Pancha Bhoota Sthalams: The 5 Shiva Temples
The Pancha Bhoota Sthalams are ancient Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the God of Gods. Located in the South…
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Kotilingeshwara Temple is a sacred temple in Hindu mythology and an auspicious shrine in India. This is one of the popular temples in the state of Karnataka.
The temple is dedicated to lord shiva. This is established in Kammasandra village. Thousands of followers visit the temple on special occasions.
On the days of Mahashivratri, Dussehra, and Ramnavami, the count of devotees and tourists increases.
In this article, we are going to talk about the Kotilingeshwar temple’s history, darshan timings, and its significance in Hinduism.
The temple draws large pilgrims during weekends. This is preferred to reach the temple early in the morning (preferably, 8 AM) to avoid the crowd.
The major festival of the temple is Mahashivratri, which is celebrated with enthusiasm and usually draws around 2 lakh devotees.
The temple is accessible to devotees at the following times:
Aarti Timings:
The temple organizes many aarti ceremonies:
Pooja & Seva Offerings:
|
Pooja / Seva |
Time |
| Temple Opening |
6:00 AM |
|
Abhishekam Pooja |
6:10 AM |
| Maha Mangala Aarti & Naivedya |
7:00 AM |
|
Maha Prasad Distribution |
7:15 AM |
| Darshan Begins |
7:15 AM |
In Kannada, ‘koti’ means a core, and Kotilingeshwar is 1 crore shivalingas. The temple has the largest shivalinga, which is installed along with 90 lakhs of other shivalingas of numerous sizes.
Along with a 33mts shivalinga and an 11mts high lord nandi, the bull is the main center of the place.
Followers can donate different sizes of shivalinga that can be set up in the name of the donor who offered it. The road to the temple is easily accessible and found in Kammasanadra village.
Also, when there are a lot of devotees who visit the temple every day, it draws millions of people on special occasions like Mahashivratri.
In the temple, you will see 11 smaller temples devoted to other lords such as Lord Ram, Vishnu, Mahesh, Brahma, Goddess Karumaari, Lord venkataramni swamy, Goddess Annapoorneshwari, and Amma, and many others.
The Kotilingeshwar Temple is one of the biggest Shiva linga in the world. Around the world, devotees seek blessings and make valuable offerings and huge donations to the temple.
The temple was developed by Sri Manjunatha. He belongs to the Brahmin family, Shivait category. He was an atheist and never had faith in god.
But Manjunatha’s family followed lord shiva. This is a wonderful temple located at Kammasandra village between Bangrapet and Bethamangala.
The lord is thought to be the largest Shivalinga in the world, with a height of 108 ft. There are 35-foot-tall Nandis just in front of the Shiva idol.
Swami Shiva Murthy developed the temple, and in the same year, the first linga was established in the complex of the temple.
The different deities within the temple are lord Brahma, lord vishnu, and lord Maheshwara. The name of ‘Kotilingheshwar’ itself explains ‘lord of a crore lingas’ (a crore being ten million).
The temple is open year-round, without any boundaries. Hence, irrespective of the day or month of the year, you can seek the blessings of the lord in a temple.
Moreover, there are special days throughout the year when the splendor of the temple goes up a notch.
Visiting the temple during the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri allows you to witness the big celebrations.
As Karnataka experiences hot and humid weather during summer, it’s right to avoid those days.
You can schedule your visit in the winter, i.e, between October and March. The weather is pleasing and perfect for exploring the outdoor spots.
The legend said that a sage called Gautama was cursed by lord indra, and to free himself from the curse, the sage established a Shiva linga and offered prayers to the lord.
He worships the lingam with 10 million river waters. The same Shiva lingam can now be seen in the precincts of the temples.
The temple is known to believers of lord shiva and the Maha Shivratri festival, which is performed in the temple with a lot of fervour.
As the temple is not old, all the basic needs are available for the pilgrims and tourists visiting the temple.
