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Karpara
Kshetra - Vriksharupa Narasimha Devalaya
Yet there is another place in the same Karnataka state, where a pipal tree is adored as Lord's image, which embodied
several Saligrams and from which Lord Narasimha appeared. It is swayamvyakta image and has a long story. Skanda
Yurana embodies a detailed account of this thirtha kshetra.
Uniqueness
It has many other interesting plus points that won a covetable place in history too. It is here the Lord was found in a big
hollow of a pipal tree, considered as garbhagriha; it is this presiding deity appearing in a dream to the Muslim ruler, Adilshah
and got a temple built for himself; it is about this kshetra, Naiada grew eloquent in his narration about river Krishna; it is to
this sacred place Brahma and Eswara along with gods descended to worship the Lord in the form of water, during the
Karkataka sankramana every yeah: it is here the renowned sage Karpara did penance and obtained daiva sakshatkara; it is
this only pilgrimage centre that is visited by all castes and religions; and it is to this holy place Lot A Balaji directed a certain
devotee to visit it first and adore him next. Renowned for such special features, this thirtha kshetra has occupied a special
niche in the history of temples of our Punya Bharat.
Antiquity
The glory of this Karpara kshetra has been elaborately dealt with in the Skanda purana, and it is Narada who described it at
length about the sanctity of this place during his narration of the glory of the river Krishna. According to the legend, there
lived here the famous sage by name Karpara. He was a Narasimhopasaka and led a pious life - praying to Lord Narasimha
day in and day out. Not satisfied with it, he did penance, propitiating his ishtadaivam Lord Narasimha for long. When the
Lord appeared before him, he prayed to him humbly to abide in that place permanently to enabling him adore with great
fervour and emancipate mankind, wallowing in the transitory pleasures. Pleased with his unique humanism the hard said
'AMEN!' Since then the Lord has been dwelling here and fulfilling the desires of the adorers to their utmost satisfaction. It
was on the auspicious occasion of Karkataka Sankramana this occurred. Deeming it efficacious, Brahma and Maheswar,
along with numerous, gods visit this place every year in the form of rivers and worship the Lord. During that holy moment,
the river Krishna overflowing its banks encircle the temple and enter the garbha griha to offer jalabhishek, as it were, but
humans satisfy themselves by mere feasting their eyes with this sacrosanct sight. 'this unique awe-some features is luring
thousands of asthikas and they are worshipping the Ford with great fervour.
It is situated on the banks of river Krishna in the Devadurga taluq of Raichur district in Karnataka by bus.
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