Information of Kashi Vishweshwara Temple, Kolar, Karnataka

Kashi Vishweshwara Temple at Antaragange is a famous hill spot and a pilgrim center for the Hindus. It is beautifully located on the Shathashrunga Mountain's in Kolar District of Karnataka State in India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple and its pond built on a natural spring are known as the Antaragange, which literally means the deep Ganges in Kanada language. The specialty of this temple is the spring water flowing out of the Nandhi's (Bull) mouth; the Nandhi is a sacred animal of lord Shiva. The spring water coming out of this bull itself is a mystery, since the source of its origin is unknown till now. Lot of pilgrims comes here to drink this holy spring water which has many mineral values to cure some diseases. This temple and this holy pond are built on the hill locks of the Shathashrunga Ranges, which has a dense cover of forest and surrounded by natural scenic views. It is an important worship place, a picnic spot and an adventure activity center of this region.

Kashi Vishweshwara Temple Religious Significance

Kashi Vishweshwara Temple is famous for the Shivites of the Hindu religion. Lord Shiva is worshiped here. The main deity of this temple is the Shiva Linga. This is also called the Dakshina Kashi in the Dravidian regions. Pilgrims usually visit here to drink this holy water coming out of the Nandhi or the Basava's mouth. Devotees even take bath to get purred their body and mind from this holy water. This water is in such a demand that pilgrims fetch this water in closed containers before living this temple. Lord Shiva is worshiped here and daily poojas are conducted in this temple.

Kashi Vishweshwara Temple Mythology & History

As per the Hindu mythology, the Ganga River flows from the Lord Shiva's head. This deep Ganges is also unknown for its origin and considered to be as sacred as found in the Kashi on the Himalayan Mountain's. The Kashi Ranges are the abode for Lord Shiva. Similarly these hills are called as the Dakshina Kashi, due to the presence of this Shiva Temple. Here Lord Shiva is known as the Kasi Vishweshwara. A mythic story is also there with these hills. The Parashurama, an incarnation of God Vishnu put an end to the worst demons known as the Kartaviryaarjuna in this place. Hence this place is of great mythological values from the Vedic times.

Festival at Kashi Vishweshwara Temple

The main festival of this temple is the Maha Shivarathri. Thousands of pilgrims visit on this auspicious occasion and perform poojas and rituals and get blessed from Lord Shiva.

Kashi Vishweshwara Temple Architectural Significance

The main gateway to the Kashi Vishweshwara Temple starts from its foot hills. There is an arched pillar with a Shiva Linga placed on the center of its arch as small tower. A fine stone block steps are built here to reach this hilltop temple. On the way to temple, there are many tiny temples built here to take rest for the climbing pilgrims. These steps pass through a dense cover of huge trees and look pleasant to climb these steps. On the top of the hills, one can find the Antaragange, the natural spring pond. This pond is the first entry to get a dip or bath from this holy pond. This pond is also having a two small temple of Shiva Linga in the centre and the other on the edge of this ponds step. The main temple can be seen on the adjacent side of this temple pond. These are found in the Dravidian temple style and have a beautiful Gopura (Tower) on it. There are also few mandaps (Porch) built here for pilgrims. One can't go away without touching and drinking this spring water from the mouth of a beautifully carved monolith Nandhi statue. Here the Lord Shiva is carved on single stones in the Linga form. There are four such Lingas found here. The temple towers are seen with painted in multi colors on their miniatures. These painted towers are marvelous to look. The main attraction is the temple pond and it is a square shaped step pond built of granite stones.