Sri Veerabhadreshwara Temple- Humnabad

Sri Veerabhadreshwara Temple is a famous pilgrimage center situated at Humnabad in Bidar District-Karnataka.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva.The temple is known for its unique architecture, intricate carvings, and peaceful atmosphere. It is a popular pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Shiva and attracts many visitors throughout the year.

This Temple was built by Raja Ramachandra Jadhav in 1725. Dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, another form of Lord Shiva, the temple is famous for its moving pillar. The idol in the sanctum is very magnificent. The temple has two tall lamp pillars about 50 feet high.

Veerabhadreshwara Temple is dedicated to an avatar of Lord Shiva- Veerabhadra. According to mythology, Veerabhadra was created from the wrath of Lord Rudra after his wife Goddess Sati self-immolated herself during the great Yagna in the palace of her father King Daksha.

Veerabhadra, also called as Veerabhadra Swamy is believed to be Shiva himself in a ferocious form and is also held as a Shiva Gana, the commander of Shiva. Generally, a valiant hero is referred to as ‘Veera,’ while ‘Bhadra’ means a friend. Shiva is said to have taken this fearful form to destroy the fire sacrifice of Daksha Prajapati and quell his arrogance.He is also the principal deity of Veerashaiva movement and still worshiped by bhaktas especially in the Karnataka region and Tamilnadu.

An annual seven-day Veerabhadreshwara Jatra is held in January/February.The annual festival is noted for various unique rituals which are closely linked to agrarian economy of the region. During this time, this ancient temple of Lord Veerabhadreshwara attracts lakhs of tourists.