Ganganadu Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple – Byndoor
Ganganadu Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple – Byndoor
Ganganadu Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple is located about 8 kms east of Byndoor town in Udipi District-Karnataka. It has a rich history dating back to the 10th century. Vanakodlu the place where this ancient temple is located, assumes its name from the picturesque lush green hillocks of the Western Ghats. The principal deity here, is Lord Mahalingeshwara the incarnation of Lord Shiva, the towering deity of the Hindu trinity.
It is believed that during the latter part of 10th-century Rashrakutas and in the 13th century Vijayanagara emperors patronized this temple. Later it received the royal patronage of the Kings of Keladi Dynasty, who ruled this region between the 15th to 17th century. Many other temples under the Nayakas of Keladi show resemblance to the architecture of this temple. Towards the 18th century, the temple fell victim to foreign invasion and saw its ruins.
There is a Shivalingam at the center of the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) with Shree Maha Ganapati to the right and Shiva’s consort Parvathi Devi to the left. Naga regarded as the door guardian, occupies the outer vicinity of the temple. The statue of Nandi the sacred bull, located in its beautiful pavilion called Nandi Mantapa faces Lord Mahalingeshwara the principal deity. It is fabled that the water from river Ganga flows into this lake or Pushkarni giving this place the name Ganganadu.According to the historians the Nandi idol is estimated to be over 1000 years old.
The Utsava murthy which is the embodiment of the principal deity, used during the temple festival is seen to have 4 arms,holding battle axe(Parashu) on one hand and a wild stag (Mruga) on the other. Two other hands display gestures like Varada ( benevolence) on the right and Abhaya ( fearlessness) on the left.This representation of Abhaya mudra on the left is quite unique, unlike other idols of its kind which display it on the right hand.
About 200 years ago, the Late Shree Duggappa Shetty, head of Yedthare family stumbled upon the Shivalingam in the dense forest during his hunting expedition. He commissioned the reconstruction of the temple at that site. The family acted as hereditary trustee, reserving about 180 acres of land for the temple, the ownership of which and the wealth gained thereof was vested with the deity.Over the years, the Yedthare family has overseen various activities at the temple and has been instrumental in the upkeeping of this Shreene.
Many devotees who visited this temple have reported metaphysical insights, realizations and descriptions of countless experiences of divinity in the Garbhagriha.The temple lake particularly is endowed with the power to heal people of their maladies.
