as he refused to give half of his Punya (merit) to the King. On his death, the sthalam reverberated with the sound ‘Amuthokar’. Frightened King prayed to Apatsahayeswarar and was relieved from all Doshas. Alangudi is surrounded by 3 holy rivers-Cauvery, Kolidam and Vennaru. Fifteen theerthams are around this kshetram. Amrita Pushkarani encircling the Kshetram is very famous. Chakra theertham in ...

SIRSI MARIKAMBA DEVI, UTTAR KANNADA DIST. (KAR)  Also known as Doddamma (elder sister of all Mariammas). Marikamba of Sirsi is both Mari (terror) as well as Maremma (savior). She is terror in anger & Mother in love. That is why she is called Marikamba. There was a man by the name of Asadi/ Basava. He used to attend a fair at the neighboring village. Once, he was harassed by some men due to his poor status. So he did not go to the fair. Instead, he stayed in his village Sirsi and prayed to Devi. One night, he had a dream where Devi Kali informed him about her presence in a tank at his village. When the tank was searched, people found a box with parts of murti. The different parts were assembled together and since then Sirsi Devi became popular in the region. The kshetram has extremely striking murals in ‘Kaavi’ art. It is an art form of the Konkan region of coastal Karnataka. This stunning art involves creation of patterns in red colour against a white background. Marikamba rath...

SRIKANTESHWARA KSHETRAM, NANJANGUDU (KAR)   Srikanteshwara is the biggest kshetram in Karnataka. The name of the town is derived from this kshetram dedicated to Shiva known here as Nanjundeshwara. The Dodda Yaathre festival here attracts thousands of devotees. During samudra manthan, poison emerged from the ocean. To prevent the poison from spreading across the universe and to destroy it, Shiva came to the rescue and drank it. Devi Parvathi then held his throat tightly to prevent the poison from spreading to the rest of his body. The poison remained in his throat, making it blue in color. So Shiva is also called Neelakantha (blue-throated). Nanjanagud literally means the place where Nanjundeshwara (Prabhu who drank poison) resides. Nanjundeswara is also described as one who cures diseases of his bhaktas. The Shiva Linga is believed to have been installed by Rishi Gautam. This Shiva Linga was also worshipped by Maharishi Parashurama to get cleansed from the sin of beheading his moth...