Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

There is an interesting legend related to Kotilingeshwara Temple. A man named Manjunatha was born in the Brahmin family that belonged to the Shaivait section. Despite being a man of a good character, he was an atheist and never believed in the God. Slowly, he began to incline towards religious traditions followed by his family and became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Upon visiting a temple all the lamps became unlit. He realized the sin he had committed and sang Mayakeya Deepam composed by the sage Ved Vyasa. As he completed the last word, all lamps began to glow again.

Legend : According to the Hindu mythology, an ancient pilgrimage site is also known as Maa Vishweshwari Godavaritir Shakti peetha, where the “Left Cheek” of Sati’s body fell. The main idols of this legendary divine place are Devi as “Vishwamatuka or Viveshi” (a divine mother of universe) and Lord Shiva as “Dandapani or Vatsnabh” (one who holds a force), worshipped here. There is one puranic reference about Sage Gautama who lived on the Brahmagiri hills at Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. Sage Gautama, once tried to chase away a cow which ate all the stock of rice in his granary. As the sage was chasing the cow with Durbha grass, the cow fell dead. The sage meditated upon Lord Shiva and wanted to rid himself of the Gohatya. (Act of killing the cow). He requested Lord Shiva to bring the Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva was pleased with the worship of Sage Gautama and appeared as Triambaka and brought down River Ganges to Trayambakeshwar. The river is also known as Gautami, as it was brought down by Sage Gautama. The river gets the name Godavari, as the river was brought down to absolve Sage Gautama from the sins of “Gohatya”.