Mahadeshwara Betta
Location
Mahadeshwara temple is situated 80km to the east of Kollegala in Mysore district. The Mahadeshwara Temple is 935.27meter above the sea level. It is around 60-70km in area. Around one kilometer from the temple is Saloor Mutt, a famous Veerashaiva Mutt.
Festival
The festival celebrated at Malai Mahadeshwara temple is famous all over the state for its religious harmony. Even Kannada literature narrates this festival very colorfully.
Igutappa
This temple, built by Kempe Gowda, houses the magnificent stone statue of the sacred bull, Nandi. It stands over 15 feet tall and is over 20 feet long . In Nov/Dec every year, when the groundnuts have been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near the temple. The first groundnuts are offered by the farmers to the sacred bull.
Hiremagalur
Hiremagalur, 4km outside Chikmagalur, is joined to its larger neighbour by history, its name literally means elder sister, and records how the places were gifted to two daughters of a local landowner. If you find your self in the area and have an hour or two to spare, a visit to the tiny Rama Temple at Hiremagalur is extremely educational. Sri Kannan, the friendly chief priest at the temple, will be too happy to explain the history and traditions of the place. It’s a welcome change to hovering on the threshold of yet another temple and wondering what it’s all about.
Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple
Bhagamandala is located at the convergence of three revered rivers, the Cauvery, Sujyothi and Kanike. Hindu Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala, like the Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri, has a Keralan influence. It is a serene place, with a copper plated roof, and intricate carvings. A dip in the bath at Trevni Sangama nearby is meant to revive the spirits of all jaded travellers-but ask at the temple first.
Talacauvery is also very significant to Hindus. It is the start of the mighty Cauvery River, one of the seven sacred rivers in India, which flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Telecauvery is the site of a majestic festival, held at the two temples dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh.
Sringeri
Location
Sringeri is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centers in Karnataka, and is home to the Sarada Peetham established by the revered spiritual leader Aadi Sankaracharya. Sringeri is located amidst the Sahyadri hills in Chikmaglur district of Karnataka on the left bank of the river Tungabhadra. The nearest railhead is Birur on the Bangalore – Pune railroad. The nearest airport is at Mangalore (150 km). Bangalore is at a distance of 336 km from Sringeri. The main point of interest is the Vidyashanakar Temple, which dates from the 14th century. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural features. It stands on a richly sculptured basement. There are six doorways leading into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam are named the Raasi pillars, and are so arranged that the sun’s rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.
The temple built of golden-coloured stone, sits on a low platform in the middle of a large paved area. The mandapam is remarkable for its 12 zodiac pillars, known as Rasikambhas, whish are placed so that the early morning sun falls on a different one during each solar month. Each pillar bears a design of a rearing animal, with rider on its back. The exterior of the temple is richly ornamented with sculptures.
Legend
Aadi Sankaracharya established the Sarada Peetham here in the 1st millennium CE, and installed an image of Sarada with a Sri Chakra in front of her, and started the Bharati Sampradaya to propagate the philosophy of non dualism Sankara’s disciple Sureshwaracharya was the first head of the Sringeri Peetham. Vidyashankara of Vidyathirtha, who was the head of this Peetham for a period of 105 years from 1228 CE to 1333 CE is considered to be one of the greatest Gurus of this Peetham. Vidyaranya who headed the Peetham from 1331 CE to 1386 CE was another extraordinary leader, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire. Vidyaranya built rulers the Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri in memory of Guru Vidyashankara, with the aid of the Vijayanagar rulers in the 14th century. The golden image of Sarada was also installed then at the Sarada temple. The temple also houses ruby images of Venugopala and Srinivasa and a Nandi made out of a large pearl. Several inscriptions are seen in the temple, describing contributions made by the Vijayanagar emperors. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural features. It stands on a richly sculptured basement. There are six doorways leading into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam are named the Raasi pillars, and are so arranged that the sun’s rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.
Each column also has a large rearing lion, with non removable rolling stone balls in its mouth. A circular shikhara crowns the sanctum. This temple also features 61 images carved in bas relief, of various scenes from the puranas. Buddha is depicted as one of the incarnations of Vishnu here. From across the river, this temple looks seated like a majestic swan. Tippu Sultan of Srirangapatna is believed to have made gifts to Sringeri for the conduct of the Sahasra Chandi Japa for the welfare of the country.
The Saradamba Temple: Sarada Devi is enshrined seated on the Sri Chakra Peetham, holding a Japa Mala, with a parrot perched on the top of her hand. The original image of sandalwood was installed by Adi Sankaracharya, and it was replaced with a golden image, in the 14th century. The processional image of Saradamba is enshrined in the sourhern prakaram.
Omkareshwar
This temple deidcated to Shiva was built in the 19th century in a mix of Gothic and Islamic styles. It is built around a central pool. Mercara is situated in the beautiful Kodagu district in the Western Ghats.
TalaCauvery
Bhagamandala is located at the convergence of three revered rivers, the Cauvery, Sujyothi and Kanike. Hindu Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala, like the Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri, has a Keralan influence. It is a serene place, with a copper plated roof, and intricate carvings. A dip in the bath at Trevni Sangama nearby is meant to revive the spirits of all jaded travellers-but ask at the temple first.
Talacauvery is also very significant to Hindus. It is the start of the mighty Cauvery River, one of the seven sacred rivers in India, which flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Telecauvery is the site of a majestic festival, held at the two temples dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh.
Horanadu
Set amidst enchanting natural scenery, Horanadu is 100 kms south-west of Chikmagalur and has an ancient temple of Annapoorneshwari which has been renovated recently. With the installation of the new image of Adi Shakti, now the temple is called Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shri Annapoorneshwari. The place attracts lots of pilgrims who are provided free boarding and lodging by the temple.
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