Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

Introduction to the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

Sri Karinjeshwara Temple or Karinja Shiva Parvati Temple is in Karinja, Kavalamudur village, Dakshin Kannada district, Karnataka. The Temple lies on the top of a hill. It is one of the most revered pilgrim spots in Karnataka. The temple is under the management of the Government of Karnataka.

Legend of the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

As per the temple legend, Karinjattaya and Ichlattaya, two Brahmin brothers, reached Tulunadu from Uttara Kannada to propagate Sanatana Dharma in the 12th century. Bhootha worship (worship of guardian spirits) was prevalent in Tulunadu during that period. The place where Ichlattaya settled came to be known as Ichlampady, and the place where Karinjattaya settled is Karinja. The brothers built the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple on a scenic mountain between Karinja and Ichlampady.

These Brahmin brothers had no descendants and so they gave their agricultural property and the Temple to the Bunts community, who were helping them.

The Architecture of the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

It is a 12th-century temple dedicated to Shiva and his consort Parvati. The Sri Karinjeshwara Temple displays the Vaishnav and Jain styles of architecture. A stone sculpture on the base of the Dhwaja Sthambam describes that the Keladi rulers under the Vijayanagara Kingdom had given royal patronage to the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple. This Bhookailasa is 1500 ft above sea level and was entirely built of stone.

Mother Parvati's temple is halfway up the hill, surrounded by a clean courtyard. A dining hall is at one end. There is another temple dedicated to Ganesha next to Mother Parvati's temple. Priests perform daily rituals and Poojas separately at each temple. Devotees need to climb 555 steps to reach the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple.

Visitors can see a horde of monkeys on the temple premises. According to the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple's tradition, immediately after the Maha Pooja in the afternoon, Mooru Seru Akki (around 2.5 kg of cooked rice) is placed on the Naivedya Kallu. On this big granite platform, priests make offerings. A group of monkeys gather near the stone after the bell and enjoy the offerings. They do not harm devotees.

There are three Theerthas (sacred ponds) in the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple, namely Gadha (mace) Theertha, Angushta (Toe) Theertha, and Janu (Knee) Theertha. The holy water in these Theerthas is believed to contain unique powers to cure diseases.

A Theertha is at the bottom of the hill called Gadha Theertha. It is believed that it was carved out when Bhima knelt and threw his mace (Gadha) down.

Bhima created Angushta Theertha with his thumb. Janu Theertha is believed to have formed when Bhima knelt on the floor. It serves water to the temple throughout the year as it never goes dry. There is a lake in the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple premises called Handi Kere. It is said to have been formed when Arjuna shot a boar with his arrow. The arrow marks are still visible on the rocks.

When climbing about 142 steps above the Parvati Temple, visitors can see a massive door frame made of a stone called Ukkadada Bagilu. They can see a 0.3 cm cut mark on it, which was caused by an arrow aimed at a boar by Arjuna.

Festivals in the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

The Sri Karinjeshwara Temple mainly observes Bheemana Amavasya in Ashada month. Maha Shivratri is the main festival held in this temple. This week-long annual fair attracts devotees participating in various events such as Mitta Jagarane, Rathostava, Tirtha Jagarane, Katte Pooje and Dhwaja Avarohana.

The Sri Karinjeshwara Temple performs Poojas and Homas on the first day of Shivratri. On the second night of the annual fair, priests bring the Shiva statue to the Parvati temple. It is the only day when the statues of Shiva and Parvati grace their devotees together. Priests carry the two idols around the temple in a chariot on the next day, during the Rathotsava (Chariot Festival). Later, the two idols return to the Parvati temple, from where Shiva leaves for the

Sri Karinjeshwara Temple.

Aadi Amavasya and Shravana Amavasya are observed here. Devotees, especially newlyweds, visit the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple during Aadi Amavasya to take a holy dip in the Gadha Teertha.

Kadiru Uthsava, Vijayadasami, Deepavali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Naga Panchami, Ugadi, Karthika Pooja, Nemothsava for Kodamanitthaya Daiva and Subhramanya Shasti are the other festivals celebrated in the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple

Devotees, mainly couples, visit the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple and worship deities to resolve their misunderstandings. Many newly married couples visit here to pray for a happy life.