Pics: Karthik B C Road
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Jul 31: On the occasion of Aati Amavasye, devotees in large number thronged the hill shrine of Sri Sadashiv temple, located at Narahari Paravata, near here on Saturday July 30 and performed special teertasnana.

Aati Amavasya (new moon day) is considered to be very auspicious. This time, the occasion fell on Saturday, on which the temple attracted a large number of devotees from all over the taluk.  The devotees on their arrival have a holy dip in the holy tanks located high by the side of the hill shrine, by climbing nearly 400 steps from access the road, near Kalladka, on Mangalore – Bangalore National Highway (NH) 48. 

The people, in a belief passed on over generations, trust that those who bathe in the ponds of the hill shrine on Aati Amavasye day will be cleansed of all sins and lead a healthy life.

Narahari Parvata derives it’s divinity from the mythological stories that say that Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna, one among the five Pandavas, had bathed in the three natural ponds located at the hill top here and worshiped the presiding deity of the temple, Lord Sadashiv, on Aati Amavasye.  Meanwhile, the new moon day of every month is considered auspicious by all the devotees, to have a holy dip in these ponds.  
 
Except the two-wheelers all the other vehicle movements were restricted in the highway leading towards Narahali parvatha. Hence the devotees had to go on foot for about half a kilometer to reach the temple. Senior citizens experienced a bit of problem as it was tiring for them. Next year onwards better arrangements would be made for the convenience of devotees, informed the sources.