Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Dec 13: All roads lead to Koteshwar with the vibrant Kotilingeshwara Car festival in progress. Religious rituals and festivities under the leadership of temple in-charge Prasanna Kumar Aithal have started. The festival is popularly known as Kodi festival.
Koteshwar is one among the seven pilgrim centers created by Parashuram. Its historic name is Dhwajapura. Its details are mentioned in Padmapurana holy book which states that the place is spiritually most rewarding. Koteshwar is popular as Dhwajapura and the lake is said to be created by Brahma.
As per the legend, King Vasu who had come on a pilgrimage here from Gokarna saw a vision of Kotalingeshwara. The king who was pleased with the environment and the vision of Kotilingeswhara got a beautiful temple built here. The kings who came later changed the appearance of the temple according to their likings, devotion and services, though the basic stone structure has not changed. The history of the temple can be known by the inscription of decrees during the eras of Alupa, Kandamba, Hoisala and Vijayanagara.
The Kodi festival for the last fifty years has turned to modernity. The center is getting developed thanks to the patronage of Koteshwar Magane devotees from 14 villages who pray here and also from the local people. The festival where lacs of people gather irrespective of religion and caste also provides an opportunity for eligible bachelors and spinsters to choose their life partners.
The large five-acre pilgrim center has developed into a tourist attraction, and with the festival going on, there are lights all around. The festival chariot carrying the Kotilingeshwara deity's idol was pulled on Tuesday December 13 at 10.55 am. A series of cultural programmes were inaugurated on Saturday December 10.
Temple administrator, PWD engineer K S Chandrashekar, executive official Ganesh Rao are in charge of the proceedings.
There is no administrative committee in the temple at present. The past committee president Gopala Krishna Shetty, Prabhakar Shetty, member B M Gururaj Rao and staff have worked hard for the success of the festival. Bengaluru Hotel Janatha Group sponsored the 'Sri Krishna Leelamratham Yakshagana' on December 12 and Koteshwar Charitable Trust sponsored Kodandaram Yakshagana Mandali, Koteshwar’s 'Shaneeshwara Mahatme Yakshagana'. N R Narayana Rao brothers and other hotel owners will present Yakshagana Talamaddale on December 14.
Though religious programmes conclude on Wednesday December 14, the celebrations will continue will last for a week.