Kokkada Vaidyanatheshwara Temple

Kokkada Vaidyanatheshwara Temple

Kokkada Vaidyanatheshwara Temple is a beautiful temple located in the small village of Kokkada in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. It is one of the most popular temples in the region, attracting devotees from all over the state and beyond. The temple isa famous pilgrimage in South India and is one among the Pancha linga sthalas (places).

Lord Shiva is worshipped here and it is believed that the one who takes the darshan of his five Lingas will be forgiven of all their sins. The temple is believed to have been built over a thousand years ago. The word “Vaidya” means the doctor or healer and as the name suggests the temple is also famous for its unique and powerful healing powers.

The temple’s architecture is a stunning testament to the traditional South Indian Dravidian style. The main shrine is built in a rectangular shape, and it has a large pyramidal tower or gopuram at the entrance. The gopuram is intricately decorated with carvings of various deities and scenes from Hindu mythology. The main deity of the temple, Lord Vaidyanatheshwara, is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum and is a swayambhu, or self-manifested, Shivlinga.

According to legend, the temple was built by a local chieftain named Bommanna Nayaka, who was a devotee of Lord Shiva. He is said to have been inspired by a divine dream, in which Lord Shiva appeared to him and instructed him to build a temple dedicated to him. Bommanna Nayaka followed the instructions, and he built the temple with the help of his subjects. The temple was then consecrated by a group of priests who performed the necessary rituals and offerings.

It is believed that the Lord Vaidyanatheshwara can cure various ailments and diseases, and devotees come to the temple seeking his blessings for good health and well-being. The temple also has a special chamber where medicinal herbs are stored; devotees who are suffering from health problems can take these herbs and receive the blessings of the Lord for good health.

The temple is especially popular during the annual Mahashivaratri festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion.