Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple

Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple is a very famous piligrimage centre situated in Yedeyur Village, Kunigal Town of Karnataka State in India.

Though called as a temple, it contains Nirvikalpa Shivayoga Samadhi of Tontada Siddalinga, a Great revered Veerashaiva Saint who flourished during the end of 15th century.

Sri Siddhalingeshwara Swamy is considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He travelled far and wide preaching Veerashaiva faith (Shaivism).

He performed 12 years of penance at a garden (Thota) and hence came to be known as Thontada Siddalingeshwara Swamy. He headed the Murugi muth and had a large following of disciples.

The temple holds annual festivals during Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi.

History of Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy

He was not born out of Womb, appeared as a baby to Mallikarjuna and Jnanambe who had no hereditary successor. At his life time he had performed 12 years of penance at a garden (Thota) and hence recognized as Thontada Siddhalingeshwara Swamy. He headed the Murugi Muth and had a large following of Disciples some of who wrote on Veerashaiva faith and philosophy. Hence Yedeyuru is deemed to be a seat of awakened spiritual consciousness.

He has written Shathsthala Jnana Saramrutha, containing 701 Vachanas (Poems) which are directing Sthalas (route) to Attain Ikya i.e. involvement to light.

He traveled far and wide, preached eternal truth and performed many miracles for scores of people irrespective of their caste or creed. His life and values held by him demonstrated the divine powers attained by him to heal the sick and suffering.

The Siddhlingeshwara temple at Yediyur faces north and is a fairly large Dravidian structure. An inscription near the Mahadwara talks about the spiritual greatness of the teacher while scenes from the life of Siddhalingha as also the various lilas of Shiva are depicted on the colorful printed on the Gopura. There is small shrine for Veerabhadra Swamy in the basement as he vacated the main sanctum so as to ensure supreme importance to Shri Siddhalingeshwara and his writings.Virabhadra is held in equal reverence and offered worship similar to Shri Siddhalingeshwara. A series of devotees figures speak of the pivotal role of Shri Siddhalingeshwara temple in fulfilling the vows and prayers of the people.

The temple holds the annual Jathra (Festival) for 15 days in remembrence of the day that Siddhalingeshwara attain Nirvikalpa Sannidhi. On the 7th Day of the commencement of the Hindu calendar (Ugadi), jathra is performed to mark the attaining of the Samadhi of Siddhalingeshwara. Laksha Deepa is last day of Karthika Masa. Every year of Maha Shivarathri we offer Sahasra Rudrabhisheka. The sahasra Kamala pooja, Laksha Bilvarchana pooja is performed in the month of Shravana and Kumbhabhisheka is performed on each Amavasye (New Moon Day). Vows prayed for Nanjanagud can be fulfilled here. The temple has a large wooden Chariot (Ratha). Six stone wheels, which contain erotical figure and cannot be found even in Konark Sun temple. The car festival is held on the 7th lunar day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra Masa (March-April).

References

Sri Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple Websitewww.yediyur.com

Kunigal Town Government Municipal Council http://kunigaltown.gov.in/Tourism