There are restrooms, washrooms, taps at different places for washing hands, a marriage hall where bulk marriages are performed, a meditation hall, and an exhibition center on the complex.
There is even a small market selling knick-knacks, small shivlingas, and puja materials outside of the temple. Kotilingeshwara Temple has ample parking spaces available along with food stalls.
It is advised to have basic details to know about the temple to make your temple visit memorable. It’s about the timings, entrance fees, and rules.
The temple opens in the morning from 7 AM to 9:30 PM. You have to reach the temple gates to hold your space in the waiting line, which can be long.
The management inside the temple is swift and arranged, making the darshan and offering hassle-free from the crowded line of devotees.
The authority of the temple charges 20rs according to the Kotilingeshwara temple. It is only applicable for adults and children who enter the temple complex for free.
The fee is the same for all devotees, and there are no extra amenities or favours for special darshans.
If you are bringing a camera, there might be an extra charge to carry it inside the temple of 100Rs. The parking charges are 30rs outside the temple.
When you enter the temple, keep silence and maintain temple decorum. Photography is not allowed there.
Keep calm and wait for your turn to ensure a quick darshan. All you have to do is follow the rules given by the temple’s team.
If you’re eager to know about the history of the Kotilingeshwar temple, you will be left amazed by the temple’s construction and story.
Apart from offering your prayers, multiple other experiences await you inside the temple. You can offer your prayers and seek blessings from lord shiva.
Perform abhishekam on the shivlinga using sacred water and offerings. This is advised and significant experience for many followers.
You can dive into the majestic view of the largest Shiva linga. The sheer scale and beautiful design of the temple structure will leave you speechless.
Also, venture outside the central linga and see many small lingas sprinkled throughout the grounds of the complex.
Each Shiva Linga has its own significance and adds to the temple’s unique experience. At the end, take the time to feel the calmness and tranquility of the place.
Find a quiet spot inside the temple and indulge yourself in meditation and self-reflection.
Because of the central attraction, reaching the Kotilingeshwar temple is not difficult. The place is well-connected via road, trains, and air. This is the breakdown of all the transportation facilities.
By Air – The nearest airport to the temple is Bangalore Kempegowda. Travelers can book a taxi or cab, or public transport from the airport to reach Kolar. This is approximately 100 km and takes 2.5 hours to reach there.
By Rail – From Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli, and Hassan, there is a well-connected rail network to Kolar.
By Road – By road from Bangalore, you can reach Kola. This is around 2 hours and a beautiful drive crossing via the lush green way on either side of the road.
Presently, the Kotilingeshwar temple does not allow online booking to seek darshan or any kind of special puja rituals.
All bookings and offerings should be made on-site at the premises. People are advised to arrive early to prevent waiting times, mainly on weekends and festival days.
Dress Code:
Men: Shirt with trousers or dhoti/pyjama with upper cloth
Women: Saree, half-saree with blouse, or churidar with pyjama and dupatta
Kotilingeshwar Temple is the main place to visit. While this is not the only spot tourists explore in the area. There are a few worth adding to your itinerary for your best experience.
This is located around 8 km from the temple; the gold fields have a rich mining history. It has a museum surrounding, giving access to the mine’s history and significance.
It is 14 km away from the Kotilingeshwar temple, and a perfect spot for history buffs. The place is home to the Jumma masjid, a 17th-century mosque representing Indo-Islamic architectural impacts.
This is not considered a tourist spot, but it is worth visiting once. Located around 115 km from the temple, Nandi Hills is a popular hill station known for its attractions such as Fort Nandi and Tipu’s Drop.
So, to complete the article, we would like to say the Kotilingeshwara Temple is a sacred place where spiritual energy, dedication, and faith blend effectively.
While you need to set up a personal shiva linga or be involved in sacred rituals, the temple gives you an unforgettable experience.
From its largest Shiva linga to the millions of lingas spread around the complex, every inch of this place radiates devotion and collective energy.
Hence, prepare your visit accordingly, follow the dress code, and indulge yourself in the divine environment of lord shiva’s abode in Karnataka.
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