Vidurashwatha Temple

Vidurashwatha is a small village located in the Gauribidanur taluk of Chikkaballapur district in the state of Karnataka.The name Vidurashwatha is derived from that of a big Ashwatha (sacred fig) tree located in this village. According to a legend of the times of Mahabharata, this tree was planted by Vidura, a courtier in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra; hence the name Vidurashwatha. In 2001, this ancient tree fell to the ground.

Legend
The legend says that Yamadharma Raja was cursed to be born as a human being and was thus born as Vidura. After seeing all the bloodshed during the war between Pandavas and Kauravas, Vidura became remorseful and asked Lord Krishna for salvation. Lord Krishna advised him to go on a theerthayatra (pilgrimage). After visiting many places, Vidura came to this place, which was actually a hermitage of Maitreya Maharishi. Once during sandhyavandhana in the river, Vidura got a small sapling when he was about to offer argya to Suryadeva, Maitreya Maharishi asked Vidura to worship the sapling to get salvation. With great devotion, Vidura worshipped the sapling and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva pleased with the devotion, gave him darshan, and thus the name of the location became Vidura Ashwatha.

Another story is that a long time ago when the river was flowing rapidly, two brothers who could not cross the river took shelter on the other side of the river bank where there was a Shiva temple. In the night, one of the brothers dreamed that Ashwathanaryana came and asked the brother to worship him so that he and his future generations would be benefited. The next day the brothers were found on the other side of the riverbank under the great sacred fig. From then on, the worship of Ashwathnarayana was done by this family only.

The Ashwatha Tree on the banks of Uttara Pinakini is holy and auspicious. Childless couple, persons with Naga Dosha and other Naga-related dificiencies visit this Sri Ashwathanarayana temple and get their desires or prayers fulfilled. Hundreds of Naga idols installed around Sri Vidurashwatha bear testimony for this fact. People from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other southern States visit this holy place in large number and offer worship here.