Adichunchanagiri - The Leading Ruler of Time

Happy Occasion like Wedding Ceremony, brings a lot of joy among the people while also witnessing a rare moment of the new beginning of life. Attending a wedding ceremony with friends while on travel to a different place, gives more joy and fun to be with them. It's amazing how you can seldom see friends and yet be so connected. Lot of old memories, discussions going on with friends, we stop on Hassan Highway for Breakfast. After having the delicious Thatte Idli (Karnataka's Flat Idli) soaked in Sambhar and butter on top of it, we left to the marriage hall. With the boisterous and the exuberant notes and beats from the Nadaswaram and the Thavil, the Bride and Groom make their way to the stage, we also have our seats down on the left corner. The ritual of  Kanyadaan takes place after exchanging of garlands. It is emphasized during the ritual, that the parents are entrusting him with the most precious ‘gift’ in this world. It is expected of him that he will always take care of his wife, their daughter, respect her and keep her happy in every way possible.

Conveying our wishes to the Couples, we en-route to Adichunchanagiri - an hill township in Mandya District, Karnataka. It is the spiritual headquarters of the Vokkaliga community and is also known as the Mahasamsthana Matt. The greenery surrounding this place is very attractive. According to legend, it is believed that two daemons Chuncha and Kancha  who were pestering people in the nearby villages for a long time were killed here by Lord Shiva. He gave the place to Siddha Yogi that, who founded a tradition of Natha. Shiva also instructed him to spread society's righteousness.

It is known for the Sri Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy Temple - a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.This enchanting temple is surrounded by a high granite-well sculpted wall that gives a quality comparable to a fortress. The temple is surrounded by a dense forest where we can see free-roaming peacocks called as 'Mayura Vana'.

Normally, every Shiva temple will have a statue of Nandi, but in the temple of Lord Kalabhairaveshwara, there is a statue of a dog, considered to be his vehicle. The temple also has 172 beautifully carved pillars and each pillar has a different incarnations of  Bhairaveshwara.

Lord Gavi Gangadhareshwara’s temple is situated atop the hill and there is a Nandi statue weighing about 10 kg near the Linga. Lord Shiva resides at Adichunchanagiri in the form of Panchalingas — Lord Gangadhareshwara, Chandramouleshwara, Malleshwara, Siddeshwara and Someshwara of which Lord Gangadhareshwara is known as the presiding deity and Chandramouleshwara is known as ‘Atmartha Devatha’. The place thus, came to be known as ‘Panchalinga Kshetra’. Sri Kalabhairaveshwara is the protecting deity of the Kshetra. There is cave on top of the hill, where Lord Shiva was doing penance and the devotees need to take lamp for Darshan during the noon.

Adichunchanagiri is surrounded by a beautiful forest, which appears to radiate an aura of abiding serenity, spiritual solitude and peace. Millions look to this ancient Monastery, for both spiritual and mundane guidance. While friends of mine look to explore more, they have all plans of travel to become a wanderlust. It takes one minute to make someone's day,  and friends like them, made my day to  keep our roots tangled.

“It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters.”