Monday 27 August 2012

Historical Ravi Rameshwara Temple at H.D Kote

                                                  Lord Sri Ravi Rameshwara


     

      Sri Ravi Rameshwara temple, part of the Taranimunti (Kittur) village, has a history of around 1500 years. Kittur village was the capital of the Punnata kingdom, the first kannada kingdom. Punnata kingdom is believed to have been established prior to 345 A.D and they were the first to use our Kannada script. The temple was built between 430 A.D. and 450 A.D during the reign of Ramaverma. Around the year 1960 the Kabini dam project was taken up and this made it inevitable to shift some villages adjacent to the dam as these would be submerged.Kittur and our temple were one of those affected. The caretakers of the temple were the Arasu families of Mysore samsthana. They decided to shift all the Devi-Devathas to another temple.But this did not go as planned.Instead,these vigrahas were sold for a price. However, the main Sri Ravi Rameshwara idol could not be touched as the Nagaraja (king of snakes) was guarding it. Hence for about 40 years, Sri Ravi Rameshwara remained in seclusion and provided shelter for wild animals In the year 2000,group of our people made a suggestion to assemble all the migrated Kittur families and form an association. The Sri Ravi Rameshwara temple was in a dilapidated condition. It was difficult to even enter the temple premises. The Sri Ravi Rameshwara temple has been cleaned and restored to the current state. Work on improving the temple is still in progress. From 2010 onwards, the Mahashivarathri pooja is celebrated in a grand manner. In Kittur the villagers of Taranimunti come together to celebrate the Mahashivarathri pooja.
       We have a Ravi Rameshwara temple there where every year people in large numbers gather to celebrate Shivratri festival with immense faith.This year we were lucky to be there to seek his blessings and thought the experience is worth a share. Lets slightly dwell into its history.
       We have a Ravi Rameshwara temple there where every year people in large numbers gather to celebrate Shivratri festival with immense faith.This year we were lucky to be there to seek his blessings and thought the experience is worth a share. Lets slightly dwell into its history.

     They built a Guest House in Kittur, according to the village standards.It has a large dining hall with 2 rooms and a bathroom. The reason why I specified the 'village standard' is, people well accustomed to city luxuries should not expect the same here. After all we are seeking peace in a village.

      Now getting back onto the track, let me shed some more light on this year's Shivratri celebration. On the morning of Mahashivarathri, Rudrabhisheka was performed. Few days before the festival, villagers of Kittur had requested to marry off a couple who were economically unstable. So, in the evening necessary arrangements were made for the marriage to take place. This is just one of the examples which makes clear that the association (Kittur Balaga) also intends to uplift the village families socially and economically along with the welfare of their own. Following the wedding was the Teppotsava, where the lord's Utsavamurthy is relaxed on the coracle and taken on a blissful ride on the waters of Kapila river. This sight is beyond words.

                                                      

        On the Shivratri night, arrangements had been made to entertain folks intending to do jaagarane(staying up whole night). Harikatha and bhajans. Next day we had early morning poojas which extended till 11AM andthere is annasantharpane(serving food to all the devotees) in the temple. This was just a gist that I have provided here. One should experience and enjoy the above in person.

                                                    
      Imagine sleeping on the banks of Kapila river watching the sun change into its divine dawn color and the birds drifting right in front of the sun bidding it goodbye.Just the thought brings so much peace within us.I recently happened to enjoy this peace in Kittur ( H.D Kote).
     This is a remote village in the Mysore district, Karnataka near Kabini dam. and you can also experiance the Wildlife Resorts Like :- Orange County and The Jungle Resorts.

                  Any further details about the Temple, please feel free to Reach Us.

Route:-

BANGALORE (245 Kms)

    * Mysore Highway
    * Ramanagara
    * Maddur
    * Mandya
    * Srirangapatna
    * Before reaching Mysore City turn right on to ring road, continue till you meet Mysore
    * Mananthavaadi Road (Turn right towards Maananthavaadi)
    * Hand Post Circle (Continue straight towards Maananthavaadi)
    * 3 Kms after Hand Post Circle turn left towards Kabini Dam
    * Beechanahalli Village
    * Kittur Temple

  



            







    


       Ravi Rameshwara Temple (Kittur)
                 H.D Kote, Mysore
  E-mail :- ravirameshwaratemple@gmail.com