Sahasralinga

"Sahasralingeshwara temple in Uppinangady is situated on the banks of the river Netravati and Kumaradhara, where thousand lingas are found. The story goes like: After Kurukshetra war, Krishna suggests Pandavas to get "Pushpa Mruga" to hold Rajasooryadwara Yaga.Bheema dashed to "Mahendragiri" to fetch it.On the way he meets Hanuman taking rest, which is stretched on his way.Bheema finds it difficult to cross the tail of Hanuman and requests to remove the tail. Hanuman asks Bheema to lift tail but he struggles and fails.Later both realised that both are devine powers.Hanuman comes to know the purpose of Bheem's journey and offers him hair from his tail for the protection.Bheem,after reaching Mahendragiri meets pushpamruga and it agrees on a condition that it would follow him only a "manovega"-speed at which mind moves. Bheem agrees trusting the tail hair. While leading the animal, whenever Bheem finds he cannot keep the pace with the animal,he drops a hair.Strangely a "Shivalinga" appears just on the spot and Pushpamruga proceeds only after worshipping the linga.This gives Bheem sufficient time to adjust his speed. When they reach the place called "Uppinangady", Bheem finds difficult and drops remaining one thousand tail hair.There appears 1000 lingas and by the time animal completes worship,Bheem safely reaches Yagamantap.Thus it is believed that 1000 Lingas are found in the temple vicinity.One out of those Lingas found in the middle of the river sand becomes visible in the month of February.

The carved riverine rocks
Thousands of shivlingas appearing in shivkasi river bed due to global warming effect.

The lingas in Uppinangady are under the river and are natural appearing, not carved.

Sahasralinga is a pilgrimage place, located around 14 km from the Sirsi Taluk in the district of Uttara Kannada of Karnataka state in India. It is in the river Shalmala and is famous for being the location where around a thousand lingas are carved on rocks in the river and on its banks.

History

The Shiva Lingas were built under the patronage of Sadashivarayavarma, king of the Sirsi kingdom (1678-1718). It is also possible to see many Basava (bulls) which are carved in front of the Shivalingas.[1]

Religious significance

Linga is a symbol of worship of the Hindu God, Shiva. On the auspicious day of Mahashivaratri thousands of pilgrims visit Sahasralinga to offer their prayers to Shiva.[2]

How to reach

Sahasralinga is situated around 14 km from Sirsi. One can travel by personal vehicles as there is ample parking space at Sahasralinga and is very well maintained.

You can also take public bus travelling from Sirsi to Yellapura and get down at barani. You can take an auto rickshaw or walk down to Sahasralinga which is 1.5 km from the bus stop.

See also

Notes
  1. A brief introduction to Sahasralinga is provided by the Local Municipal Corporation "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Mahashivaratri celebrations at Sahasralinga is mentioned by Staff Correspondent (9 March 2005). "Religious fervour marks Mahashivarathri". Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-03-09. Chennai, India: 2005, The Hindu. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
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