BALAKRISHNA OF UDIPI

It appears that once Ramabhoja, while ploughing the land to making it fit for sacrificial ground, a serpant hit by the tip of the plough died on the spot. To expiating the sin, he built four shrines in the four corners of the Shivalli village. And one more in the centre of the village and worshipped Parasurama in the form of Sivalinga installing it on silver seat. This legend accounts for the origin of the temple, now called Anantheswara which has another interesting version emphasizing this place as Hariharakshetra. Incidentally it traces the purport of Parasurama's birth too. When the kshatrias, the ruling clan abusing the power perpetrated heinous crimes, Lord Maha Vishnu descended as Parasurama to eradicating the unjust sovereignty.He learnt then the art of archery from Lord Siva. Soon after accomplishing the objective Parasurama decided to get himself identified with the Sivalinga so that both the teacher and the taught would receive prayers jointly and simultaneously by the devotees. He merged in the Sivalinga. And so the Sivalinga was called Anantheswara. This establishes the cosmic truth that both Siva and Vishnu are one, and justifies the attribute Mahadeva applicable to both Siva and Vishnu. Hence the glorification in Vishnu Sahasranam, mentioning as "Adideevo mahadeevoo deeveesoo deevabhrd guruh".

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]