There
are, several temples dedicated to divinities other than Shiva worshipped in Linga
form in South and North of our land. Narmada Linga is worshipped in a temple in
Madhya Pradesh where the river goddess is worshipped in Linga form. Down South,
Durga Parameshvari in Kateelu, Bappanadu and elsewhere in Dakshina Kannada
district are worshiped in the form of Linga, with an outer cover of metal. Out of
9 famous Durga Parameshvari shrines near Udupi-Mangaluru, 4 are in the form of
a dome or mound, looking like Shiva linga.
It is very difficult or unclear why of this type of statues there. These statues are lost in a nearby river due to intermittent floods in the coastal area. Worship of Divinities in the form of Ant-Hill or mound is somewhat primitive in nature, replaced later by beautiful sculpted images of Devi, Subrahmanya generally in this part of South. Even Ananteshvara form of Vishnu, in Udupi is in Linga form, worshipped as Anantasana Vishnu, who in fact is Parshu Rama Avatar.
Sri Vadirajatirtha, noted Madhva saint of Udupi writes in his travelogue Tirtha Prabandha:
शिवान्तर्यमिताम् स्वीयां प्रियान् प्रति निबोधयन् |
दया वारिधिनिधिः शैवीं शिलामाश्रित्य शोभते ||
Sri Vishnu, as if reminding his Antaryami ( indweller ) in Shiva, is present here in form of Shiva linga.
Anantasana is the reclining posture of
Padmanabha, a form of Creation also known as Sesha Shayana, reclining on Ananta
the Sesha, his bed. This temple is
pre-madhva built by local rulers of Hoyasala/ Alupa dynasties which ruled this
area for over 250 years.
Sri Mukambika Sannidhi, Kolluru. Kundapur Tq.
No comments:
Post a Comment