Kotturu

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kotturu| type = town| latd = 14.817 | longd = 76.217
locator_position = right | state_name = Karnataka
district = Bellary district
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 586
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 22701| population_density = 686.25
area_magnitude=
area_total = 33.08
area_telephone = 08391
postal_code = 583 134
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Kotturu is a panchayat town in Bellary district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It was the home of Guru Kottureshwara, a 15th century saint. More than 100,000 people gather during the car festival (rathotsav) conducted during February every year.

Kotturu is also famous for a dish called "mandakki-menasinakayi".

History

Kotturu is named after Saint Kottureshwara, so its history stems from the history of Guru Kottureshwara. On the earth when the backward and the Veerashaiva religion was under threat, Lord Shiva and Parvathi from Heaven (Kailasa) ordered Nandi to go to Sarasipura/Shikapura (the previous name of Kottur) and protect the innocent people. Lord Nandhi was unhappy with the Shiva and Parvathi decision realizing that Shiva promised Nandhi that "When ever you call me I will be there to help you".

Then Nandhi disappeared from the Kailasa (Heaven) and appeared in the image of an untidy mad saint in the Shikapura or Sarasipura Shiva temple ("Murkal Mutta" - The three stone temple or shrine). The presence of the Rushi (singer of sacred hymns also an inspired poet or sage) spread throughout the Sarasipura. People started troubling Nandhi by throwing stones and using bad words. All the people who troubled Nandhi lost their eyes and become blind. The people realized their mistake and bowed their heads in front of Nandhi. By this incident Nandhi or the Saint became famous and people started visiting to solve their problems. It is said that one day a buffalo died and the cow man approached the Saint to save the buffalo; the Saint kept his hand on the buffalo's head the dead buffalo came back to life. Day by day the popularity of the saint increased. Nandhi offered his blessings with Shiva accompanied in his heart to all the people and solved the people's problems. Nandhi preached the Virasiva religion principles to the people.

The Virasaiva religion practised by mankind prior to the Mahanjadharo and Harappa civilization times was founded by Five ancient saints (Renukaradhya, Dharukardhya, Ekoramardhya, Somanathardhya, Viswardhya), the five faces of Lord Shiva. These five saints came to Earth on the direction of Shiva to save the Mankind from the Evils and to preach the ancient principles of worshipping Shiva to attain Moksha (the liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence). The Five saints came together to earth through the Five Shivalinga of five temples in India:
*The Saint Renukaradhya from Kolanpak Somesahwara temple, Andhrapradesh
*The Dharukardhya from the Ujjaini Mahakaleshwar
*The Ekoramardhya from Mahabalewar Shiva temple, Andhrapradesh
*Somanataradhya from Srishyla Andraprasedh
*Viswaardhaya from Kashi Viswanath temple Kashi

All the saints established their base or Mutts in their respective places. The saints started teaching the principles of Virasaiva on earth. They observed the differences in the society and decided to preach the principles to the Rishi Muni who came from a backward community. The Rushi Muni were Agasthyamuni, Dadichimuni and few others who where from a backward caste. The idea of the Five saints or Acharya was to remove differences from society. The five Saints Mutt or Shrine presently continues to preach the Virasaiva principles from the Five mutts:
*The Renukaardhya Ashrama form Balehonnur Chikamagalur, Karnataka
*The Dharukardhya Ashram from Ujjini Bellary Karnataka
*The Ekoramaradhya from Keddar
*Somanatharadhya mutt from Srishyala Ashrama
*The Viswaradhya from Kasi ashrama

