Unique Temple of Brahmi Durga Parameshwari Kamalashile

 

Our visit to the Sri Brahmi Durgaparameshwari Kamalashile Temple is incidental. As we drive from Udupi to Mookambika, our planned destination, we make an impulsive digression upon seeing a board indicating the Kamalashile temple. For over 15 km, we drive through dense forest area replete with evergreen trees, mountains and waterfalls streaming down from them. Tiny blobs of rain of a while ago gather momentum to a heavy downpour as our car comes to a halt at the temple parking lot. 

At the entrance courtyard is the 75 feet tall Dhwaja Sthamba which is crafted from the wood of a single Bhogi tree obtained from the banks of the Kubja River. The sacred silver flagstaff made of 200 kilograms of the shiny metal, is adorned with carvings of deities. The temple which was destroyed in the floods of 1968 was rebuilt, predominantly using wood of the Halasu and Bhogi trees.

Unique Features of the Temple

The origins of the temple located in the heart of Kamalashile village date back to the Tretha Yuga, according to the temple priest Guru Prasad. The presiding deity is Sri Brahmi Durga Parameshwari who is worshipped in the unique form of a Linga which is believed to be a divine combination of goddesses Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati. However, legend has it that the goddess as Kamalashile Linga appeared when Brahma created the world and was then worshiped as Brahma Lingeshwara.

It gets its name from ‘Kamala’ meaning ‘lotus’ and ‘shile’ meaning ‘stone’. It is a lotus shaped stone.  Another unique aspect associated with the shrine is that a special pooja, the "Salaam Pooja" is performed to the goddess as a tribute to Hyder Ali and his son Tippu Sultan who patronized the temple.

On any one day every year, the temple gets inundated with water that flows continuously for five to six hours. But how and from where it comes, and where it recedes to, still remains a mystery, according to the temple staff. As soon as news of water gushing in spreads, there is a human deluge that comes to have a dip in it. Another interesting feature related to this phenomenon is that the water which enters the temple, comes as far as the steps of the sanctum sanctorum, but does not get even within an inch inside! 

The Suparshwa Cave

The Suparshwa Cave close to the temple was once inhabited by King Suparshwa after whom it is named. With the blessings of Lord Shiva, the king performed severe austerities and penance in the cave which was guarded by Bhairava. Subsequently, several seers and kings sought the cave to perform meditation.

Flowing between rocks near the cave is the Naga Theertha which merges with the Kubja River near the temple. The shrine to Naaga is particularly attractive with a stunning creation of entwined serpents in silver. Legend has it that the serpents, fearing attack by Garuda, their arch enemy, sought refuge in Goddess Durga Parameshwari. At her behest, the serpents coiled themselves to become seat and bed for Lord Vishnu to rest upon, thus defying death at the hands of Garuda. She further asked them to hide themselves in the Suparshwa Cave, out of Garuda’s sight. The vehicle of goddess Durga, the tiger, it is believed visited the cave every evening. A fire would be lit at the cave entrance to enable the animal to keep itself warm. According to the temple priest and few people in the temple, a tiger still comes to the cave and the ritualistic lighting of a fire, takes place!

Temple Festivals

Chandramana Ugadi Festival, Brahma Rathotsava or Jatre are important temple celebrations. The temple’s 6-wheeled chariot has stunning carvings of episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Thousands of devotees gather here from various regions of Karnataka during the performance of the annual Chandika Shanti, Chandika Parayana, and Durga Shanti Homas.

Navarathri is celebrated in a grand manner in the temple. The deity is adorned on all nine days in different ways. Over 3000 people are fed on each of the nine days of festivities which sees almost 10,000 from Karnataka and nearby states visit it each day, says Guru Prasad.

Legend

According to folklore, a beautiful lady named Pingala was a court dancer in Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati. One day, she refused to perform before the divine couple. Angered by her arrogance, Parvati cursed her to be born as an ugly woman (Kubja) on earth. When a repentant Pingala pleaded mercy, Parvati bid her go near Suparhwa Cave and do penance till such time that Parvati herself would come there to vanquish the demon Khararatasura who was harassing the earthly beings. Parvati also informed her that she would take the form of a Linga, “Kamalashile”, in front of rishi Raikwa’s ashram in the Sahyadri forests after destroying the demon.  

Parvati further told Pingala that the river which originated from the Sahyadri forest would be named Kubja after her form and that it would flood every year to clean her Linga form! Pingala came down to earth in her ugly form and meditated near Suparshwa Cave on the banks of the said river which came to be known as Kubja. When Parvati was finally appeased by Pingala’s penance, she appeared before her and asked her to proceed to Mathura where she would meet Lord Krishna who would redeem her of her curse.

Faith

Twice every month on the day of Ekadasi, the Linga is adorned with fresh Mruthika or clay. The old clay which is removed is offered to devotees as Moola Prasada which may be mixed with water and taken as theertha or gandha. This is an elixir, a panacea for all ills and problems, say the devotees routinely visiting the temple.

Believers flock to the temple, especially on the day when it gets filled with water, to pray for domestic harmony, to beget children and to have wishes fulfilled. They believe the waters to have curative and healing powers.

Fact File:

Kamalashile is located at a distance of 35km from Kundapura in Udupi district

Temple Timings: 6am to 8pm daily

Air: Mangalore (125 km)

Rail: Kundapura is the nearest railway station

Road: Kamalashile is well connected by state-run public buses