Mylara Lingeshwara Temple – Mylarapatna

Mylaralingeshwara Temple is located at Mylarapatna – Karnataka. Lord Shiva took the form of Mailara to slay the demon brothers Mallasura and Manikasura. According to the legend 7 crores goravas helped to slay the asuras/demons.Many families have this form of Shiva as their kuladevta (family deity).

Another name for Mylara is Marthanda Bhairava, in Maharashtra he is known as Khandoba and in Andhra Pradesh as Mallanna. In the Mysore region, Mailaralinga is worshipped by Hanumantha Kurubas as Mudukutore Mallikarjuna.

There is an interesting legend -It says, a demon called Mallasura and his brother Manikasura performed severe penance to Lord Brahma to achieve immortality. Lord Brahma was pleased with their penance and granted a boon that no human being or any being in the forms in existence then could be able to harm them. With this power, the demons started harassing the sages and terrorising common people.

When the distressed sages and people appealed to Lord Shiva, he took the form of a fearful hunter Mylara, and with the help of seven crore Gorava warriors, fought with the demons. On the occasion, instead of riding his vehicle Nandi, he rode a horse, followed by hunting dogs. Unable to subdue them due to the boon given by Brahma, he created five non-human warriors called panchaveeras to assist him. Devi Parvati in the form of Gangee Mallamma helped him in the fight.

Ultimately, after killing Mallasura and Manikasura restored peace, Mailara (Shiva) wore their intestines as his turban, their teeth as a cowrie necklace, their mouths as a damaruga (hand drum), skulls as a doni (meal bowl) and their skins as a long coat. The fat of the demons was used as oil and their nerves as the lamp wick.

Mylara Lingeshwara Bandara Seva Utsava is held every year in this temple.