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UMA MAHESWAR SHRINE
The legend narrates - Kalavittu, a virtuous king who ruled over the country was without issues. He performed several types
of pujas and sacrifices for santanaprapti, but to no effect. A certain reputed sage by name Romesa, pitying advised him to go
to Kailasa and worship Lord Maheswar. Weighed down by unending mental anguish, he expressed his inability to do so.
Then the sage himself prayed to Lord Maheswar to comedown to the south along with Umadevi to bless the king.
Maheswar then said that his prayer would be fulfilled shortly, when Vayu, the Wind God and Serpent God - Adisesha enter into contest
to decide, who between them was stronger. They waited with anxiety.
It was at this juncture Adisesha and Vayu desired to test their might. And according to conditions laid down, if Wind-god
blows off- Adisesha, embracing Meruparvatha, he becomes the winner, else Adisesha declares his victory over him. When
the trial of strength commenced, the whole world shook terribly due to the velocity and vitality displayed by the Wind-god to
blowing off his opponent, yet Adisesha remained unperturbed. Repetition of the same went on, but none was found tired, nor
willing to give up further attempts.
Then the gods requested Adisesha to lift his head a little as a concession to Vayudeva.
When lifted, the Wind god blew fast with redoubled vigor and force, then a part of Kailas came off and was borne to the
South on the wings of twenty big birds. The waiting sages and the king enjoyed the darsan, and forthwith it disappeared.
The king had his long pending desire fulfilled, and to mark of this great episode, he built a grand temple and installed the
images of Uma and Maheswar with figures of birds on the terrace of this sacred temple. The images thus installed are
extremely grand and wring veneration by the exquisite sculpture, exuding from them.
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