Kalasa Kalaseshwara Temple, Karnataka

Address

Kalasa Kalaseshwara Temple, Karnataka
Kalasa,
Chikmagalur District,
Karnataka.

Moolavar

Kalaseshwara

Introduction

The Kalaseshwara Temple is located in Kalasa town in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. Kalasa town is located on the banks of the river Bhadra. Kalasa is renowned for the sacred Pancha Theertha, which stands for five sacred waters. Here the primary deity is known as Kalaseshwara. Kalasa is located at a distance of about 300 km away from Bangalore.

Puranic Significance

Kalasa town is located on the banks of the river Bhadra. Tradition traces the origin of this town to events related in the Skanda Purana. The wedding of Parvati and Parameshwara was held in Kasi, and all the gods and Rishis and celestials assembled there. This caused the Northern plate to go down by the sheer weight of the divine personages.

Lord Shiva requested Sage Agasthya to go south to create a balance. This implied that Sage Agasthya was so powerful that he alone would be enough to balance the combined divinity of the other wedding attendees. Sage Agasthya agreed, but expressed a wish to still witness the wedding. Lord Shiva granted him a boon saying wherever he halted and thought about it, he would be able to see the wedding ceremonies as if he were directly present. So, Sage Agasthya proceeded south, and the balance of the earth was restored.

According to local tradition, Sage Agasthya halted at Kalasa, and saw the wedding from here. A Shiva Linga appeared out of his Kalasha, the pot. He built a temple here and installed the Linga in it. This is the temple now called Kalaseshwara. The Linga is enshrined in a silver mandapa. The Devi in this temple is known as Sarvanga Sundari.

Beliefs

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

Salvation, Wealth, Relief from diseases, Purchase of vehicles,

Gain Knowledge.

Special Features

The Temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old. Kalasa town is located on the banks of the river Bhadra. Kalasa is renowned for the sacred Pancha Theertha, which stands for five sacred waters. They are:

Vasishta Theertha—This Theertha is special because of the Sage Vasishta
Naga Theertha—This one is special as it is believed that a dip here will cure Naga Dosha.
Koti Theertha—Koti Devatha remained here at the request of Sage Agasthya during Girija Kalyana
Rudra Theertha—It is believed that offering pinda here is as auspicious as offering pinda at Vishnu Pada or Gaya
Amba Theertha— The sacred water spot of Goddess Parvati
Duggapan Katte—from this spot, the whole town of Kalasa can be seen.