''Panchalinga Darshana'' is a holy festival held once every twelve years in the ancient temple town of

Talakad Talakādu is a town on the left bank of the Kaveri river 45 km (28 miles) from Mysore and 133 km (82 miles) from Bangalore in Karnataka, India. Latinizations of the towns name vary, but include Talkād, Talakadu, Talakkadu, or Thalaka ...

on the banks of the

Kaveri river The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is a major river flowing across Southern India. It is the third largest river in the region after Godavari and Krishna. The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be and encompasses the states o ...

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. The five temples of Kshethra Sri Vaidyanatheshwara, Sri Pathaleshwara, Sri Maruleshwara, Sri Arakeshwara, Sri Mudukuthore Mallikarjuneshwara are believed to be Panchalingas and thus have become famous. The festival takes place simultaneously at these five temples of

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

which are decorated with plantain stalks and flowers. Here the pilgrims of Panchalinga Darshana offer their Pooja to the Gods. The festival takes elaborate preparation as millions of pilgrims attend to participate in the ceremonies, spread over a period of five days. It was last held in 2009. The uniqueness of this festival is that the five temple poojas begin at the same time following the ancient tradition for obtaining blessings for devotees and rulers of the country.

Pooja niyama (traditional procedure of worship)

The date and time for the special pooja and abhisheka are decided after consulting the Panchangam (Stellar almanac of Hindu tradition) to begin at the auspicious movement of Kuhumahuratha, which falls on Vishaka Nakshtra during the Krishnapaksha amavasaya of Karthika Somavara (Monday). This movement usually comes once seven years. The last Panchalinga Darshana was held from 20—25 November 2007 and the previous one was held 13 years earlier Before the beginning the special pooja, the head priest accompanied by more than 10 priests, takes holy dip at the Gokarna

Pushkarni Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some ...

(

holy lake Sacred waters are sacred natural sites characterized by tangible topographical land formations such as rivers, lakes, springs, reservoirs, and oceans, as opposed to holy water which is water elevated with the sacramental blessing of a cleric. Th ...

), adjacent to the lord Vadyanatheswara temple at the appointed time and brings the agrodaka (Water from the Pushkarani) to perform Ganga Pooja to the Gods. On this occasion poojas would be performed to Lord Shakthi Ganpathi, Manonmani Devi, Chandikeshwara and Veerabhadraswamy. Later poojas shall be performed to Arakeshwara, Pathalaeswara, Maraleshwara and Mallikarjuneswara. After the Panchalinga Darshana culminates, it would be followed by Gajaraohana, Sridivya Brahama Rathotsava (Chariot procession) will be held and Sri Shyanotsava the following day. Theppotsava (Utsav on a Boat) is scheduled on third day and poorvaka Kailsavanahana on fourth day and the next day the event would conclude with Nandi Vahanotsava.

Brief history of Talakadu

The temple town Talakadu, located on the banks of the river Cauvery, was an ancient town earlier ruled by the Kadambaas, Cholas, Chalukyas and Rastrakutas. It is about 45 km from the Mysore. An archaeologists delight, this town has come of the earliest known temples including five.

Notes

Talakadu last time panchalinga Darshana was held on NOV 2013.

External links

Preparations on for Talakad Panchalinga DarshanaThe millennium's first Panchalinga Darshana begins in Talakadu
{{Hindudharma Hindu festivals Festivals in Karnataka Hinduism in Karnataka Religious festivals in India