Mylara Lingeshwara Temple at Mylara

According to legend

Mallasura (demon) and his brother performed a severe penance extracted from Brahma and, with a promise that they should never be harmed by any human being, began to harass the sages or rishis. The sages appealed Shiva to protect them; Shiva took on a new form and, taking with him his forces of seven crores goravas, warred with Mallasura and his brother Manikasura for 10 days> He then slew them both with his bow. During the battle, Lord Veerabhadra, Shiva's aide, struck the earth with his long hair and Kanchaveeras emerged from the spot. The Kanchaveeras confronted Mallasura and Manikasura and handed them over to Mailara. After killing Mallasura and Manikasura, Mailara (Shiva) wore their intestines as his turban, their teeth as a cowrie necklace, their mouths as a damaruga (hand drum), skulls as a doni (meal bowl) and their skins as a long coat. The fat of the demons was used as oil and their nerves athe lamp wick. More details Shee Mylaralingeshwara page in Facebook

Karnika Utsava (prophecy)

Rituals during the Mailara Jatre (fair) include the Karanika Utsava (bow-climbing and prophecy-uttering ritual) and Pavada (body piercing ritual). Karanika Utsava is performed by the Karanika Gorava, who fasts for 12 days, after which he climbs a 12-meter bow and utters a euphoric prophecy regarding regional agriculture, animal husbandry, and politics.

Karnikotsava Gorava's utterance tumbida koda mooru bhaga aadeethale parakh! means "A full pot may get split into three parts". Karnikotsava means the prophecy; it is like a puzzle. Some guess it to be an indication of political situation in the state and some guess about rain and crop that means it is an indication of some threat to the agriculture so, the prophecy warns the farmers to be very careful. It is believed that the saying would indicate the future of the coming year.

On Karnikotsava day, the devotees converge to the temple chanting "elukoti elukoti elukotigo... changmalo changmalo". "Elukoti" means seven crores commemorating the seven crore Goravas who accompanied Mailari. By afternoon, a huge wooden bow, symbolic of that with which Shiva slew Mallasura, is brought and placed in the middle of a vast area called Denkana maradi. The gorava carries the bow from his tent and climbs up it, stares from the top in the four directions, and then begins trembling as a sign of divine inspiration, and the pilgrims wait for his prophecy. Gorava gazes skywards, before pronouncing the annual divination. Soon after this he drops down himself from the bow, and the devotees waiting around carefully catch him. The prophecy is believed to be divine truth by the devotees.please call any more in mylara

27 February 2013- Karnika(prophecy) -ಮಳೆ ಬೆಳೆ ತಮಪಾದಿತಲೇ ಪರಾಕ್-malebele Sampaaditale paraak. 16 February 2014- Karnika(prophecy) -tumbida koda muru tunda aaditale paraak. 5 February 2015- Karnika(prophecy) -muttina gantu muru bhaga aaditale paraak. 25 February 2016 Karnika(prophecy) -muttina raashi mooru atale paraak (a mound of pearls got divided into three) 13 FEBRUARY 2017 Karnika(prophecy) Ambali haliseetu kambali beesitale paraak.

HIGH PRIEST OF THE TEMPLE(pradhana archakas)

Management of the Mylar temple is under government. Earlier it was Jayachandra Wodeyar who was dharmadhikari of temple, now Sri Sri Sri Venkappayya Wodeyar on inheritance and Wodeyar family belongs to the Kshatriya cult. These people are called Guru or Swamy. Sri Sri Sri guru venkappaiah Wodeyar Maha swamigalu is the present main high priest of the temple and DHARMADIKARI of the temple. The management and administration of the temple ruling by Sri guru venkappaiah Wodeyar Maha swamigalu since so many years. For more information contact Sri guru venkappaiah Wodeyar maha swamigalu 9901194451. Alternative number :9886132628.

Goravara kunita

The gorava dance (goravara kunita), a dance of the Shiva cult, is popular in areas of North Karnataka. The goravas worship Mylara linga (Shiva), wear the costume of a black woolen rug, on shoulder hanging bag made out of skin. Some of them wear a black coat and white dhoti. In traditional contexts, the gorava devotees who dance in trance sometimes bark like dogs. It is believed that the totem of the Mylaralinga is a dog. The dancers' feet move in clockwise and zigzag forms. Gorava wears yellow powder on his forehead and gives it to his believed devotees. Artists holds instruments, like damaru (percussion), or sometime holds kolalu (flute), and a few artists wear a small bronze bell on their shoulders. A few followers hold cowbells called paarigante.

Pooja Activity

In temple Pooja's were done by Brahmins. In the temple Archakas are M Virupaksh Bhat and his son M Pramod Bhat. They are doing Pooja from many years.In temple Rudraabhisheka and Panchamrutabhishek seva will be available from 7 am to 2 pm. After 2pm Vishesha Darshan will be their up to 5. For more details contact M Pramod Bhat 9880640257 Vamshaparmparya Archakaru

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