Sri Maruleshwara Temple / Sri Maraleshwara Temple, Talakadu, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

This Sri Maruleshwara Shiva temple is one of the Shiva temples of Panchalinga Temples in and around Talakad. Sri Pataleshwara/ Pataleshwar Temple, Maruleshwara Temple, and Vaidyanatheshwara Temples are near each other and Arkeshwara Temple and Mallikarjuna temples are outside Talakad. We visited the three Shiva temples out of 5 Shiva Temples in Talakadu.  These three temples were once under sand dunes. Excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during the 1970s protective walls are also constructed around the temple. This may be due change of direction of the Kaveri River or due to a flood. But there is a local legend behind this phenomenon.

Moolavar: Sri Maruleshwara

Some of the important details are…

This temple faces east about 20 feet below the ground level with protective walls. A Hero stone and half-buried statues are outside the sanctum. It was believed that the moolavar Shiv linga was installed and worshiped by Brahma. Moolavar Maruleshwara is a little large made out of sandstone also called Saikateshwara (Sand). (Maralu in Kannada means sand). Gangas period murtis of Maheswarar, Vishnu, Ambiga, Pickshadanar, Durgai, Murugan/ Kartikeya, Surya, and Vinayagar are in the artha mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and Artha mandapam. The sanctum plinth has jagathi, kumuda, gala, and mahapatti making the plinth padabandha adhisthana. The vimana above the sanctum was built in recent years.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was believed that this temple was constructed by Gangas during the 10^th Century.

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, during the 17^th century, the Mysore king  Raja Wodeyar made Tirumalaraja also known as Ranga Raya as a caretaker of Srirangapatna. His second wife Alamelamma took over when her husband left for Talakadu. She had a lot of jewelry. When her husband was infected with an incurable disease, She headed towards Talakadu. When she was Travelling to Talakadu, the Mysore king sent his army people to rob the Jewelleries of Alamelamma. Fearing from the Raja Wodeyars army, She throws all the jewelleries into the River Kaveri and ends her life by jumping into the river. Before jumping she gave a curse…

 

"Talakadu Maralaagi (Talakadu become sandy – தலக்காடு மணல்மேடாகட்டும்).

Malingi Maduvaagi (Malingi become whirlpool – மலிங்கி மடுவாகட்டும் ).

Mysore dhorege makkalagade hogali (Mysore kings never have children – மைசூர் மன்னனுக்கு வாரிசு இல்லாமல் போகட்டும்)."

To prove Alamelamma’s curse, the complete Talakadu was submerged under sand dunes and the same was excavated in 1911 by ASI. ( The actual reason may be due to the flood in the river and might have changed its course ).  The Mysore Kings don’t have Children till the 20^th Century. It was learned that the present King had a Child in recent years. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 18.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Talakadu ia bout 29 KM from T Narasipura and 45 KM from Mysore and 130 KM from Bangalore.

KSRTC buses are available from T Narasipura and Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Hero stone

 half-buried statues 

 Pichadanar

 Vishnu

  

Durga and Karthikeya

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---