Kotilingeshwara Temple

Introduction

The Kotilingeshwara Temple lies in the village of Kammasandra in the district of Kolar, Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The Kammasandra village was earlier known as Dharmasthali. The temple houses one of the largest and tallest Shiva Lingams in Asia.

Legend of Kotilingeshwara Temple

According to local legend, the King of Gods, Indra, once cursed Sage Gautama. The sage wanted to rid himself of the curse, and he installed a Shiva Lingam and prayed to God. He anointed the Shiva Lingam with the water of ten million rivers. The Shiva Lingam, even today, can be seen on the premises of the temple.

History of Kotilingeshwara Temple

The village of Kammasandra was earlier called Dharmasthali, where Bhakta Manjunatha or Manjunathasharma lived (CE 788-827). He was born into a Brahmin Shaivite family and was a good person, but he was an atheist. With time, Manjunatha became an ardent devotee of Rudra Deva.

One day, Manjunatha and his family visited the Sri Manjunatha Temple, and some incidents occurred, which other devotees perceived as bad omens. The light in the lamps in the temple was snuffed out. The devotees laid the blame on Manjunatha for the incident. However, the local Viceroy of the Rastrakuta dynasty, Maharaja Ambikeshwaravarma, was present and quickly assuaged the other devotees. He then requested Manjunatha to prove his innocence and make every lamp in the temple glow. Manjunatha was believed to have sung the devotional song ‘Mayakaya Deepam’ composed by Maharshi Veda Vyasa. The temple lamps glowed even brighter than before. Everyone realized that Manjunatha was a great devotee of Shiva. To atone for his sins of having insulted God manifold earlier, Manjunatha, with the help of the Viceroy and his family, created ten million Lingams.

‘Koti’ means crore, and the name of the temple came to be known as Kotilingeshwara Temple. In 1980, the temple structures were built by Swamy Sambhashiva Murthy.

Architecture of Kotilingeshwara Temple

The temple houses a Shiva Lingam measuring 108 feet high and the Nandi measuring 35 feet in height. The Nandi is installed on a platform and is surrounded by the small Shiva Lingams across fifteen acres of land. The premises have smaller temples for other deities, including Goddess Annapoorneshwari, Sri Panchaganapathy, Sri Rama, Sita Devi, and Sri Lakshmana, Sri Pandurangaswamy, Goddess Karumaari Amma, Sri Venkatramani Swamy, Sri Anjaneya, and Goddess Kannika Parameshwari among others. The temple currently has ninety lakh Lingams and has a project to install one crore Lingams.

There is a water tank built close to the Shiva Lingam. Devotees draw water from here to perform Abishekam to the Shiva Lingam.

The temple premises also have a marriage hall, a meditation hall, a rest house, and an exhibition center. There are two flowering trees in the temple where devotees pray for wishes to be fulfilled.

Rituals Associated with Kotilingeshwara Temple

The temple priests conduct poojas, Abishekam (holy bath), and make offerings for the main deity, and the smaller Shiva Lingams daily. They also perform mass marriages for the poor free of cost. Devotees can also install Shiva Lingams and offer special poojas.

Benefits of Worshipping at Kotilingeshwara Temple

Childless couples tie a cradle to the holy trees in the temple and pray for progeny. Women are blessed with a happy, married life when they pray to the trees in the temple. Devotees tie yellow threads and pray for their wishes to be fulfilled.

Festivals Celebrated at Kotilingeshwara Temple

The temple celebrates the Maha Shivratri festival that falls in February-March with great zeal.

Temple Timings of Kotilingeshwara Temple

The temple stays open from 06.00 am to 09.00 pm.