Jul 27, 2015 09:08 PM
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Kapileshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is considered to be the most ancient shrine in Belgaum. located on Lingeshwarar Road, the temple is in the heart of the city less than a KM away from Belgaum railway station. me and my family walked up to the shrine.
The temple is open for worship from 6 am to late midnight. our guide told us that the shrine is revered as the southern equivalent of Kaashi—Dakshina Kaashi. Devotees believe that pilgrimage to 12 Jyotirlingas, located at different places across India, won’t be complete without worshipping the presiding deity of this shrine.
The Shiva linga is said to be self originated—svyambhu. the temple has vast sprawling premises. there are separate halls for Vishnu, Ganesh, Nava Graha and the saint Shirdi Sai Baba among others. another attraction here is the a rare confluence of three sacred trees—banyan, peepal and ficus which is considered to be equivalent to Lord Datta in which Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh exist in one avatar. the walls of the temple have various mythological stories depicted in painting form and is a visual enigma to see. the temple is visited by hundreds of pilgrims everyday but the festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated in a grand fashion here—an estimated 10 lakh devotees visit the shrine this time. Kapileshwara temple reflects the old charm of the city and is a must visit to experience the serenity of the temple.
