Talakadu Arkeshwara Temple - Karnataka

Address

Talakadu Arkeshwara Temple – Karnataka

Vijapura, Talakadu town,

Mysore district,

Karnataka 571122

Moolavar

Arkeshwara

Introduction

Arkeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Vijayapura, an outskirt of Talakadu Town in Mysuru District in Karnataka, India. This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Linga Sthalams of Talakadu.

Puranic Significance

The Mahalingeshvara Temple is thought to have been originally constructed during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I. Over time, it underwent significant renovations carried out by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, the ruler of the princely state of Mysore, during the British Raj era in India. The temple’s history spans over 1500 years, making it a venerable and historically significant site.

According to legend, a sage named Soma Datta from Kashi embarked on a penance to seek salvation from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva directed him to continue his penance at Siddharanya Kshetra. Sage Soma Datta, accompanied by his disciples, arrived at Siddharanya Kshetra and began his spiritual practice. Tragically, one day, while they were deep in their penance, the sage and his disciples were attacked and killed by a herd of wild elephants. It is believed that they were reborn as elephants in the same forest and continued to carry out their daily rituals by worshiping a cotton tree. One day, two Kirata twin brothers, Tala and Kadu, witnessed this unusual sight of elephants reverently worshiping a cotton tree. Out of curiosity, the brothers decided to cut down the tree, only to discover that it bled like a human when cut. Suddenly, a divine voice instructed them to heal the tree’s wound by applying its leaves to the injured part. Following the instructions, they did as told, and to their astonishment, the tree’s bleeding turned into milk. In recognition of this miraculous event and as a symbol of Lord Shiva’s divine intervention, the hunter brothers and the elephants were granted salvation. It is believed that Lord Shiva, in the form of a tree, healed himself using the leaves of the tree. This association led to Lord Shiva being known as Vaidyanatha or Vaideeshwara. The place where this divine episode occurred came to be known as Talakadu, named after the Kirata twin brothers Tala and Kadu. To this day, two stone idols of these twin brothers can be seen in front of the Veerabhadraswamy temple in Talakadu.

As per legend, Lord Rama stayed in Talakadu for a shorter period of time during his expedition to Srilanka.

Special Features

The Mahalingeshvara Temple is situated along the banks of the Cauvery River and has been recognized as a monument of national importance, receiving protection and preservation efforts from the central Archaeological Survey of India. The temple faces eastward, although its entrance is located on the southern side. Two prominent features near the sanctum are Nandi, the sacred bull, and the Balipeedam. The Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple comprises the Sanctum itself, an Ardha Mandapam, and a Maha Mandapam. The presiding deity, known as Arkeshwara, faces eastward and is enshrined in the form of a Lingam.

At the entrance of the temple, there is a Vaastu Yantram attached to a rock, which holds a peculiar belief. It is believed that if cows suffering from any ailment are tied to this rock, they can be miraculously cured. Within the temple premises, there are additional shrines dedicated to various deities, including Durga, Bhairavar, and Abhayangara Lingam.