Due to some indifferences or monopoly of other non Virsaiva religion the holy mutts or asharams where shifted or moved from their original places over a period of centuries by the preceding Saints or Acharyas. These Five Asharams are called as PanchaPeeta Asharams. Many of the saints of the Panch Peeta preached the divine principles of Virasaiva to other communities. Saint Basaveshwara was blessed by the Acharya of Renukardhya Mutt. Bassavvana born in Brahmin family fed up with the high orthodox practices of Brahmin and making indifferences among the people made remarkable changes in the childhood to Basavanna. He decided to come out of the Brahmin religion and approached the Virasaiva Renukaradhya mutt branch saint situated on the bank of river and accepted the Virasaiva religion. He gave the religion a new dimension by converting the Sanskrit literature "Siddantha Sikamani" (The holy book of Virasaiva written by one of the Panch peeta saints) into the regional language Kannada of Karnataka in 12th century. He also worked hard to throw the indifferences from the society. The tradition continued till the 15th century followed by Kottureswara of Kottur. The Virasiavism is spread across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Even today you can find the Pujaris of Pashupathinath temple belonging to Veerasaiva religion. The 1 crore siva lingus or idol of shiva established by Srilanka king Ravana brother Vibhishana can be found in Srilanka even today. The Virasaiva rather than being a religion is a way of life reaching Lord Shiva.

Saint Nandhi's name was called by people as Kottureshwar (Kottu or Kodu in Kannada means give and Eshwar means God shiv) Kotu + Eshwara= Kottureshwara.

He travelled from North Kashmir to Kanyakumari. During the ruling of Akbar in Delhi, Lord Kottureswar or Nandhi appeared in the bedroom of Akbar's wife as Old saint and blessed her. Hearing the voice of the old man the door keeping soldier informed this to the king emperor Akbar. Akbar came in anger to the queen's bedroom and saw the mid aged person sleeping in the queen's bed. For Queen Kottureshwara appeared as saint & for Akbar saint appeared as an ordinary person. He attacked on Kottureshwar with Sword the sword became Flower Garland. Then Akbar realized his mistake and surrendered to Lord Nandhi. Lord Nandhi or Kottureshwar blessed Akbar an Rajput queen that is akbar wife. Akbar presented Lord kottureshwar with his Sword and the Cot on which lord Kottureshwara was sleeping. This Cot is located at Gachchina Mutt even now. He also declared as Sarsipura or Shikapura an independent territory which was under his ruling.

Lord Kottureswara temples are divided in to 4 shrines in Kottur
#Murkalmutt (3 stone shrine)
#Thotalmutt (shrine with cradle)
#Darbarmutt or Doddamutt (king assembly shrine or big shrine)
#Gachina mutt (shrine where saint returns kailsa by meditating)

In first mutt where lord nandhi came first to earth. Second mutt where lord bless a child. Third Is the mutt where he used solve the problems of people. The fourth is the mutt where Guru Kottureswara reached Lord Shiva by meditating.

There is another story related to the Darbarmutt or Doddmautt or Hiremath. Earlier this used to be a temple of Lord Veerabhadra. Once people started visiting Lord Kottureswara to get the blessings, they stopped worshipping Lord Veerabhadra. Lord Veerabhadra complained about this to Lord Kottureshwara. Then the guru asked him to occupy another place called Kodathgudda where Lord veerabhadra's temple is situated now.This is also equally famous temple in this region.

Lord Kottureshwara visited an village near Mysore and noticed the devotion of the priest in a temple (priest's name Karilingeswara).He requested him to go with him and be his disciple and the priest in the temple. There is a syaing that he also ordered that only the children from his family should be the priests for the next forthcoming generations. To take care of the priest's family a land was given in the nearby village called K.Ayyanahalli. There is a temple dedicated to Karilingeswara in this village. Some of the descedents of his family continue to do the worship at the Hiremath and stay in this village.

There is annual fair every year which happens just before MahaShivaratri. The devotees from all over the area asseble to witness the fair and car festival. Some of the dveottes even reach Kottur by walk from their native place. During the month of December there will Karthikotsava.

Kotturamma(Parvathi's temple)Kotturamma is neither the wife or related to Lord Kottureshwara.She is a form of Goddess Parvathi.There is a temple outskirts of Kottur of her.The Karnam family of Kottur maintains it.There is a festival in every august where in which lakhs of people attend the festival.

Geography

Kotturu is located at coord|14.82|N|76.22|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Kotturu.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kotturu] ] It has an average elevation of 587 metres (1925 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Kotturu had a population of 22,667. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kotturu has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 61%. In Kotturu, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References