SAHASRALINGA, MARIKAMBA AND MAHAGANAPATHI TEMPLE OF SIRSI

As we had darshan at Gokarna by 10.30 AM on 04 04 22, our next halt was Sirsi at a distance of 80 Kms and covered in 2 Hours.  We had already booked accommodation for the day at Sirsi.  We checked in the hotel in the afternoon and took rest and left in the evening by local vehicle, which was useful negotiating smaller roads.  Sirsi is a taluk Headquarters and forms part of Uttara Kanara District of Karnataka.

MARIKAMBA DEVI
The first place to go was the Marikamba Devi temple in the centre of Sirsi town, on the Sirsi-Banavasi Road, in a large road junction.   The Massive structure with Warli Painting with white background and with red colour was very attractive, which has a large hall in the middle.  It is said that the temple was built in 1689.  These paintings had been done recently and it a was treat to watch.   Mounted on a tiger, the vigragha of Marikamba is 7 ft tall and in an intensely powerful form with 8 Hands.    She is rightly called as "Doddamma" and considered an elder sister to all Durgas within Karnataka.   The Famous Marikamba Fair is organised every alternate year and a large number of devotees from all over Karnataka attend the Fair.
The Vighragha was found in a lake near Hanagal in Hubli and installed here.

We had darshan in this temple in about 30 Min, though there was large crowd around the temple.

Temple Timings
Tuesday 06.00 AM to 10.00 PM
Other      06.00 AM to 09.00 PM

SREE MAHAGANAPATHI (DODDA GANAPATHI)

This temple is at a distance of 1 Km from Marikamba temple, 3 kms from Bus Stand and in Rayarapete area of Sirsi.   Roads are narrower as we approach the temple.  The Ganapathi Vigragha is 6 ft in height and almost 5 1/2 feet in width.   The temple is approximately 400 years old and is of Sonda Empire period.  It has been renovated later to the present form.  It more looks like a house.  We had darshan here and left for the hotel for the night stay.

Temple Timings:
06.00 AM to 07.00 PM

SAHASRALINGA
The place where the Lingas on the Shalamala River Bed is known as Sahasralinga and it is at a distance of 14 Kms and it takes around 20 Min and on the route of Sirsi - Yellapur and had to take a diversion at Hulgol and is at 2 Kms from this place.  We went to this River bed on 05 04 22 early morning vacating the Hotel to enable us to proceed from there straight to Belgavi for a halt there.  

As there was lesser flow of water, many of the Lingas could be seen and they were also accessible.   Though Pooja as such is not being carried out on daily basis, devotees throng on the Mahashivaratri day.  Tourists enjoy this place as it has a hanging bridge and lot of flora and fauna are available in the area.

The place is known for its 1000 Shiva Lingas that are carved on the rocks along the banks of the Shalmala. As far as history is concerned,  1000 lingas were installed by the ruler Sadashivaraya of the Vijayanagar Kingdom sometime between 1678 and 1718. The unique thing about these are that each linga features a carving of Nandi, the bull right in front.

These sahasralingas formed in Shalamala Rivers is compared with the story of Uppinangady where 1000 linga are found in the river bed and has the legend connected with Bheema taking Pushpamruga as advised by Lord Krishna to conduct Rajasoorya Yagna.

It looks an isolated place and necessary precautions be taken for that.

Timings:
06.00 AM to 05.00 PM

After spending wonderful time at the Sahasralinga getting into the water with family members,  we left Sirsi and surroundings and proceeded to Belgavi for stay and to take rest.