Mylara Lingeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Address

Mylara Lingeshwara Temple, Karnataka
Mylara, Bellary District,

Karnataka – 583217

Moolavar

Mylara Lingeshwara

Introduction

Mylara Lingeshwara Temple is dedicated to the god (Mailara dynasty), a form of the god Shiva in Mylara. Located at center of Karnataka, It is in the extreme south-western corner of Hoovina, Karnataka, India. The Temple is believed to be 1500 years old. It is 2 km from Tungabhadra River and 36 km from Hadagali 36 km from Ranebennur and 39 km from Harapanahalli.

Puranic Significance

This temple has its origins from the Mythology. As per the myth, a demon named Mallasura and his brother meditated and pleased Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma granted them a boon that no human being could harm these two demons. The demons in their turn began to interfere with the ascetics and the saints appealed to Lord Shiva to protect them from this plight. Shiva tool a new form and waged a war against the two demons Mallasura and his brother Maniksura and killed both of them with his bow and arrow. During the time of the battle, Lord Shiva or Mylara lost all his powers and had to hastily retreat from the battlefield. During this time, he took refuge along the Tungabhadra River. Lord Shiva’s aide, Lord Veerabhadra, struck the earth with his long tresses and five warriors known as Panchaveeras or Kanchaveeras emerged from the earth and captured both the demons and handed them over to the Lord. Lord Mylara then killed the demons, wore their teeth in the form of a necklace, their intestines as a turban, skulls in the form of bowls, mouths as a damaruga (hand drum) and their skin in the form of a coat. The Lord used the nerves of the demons as a wick for a lamp and their fats as the oil for a lamp.

Special Features

Goravara Kunita

A gorava dance, the dance of Shiva is very famous in Karnataka. The devotees worship Lord Shiva in Mylara linga, hence they perform the dance wearing a black woolen rug, badly made of skin. Traditionally goravas are devotees who dance in reverie and even bark like dogs. People believe that amulet of the Mylara linga is a dog. The dance contains percussions like damru, bell etc.

Karnika Utsava at Mylara Lingeshwara Temple

Karnika Utsava and the Pavada is a part of the Mailara Jatre (festival). Karnika utsava is the one in which the bow climbing, as well as the prophecy, is spoken out. Pavada is the ritual where the body piercing is done. On the day of Karnik Utsava, many devotees assemble at Mylara Lingeshwara Temple chanting the mantras commemorating the seven crore goravas who accompanies Lord Shiva in the battle. On this day, a wooden bow, which is the typical representation of the bow that slew the demons are kept in the middle of the Denkana maradi, and then the Gorava carries the bow out of his tent and climbs up it. Once he is on the top, as a mark of devotion, he shivers and then as the Holy Spirit entered him, he speaks the prophecy. Once the prophecy is uttered, he drops himself from the top, and then people carry him in.