Mangaluru: this ‘Guha Pravesha‘ and ‘Tirsa Snana‘ exist Shri Keshetra Bhuvanabhirama Udupa said Nellitheertha Somanatheshwara Guhalaya will begin on Thursday.
The event will start at 9 am with a series of religious rituals conducted by Baggamajalu Brahmashri Subramanya Tantri, he told reporters on Wednesday.
Guha Pravesha Program will be inaugurated by Sri Vidyendra Tirtha Sripad Sri Chitrapur MuttLakshmi Narayana Asranna, Chief Priest of Shri Kshetra Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kulai along with other guests including Harikrishna Punarur, Bhuvanabhirama Udupa and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura.
Guhalaya is one of the largest cave temples in Karnataka, located 30 km from Mangaluru in Neerude, in the village of Kompadavu.
The cave contains sacred nilithessa The pond and the revered Shivalinga are known as Jabaleshwara. Devotees go 200 meters deep into the cave and take holy baths in the pond.
Guha Pravesha and Tirtha Snana are allowed during Sankramana (tula) in October to Sankramana (Mesha) in April every year. The name of the cave “Nellitheertha” comes from the gooseberry-shaped water droplets that continuously drip inside the cave.
Entry to the caves is open to all, regardless of caste or creed. Although the path inside is steep, the area around the pond and Shivalinga is spacious and can accommodate a gathering of hundreds of people.
Areas outside the lake are off limits. Before entering the cave, devotees have to bathe in the pond “Nagappa Kere” outside the temple and enter the cave wearing wet clothes.
Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said another unique feature of this temple is that entry into the caves is restricted for six months every year and is only allowed during the afternoon ‘Mahapuja’ before entering.
In the main temple located outside the cave, daily worship and festivals of Sri Somanatha and Sri Mahaganapathi are conducted as per the Agama Shastra.
The Karnataka government has considered Nellitheertha as an important tourist destination, but it still lacks necessary facilities. as the upcoming’BrahmaKarkula added that renovation works are underway and steps will be taken to improve facilities for devotees next year.
NVGK Bhat, Venkatraj Bhat, Harikrishna Punarur, Prasanna Bhat and Deep Kiran, Karambar were present at the meeting.
