Lably
Skip to content

Shri Guru Kottureshwara Temple

Hindu temple in Karnataka, India

  • 5 min read
  • 3 chapters

Related on Lably

Through Shrine, India and Bengaluru

Lab · Class 8Rock-cut Temples of ElloraLab · Class 6–11How India Is GovernedLab · Class 6–12Ancient Indian Ocean TradeLab · Class 7–11Disaster Management

History

Origin

Kotturu (Kannada: ಕೊಟ್ಟೂರು) is named after Saint Kottureshwara, and its history is closely associated with the life and legend of Guru Kottureshwara. According to local tradition, at a time when the Veerashaiva sect was under threat, Lord Shiva and Parvati, from Kailasa, instructed Nandi to descend to Sarasipura (also known as Shikapura, an earlier name of Kotturu) to protect the people. Nandi is said to have taken the form of a saint and arrived in Shikapura.

This figure came to be known as Kottureshwara—derived from the Kannada words "Kottu" or "Kodu," meaning "to give," and "Eshwara," referring to Lord Shiva—signifying "the one who grants blessings."

Kotturu is also known for a popular local dish, mandakki menasinakai. There are several varieties of mandakki, and it is customary for visitors and devotees to partake in this specialty during their visit.

Ancient history

It is believed that Darbar Matha (or Dodda Matha or Hire Matha) (Shrine) used to be a temple of Lord Virabhadra. Once people started visiting Lord Kottureswara to get the blessings, they stopped worshiping Lord Virabhadra. Lord Virabhadra complained about this to Lord Kottureshwara. Then the Guru asked him to occupy another place called Kodathgudda where Lord Virabhadra Swamy temple is now. This is an equally famous temple in this region.

Nandi who disappeared from Kailasa (Heaven) and appeared in the image of an untidy saint in the Shikapura or Sarasipura Shrine (Murkal Matha: The three stone temple or shrine). The presence of the Rushi (singer of sacred hymns, also an inspired poet or sage) spread throughout the Sarasipura. People started troubling Nandi by throwing stones and using bad words. All the people who troubled Nandi lost their eyes and become blind. The people realized their mistake and bowed their heads in front of the saint. By this incident Nandi who was in a disguise form became famous and people started visiting him to solve their problems. It is said that one day, a buffalo died and the cow boy approached to the Saint to save the buffalo; than the Saint kept his hand on the buffalo's head, the dead buffalo got back its life. Day by day the popularity of the saint increased. Saint offered his blessings with Shiva accompanied in his heart to all the people and solved the people's problem.

Lord Kottureshwara temple has been classified into four Mathas (Shrines):

  • Murkal Matha (Three Stone Shrine): This is where Lord Nandi came first to earth.
  • Thotal Matha (Shrine with Cradle): This is where Lord blesses devotees with a child.
  • Darbar Matha or Dodda Mutta (Kings Assembly Shrine or Big Shrine): This is where he used solve the problems of people.
  • Gachina Matha (Meditating Place): This is where Guru Kottureswara reached Lord Shiva by meditating.

Kotturamma (Parvathi's temple) is neither the wife or related to Lord Kottureshwara. She is a form of Goddess Parvathi. There is a temple outskirts of Kottur of her. The Karnam family of Kottur maintains it. There is a festival in every August which lakhs of people attend.

Sign in to keep reading

2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.

More in Religion

PinyinRomanization scheme for Standard ChineseHindusAdherents of HinduismTraditional Chinese charactersStandardized set of Chinese charactersLiteral translationWord-for-word translation of a textReligionSocial-cultural systemTheologyStudy of the nature of deities and religious beliefs