KOPPA(CHIKMAGALUR): Temples are a part of our system from time immemorial. God is everywhere, omnipresent and omniscient. But common people do not experience the God everywhere.It is believed that only noble souls could experience the presence of god everywhere as Prahlada did. Therefore, our ancestors built temples in each village so that common people could worship God.Many temples are known for artistic beauty. There seven temples built at seven villages across Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts famous not for artistic value but for environmental beauty and unique rituals. The seven temples built for seven goddesses called ‘Saptamatrike’ who were sisters and destroyers of evil forces. They were Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi, the story of whom is recorded in Devi Saptapathi Parayana in Markandeya Purana. Devotees believe that one has to worship all the seven goddesses at one go on a single day to be blessed fully. The temples of Saptamatrike are situated in Muniyur, Halmathur (both in Chikmagalur district), Malalur, Keslur, Chiklur, Holalur and Shirur (all in Shimoga district). Muniyur Muniyur is a small village in Koppa taluk. Lokaparameshwari temple here has a unique tradition. The door of the sanctorum sanctum of the temple will be opened only on a full moon day and puja with Devi Saptashathi Parayana will be offered on that day. The goddess is in the farm of an anthill.Malnad people offer puja to goddess earth on Bhumi Hunnime once in a year. Puja to Muniyur Lokaparameshwari on every full moon day is hence significant. The only other day than full moon day on which the doors will be opened and puja is offered here will be on Hostina Sristi that is a festival of crops for farmers. By all such unique traditions, here it may be assumed that Lokaparameswari is the Goddess of Earth itself.Ramesh Bhat, the local priest, reveals that puja to Goddess will be offered closed door each day. The reason behind opening the doors once in a month is unknown. Kanolli Subrahmanya, a villager, said that Goddess in each day will receive puja from rishis and devotees will be given chance to offer puja on full moon day only.During the 12th century, Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Badarikashrama Swami Sathya Theertha left Badari due to disturbances caused by invaders. He reached Muniyur and settled here. It was during his stay here that Goddess was offered daily puja by that rishi. Later his successor moved to Bhandigadi and established Badari Peetham there. In recognition of Swamiji’s stay at Muniyur, the procession of Lord Rama on Ramanavami reaches Muniyur from the Math every year, reveals an elderly person.Outside the sanctum sanctorum, one can see the idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Parameshwara Lingam on the two sides of the principal deity, an anthill. Interestingly, Ganapathi idol which will always be on the right side every where is installed on the left side here. Eshwara Lingam which will always be installed along with other main deities is on the left side, that too out side here. This signifies the importance of Goddess who symbolises motherhood.Muniyur, situated in a hilly area, is surrounded by a thick forest and areca gardens. Visitors along with the darshan of Goddess can enjoy the beauty of typical Malnad here. It is 2 km away from Shakatapur (Bhandigadi) Math, a worth seeing place of worship. Muniyur is situated in Chikmagalur district. The nearest railway station is in Shimoga. It is at a distance of 90 km from Shimoga and 25 km from Koppa. The road leading to Kammardi from Koppa via Hariharapura and Bhandigadi takes you to Muniyur village. HalmathurThis village is situated at a distance of 2 km from Muniyur. Lokaparameshwari has cropped up from the earth in the farm of a huge anthill here. This anthill is 18.5 feet in height and 100 sq feet in width. The Lokaparameshwari Hutta stands second in height after a recorded 19.5 feet height anthill in Africa. Devotees here reveal that only after the request from Sringeri Swamiji in 1917, the anthill stopped its growth. A car festival is held here every year. The Utsava Murthy, used during car festivals, has a separate temple which is unique. All festivals, except the car festival, are held in this separate temple only. Though the administration is same, two priests worship at two temples daily.MalalurFrom Halmathur, one has to reach Kammardi and then travel towards Mavinakatte to reach Bagodu where people have to take a turn on a mud road to reach Malalur which is 10 km away from Halmathur. Here is a Durgaparameshwari Temple. Goddess Durga is carved on a Shivalinga erupted on a rock. Malathi river is at a walkable distance from this temple. There is a beautiful tank in front of the temple here. The car festival which was here held earlier was stopped in last century. This temple is surrounded by paddy fields and areca gardens. KeslurOne can reach Keslur Cross which is 3 km away from Bagodu on Sringeri-Thirthahalli Road from Malalur. The Banashankari temple is at a distance of 2 km from Keslur Cross. There is a big tank near Keslur Cross which is the biggest reservoir called Devikere in Malnad. People believe Devikere is the original place of Banashankari. During car festival, the procession of the Goddess reaches Devikere at midnight where devotees offer kendaseve. Renovation work of the temple is in progress. Here devotees offer Shishu Oppiso Seve (keeping new born child at the feet of Goddess) as they believe Goddess would protect their children. HolalurThis place is at a distance of 3 km from Aramanekoppa Cross which is four km away from Keslur Cross. The temple is situated on hill top and the environment is beautiful. Here also there is a big water tank. The principal deity is Durgaparameshwari is surrounded by Brahma, Jataka, Mukthakeshi, and Suvarna Jataka with Kshetrapala.ChiklurThe temple of Goddess Banashankari is at a distance of 10 km from Chiklur. The road leading to Thirthahalli from Kammardi will takes one to Chiplakatte where people have to take a turn and travel 1 km to reach this temple. The temple is constructed on a rock where Goddess Banashankari cropped up on the rock in the f0rm of two feet. A beautiful deity is installed behind these feet. A seven-day festival called Bilu Habba is held in the month of April every year. Goddess, in the form of a kalasa-a pot filled with sacred water, would be installed for seven days and the festival would be observed. ShirurShirur is at a distance of 4 km from Megaravalli on Thirthalli-Agumbe Main Road. Here is a Durga temple and a Mallikarjuna temple. Goddess Durga is installed in a stone idol behind a stone Srichakra.There are temples of Naga, Choudi, Yaksha and Rakteshwari around the main temple here. Thousand fruit offering is a unique seva at this temple. Devotees offer 1,000 bananas to the Goddess at night, a day after Akshaya Tadige. Nearly hundred such offerings create a banana hillock in front of the temple. The fruits would be distributed to devotees.
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