Monsoon Ragas 2 : Karnataka – Kigga temple

Monsoon Ragas 2 : Karnataka – Kigga temple

As part of series on rituals and festivals associated to monsoons, this part we look at a unique, small and sleepy village in Karnataka called Kigga. One must be wondering what Kigga has got to do with monsoons and rituals. A special pooja that is performed in the temple in the month June is to invite rains or to reduce the incessant rains. Either ways special pooja is performed at this temple.

The Place

If you have been a regular watcher of Malgudi Days, tele-series (now available on Amazon Prime Video), the beautiful, serene and innocent hamlet that is portrayed as fictitious Malgudi is nothing but village called Kigga. Untouched by the modernism and hustle-bustle of city life, this is calm place that one needs to visit to experience the beauty and relish it by spending time there.

Kigga is nine kilometres from the famour Hindu shrine of Adi Shankaracharya, Sringeri and near to Agumbe, which is known as the place that records highest rainfall in the country. Located in Chikmangaluru district, Kigga is the most inspiring place and so is the famous temple. There is also scenic Sirimane waterfall that is an added attraction to make people visit this place. Rishyasringa Parvata is surrounding the small village.

The Temple

Kigga boasts of n ancient temple that is dedicated to Rishi Rishyasringa, the rishi cited in Ramayana. Lord Shiva temple in the town is said to be worshiped by Rishyashringa. In the modern days also the Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetam performs pooja at Kigga Sri Rishyasringeswara temple for rain or to reduce rain.

Sri Rishyasringeswara temple is popularly called the temple of rain God. The temple compound is a relatively big structure and has been designed in the Malnad style of temple architecture. The temple is situated at the centre of a courtyard-like structure. The sanctum sanctorum consists of three deities with lord Shiva as the main deity and Valamburi Ganesha on the one side and Goddess Mahishamardhini on the other side.

Mythical Connection

According to Hindu mythology, rishi Vibhandaka was seduced by the celestial danseuse Menaka by order of Indra, who feared the yogic powers gained out of penance by the rishi could prove fatal to the very existence of heavenly world. Thus Rishyasringa was born out of this relationship. Rishyasringa was a boy born with the horns of a deer.

After the birth of the Menaka she left without even informing Rishi Vibhandaka. The incident left the father with extreme hatred towards women folk, and he raised the boy in a forest, isolated from society. He never saw any girls or women, and was not told of their existence. The legend states that he was endowed with magical and miraculous powers.

As times flies the boy becomes a young man and the kingdom of Anga suffers from drought and famine. The king, Romapada, is told that this can only be alleviated by a brahmin with the powers that come from observance of perfect chastity. The only such person is Rishyasringa. He has to be brought to be persuaded to carry out the necessary ceremonies.

Knowing very well of rishi Vibhandaka’s hatred for women and that he had bought up his son without the knowledge of opposite gender, the king sends young women, and later his daughter Shanta, to introduce the boy into normal society. This is done, Rishyasringa uses his powers, the kingdom receives bountiful rains and Rishyasringa then marries the princess Shanta.

The Idol in Temple

Later Rishyasinga retired to the forest to spend the remainder of his life in divine contemplation. When he shuffled off his mortal coil, a lightning issued forth from his body and disappeared into the Linga. This Linga can be seen even now in the temple at Kigga. This Linga is invested with a horn on its head, to commemorate the merger of the sage Rishyasringa.

The Linga that was worshipped by the sage Vibhandaka and into which he himself disappeared in the end is on the summit of a hillock. This is situated in the centre of Sringeri. The Linga is known as Malahanikareshwara (destroyer of the impurities of the Jiva) and is worshipped even today.

Writer : Yashoda Jayadev (yashodajayadev@yahoo.com)

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