Sahasralinga The Land Of Lord Shiv

Sahasralinga a famous for thousands of Shiv lingas engraved on the stones in the river. Sahasralinga a famous pilgrim place in “Uttara Kannada” of Karnataka in India. One of the most famous temples here the 16th-century Marikamba temple. The holy place to be found 10 km far from the city of Sirsi on the banks of Shalmala River. Sahasralinga a journey put in the Sirsi Taluk in the locale of Uttara Kannada of Karnataka state in India. The waterway Shalmala today celebrated for in excess of thousand lingas which are cut on the stones in the stream bank.

The greater part of the lingas obviously noticeable when the water level in the stream isn’t high. So it shouldn’t astound discover that the name Sahasralinga implies thousand-lingas in Sanskrit. A holy site, and amid Hindu celebration Shivratri a large number of pioneers visit this place and offer pujas. This brilliant site found in 1969, by an ethnologist named Jean Boulbet. Sadly, his work hindered by the Cambodian Civil War and it took 20 years before the place remained protected to visit.

As indicated by students of history, the lingas are accepted to have been authorized to be cut by Sadashiva Raya (who likewise called the King of Sirsi), of the Vijayanagar Kingdom amid 1678-1718. A nearby legend that says the Sahasralinga signified requested to be made by the lord in view of a conviction that doing as such may help generate a beneficiary to his kingdom.

Overview

A religious place in the district of Uttara Kannada at the Karnataka State of India. Positioned at Sirsi Taluk on the shores of River Shalmala renowned for more than thousands of lingas engraved on the rocks placed on the river. As the water level not too high most of the lingas can be clearly visible to visitors. The name itself defines the place Sahasralinga signifies thousands of lingas in the Sanskrit language. It’s a spiritual site where millions of devotees come and pray on the occasion of Shivratri.

This splendid place emerged in the year 1969 by Jean Boulbet an ethnologist. Unfortunately, his work gets disturbed by the Cambodian civil war. Due to dry weather at the River Shalmala nowadays thousands of lingas revealed, emerged from the bottom. In historic times believed that the lingas have been carved by the king Sadashiva Raya during the period of 1678 to 1718. Some of the local legends of that era said that these lingas were ordered to create by the king in order to hold control of the heir to his kingdom.

Cambodian Sahasralinga

There an alike place happens to exist in Cambodia. There Sahasralinga situated about 25 km from Angkor Watt, one of the largest Hindu temple in foreign. The place called Kbal Spean and its significance ‘the Head Bridge’. Here, one can found abundantly of carved lingas placed in the mid of a watercourse, but the place occurs not holy.

In ancient times it meant a place of the holy bath for the kings. Not known that what the exact purpose of carving these lingas. Some of the locals also believed that these carved lingas signify the sign of positive energy and the flow of the river will make the paddy fields more fertile. Numerous symbols of Hindu gods continued destroyed during the period of a civil war. As these lingas positioned and encircled with thick dense forests these holy lingas doesn’t get affected.

Outline

One of the noteworthy statuettes emerged of Maha Vishnu and Lord Brahma arises from his abdomen on a lotus flower. Linga means a ‘mark’ or a symbol, which signifies to an implication In Sanskrit. The Shiva Linga a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva. The Indian society implies the meaning of lingas as the sign of positive energy and potential of Lord Shiva.

The prehistoric Linga Purana notifies that the prime Linga excludes smell, taste, color, etc., and pronounced of as ‘Prakriti’ or Nature itself. In ancient times the Linga turn out to be a symbol of the multiplicative supremacy of Lord Shiva.

How to Reach

By Air

The nearest airport Hubli that connects Sirsi to major Indian cities and Hubli Airport about 119 km from Sirsi. Hence, Bangalore International Airport the nearest international airport 418 km from Sirsi.

By Rail

Kumta Railway Station nearest railway junction to Sirsi,   61 km from Kumta Therefore, nearby Places are Sonda, Banavasi, Yellapur and, Yana

By Road

Travel by personal vehicles as there ample parking space at Sahasralinga and very well maintained and one can also take public buses traveling from Sirsi to Yellapur and get down at barani. Moreover, you can take an auto rickshaw or walk down to Sahasralinga which 1.5 km from the bus stop.

Best time visit

The best time to explore the holy place is winter to early summer

Map of Sahasralinga