December 27, 2023
Started from Kateel (with the destination as Karkala)
(1) Lakshmi Janardana temple (at Yellinje)
- As per the priest:
(a) Krishna is "moksha phala daata" here
(b) You don't ask him- "give me this, give me that" at this temple.
You talk to Janardana as though you talk to your mother at this temple.
(c) But through Lakshmi, you can ask for "worldly boons" too.
Ganesha's speciality in this temple:
(a) Has 3 eyes (3rd eye is visible during milk-abhisheka)
(b) One hand has the broken "danta" and another holds a "maala" (rudraksha-maalaa)
(c) the hair is matted (no crown)
While entering this temple, you see peacocks/peahens on the trees and fields and numerous bats hanging upside down from the tree-top!
(2) Koragajja temple (at Jaregekatte)
- This is "Kantara" film "bhuta kola" region
- "Koragajja" is one such deity.
- Along with "Koragajja", another deity with varaha-like face (banti-mukha) is also present
- This is the only place, where both these deities are present together.
- Both these deities are ornately decorated
- On the walls, are performances of "bhuta kola". It happens here!
(3) Mahalingeshwara temple (at Posralu)
The priest said:
- Shiva worship in the Madhwa region: (i.e. to the west of Sakleshpur) follows this pattern:
- The main shrine has a shiva linga as well as a shaalagrama (Vishnu)
- Abhisheka is done to the shaalagrama and the water is given as teertha
- Hence, though it is a shiva temple, the prasada is not vibhuti, but teertha and chandanam.
- Idol of Brahma outside. After Pushkar, this is the place! It has Braahmi on one side (female) and Brahma (male) at the back of the same idol. It has 4 heads.
(4) Durga Parameshwari temple (at Mundukur)
(5) Shree Mahalingeshwara temple (at Inna)
(6) Shree Durga Parameshwari temple (at Belvan (also called bailavana))
- You have to climb a flight of stairs to reach this temple
- Temple is old- monkeys, dogs...abound.
- As they say, "sylvan surroundings", fields, trees, vegetation- treat to the eyes
(7) Mahalingeshwara temple (at Muddanu/Nandalike)
As per the priest
- Sanyasis could not get bhiksha unless there is a temple
- This shiva temple came into existsnce in this place, to address this problem.
- It is over a 1000 years old
- Vadiraja's (Madhwa saint) prabhaavali is also present in the main shrine along with the shiva linga.
- Like in other places, the shiva shrine also carries a shaalagraama.
- Nandi is within the main sanctum (out of bounds for devotees)
- That's because this temple is also associated with Jaina tradition and the amalgam created this unique construct!
- Shiva, the lighted lamps, Nandi...all of it...make this temple a standout!
- Cannot explain in words. But there is a special beauty in this shiva temple.
Special notes:
- Like in Kerala, you cannot do a full pradakshina in the shiva temples. You have to go clockwise to a point, and then trace your way back, and cover the remainder "anti-clockwise". The devotee must note this point carefully. As per the priest, abhisheka jala is like Ganga and that flows across the prakara. You should not cross Ganga. Hence, this arrangement while doing pradakshina.
We reached Karkala by lunch-time. Karkala looks like this:
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| Karkala looks like this! Anantapadmanabha swamy temple right ahead |
Post lunch session:
(8) Anantapadmanabha swamy temple (at Karkala)
- The priest was chanting Vishnu sahasranama with no one in the temple- at the slowest pace that can be imagined. It takes him 2 hours to chant- focusing on one nama at a time!
- He explained the idol and the temple as follows-
(a) Reclining Vishnu with Brahma emanating from the navel. Sridevi and Bhudevi are also present behind Anantashayana.
(b) Idol was thrown in a lake centuries ago.
(c) It was retrieved by the saint Vadiraja and installed here
(d) Around the prakara are:
Vishnu as Damodara, Ganesha and behind him Sankarshana murti, Vishnu as para-Vaasudeva
(9) Maariyamma temple (at Karkala)
- Temple looks very new, with excellent spot lighting and renovation, all tastefully done
- The main deity, Maariyamma is new. But the center, gold mariyamma is very ancient. So are certain other features of the temple- they are all old, but the temple has a brand new look.
- Beside this temple, is a Hanuman shrine, which is equally beautiful.
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(10) Venkataramanaa temple (at Karkala)
- The priest said:
(a) The main shrine is arranged in tiers. Srinivasa is at the top and in the middle, is Venkataramanaa. Both are the same deities but find presence in different tiers.
(b) The pillars are extremely ornate- cannot be expressed in words. The priest inserted a darbha through flowery patterns (on the pillars) crafted in rock.
On the pillars are the following figurines:
(1) Narada and Tumburu - as "saalokya"mukti examples
(2) Garuda and Hanuman- as "saameepya" mukti examples
(3) Prahlada and Dhruva- as "saannidhya" mukti examples
(4) Bhagavan himself- as the "saayujya" mukti example
Apparently, the pillars are "relatively new" as per the priest (100 years old). But the temple is very ancient.
(11) Veera Maruti gudi (at Karkala)
- Facing Venkataramanaa temple
(12) Bahubali (at Karkala)
- On top of a rocky hill (can drive to the top)
- Imposing and gigantic- but not as big as Shravana Belagola
- It was constructed 600 years ago (hence, newer than the sharavana belagola one, which is 1000 years old)
- From the top- we can see hills all around, and a brilliant sunset (reached the top just after the sun went down) so that the sky was completely orange (like in the filter-photographs!)
(13) Devaki carrying Krishna temple + Ravalanaatha (at Karkala)
- Non-kerala style temple (the initial structure) with unique shrine of Devaki carrying baby krishna.
- Also, in the same complex, we have "Ravalanaatha" (Shiva as Kaala-Bhairava)- he is imposing with sword in hand and moustache. Kaala-bhairava wears an insignia on the chest in gold which shows a miniature kaala-bhairava + dog vaahana.
(14) Parvaje Mahalingeshwara temple (at Karkala)
- Witnessed an elaborate evening abhishekam + multi-deepam aarati
(15) Padmavati temple (at Karkala)
- This is next to the Anantapadmanabha swamy temple
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