The Kaveri river makes a sharp bend, on the left banks at this turn is the Talakad, also known as Talakadu. It is 45 km from Mysore and 185 km from Bangalore in Karnataka, India. A historic site, and archeological importance is that Talakad once had over 30 temples that today are buried in sand. Not only spiritual pilgrimage center but is a scenic beauty with vast spreads of sand.
History:The illustrious and powerful Western Gangas ruled from 350 to 1050 AD until they were overthrown by the Cholas in the 11th century.[1] Talakad came under the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. The Hoysala ruler built the impressive Vijayanarayana Chennakesava Temple at Belur. Subsequently, after the Hoysalas, the powerful Vijayanagara Kingdom rulers and the Maharajas of Mysore ruled the place.
Panchalingeshwara Temple
Vaidyeshwara Temple
Vaidyeshwara Temple and its sculpture Curse of Talakad: Talakad is also tagged to the curse called “Curse of Talakad” by Alamelamma on the Wodeyar dynasty (erstwhile Maharajas) of Mysore.
Then...
Raja Wadiyar, ruler of Mysore State, conquered Srirangapatna fort from Srirangaraya, then viceroy of Vijayanagar Empire, in 1610. The viceroy retired to Talakad and his wife, Alamelamma, is said to have fled with jewels of Adi Ranga temple in Srirangapatna to Talakad.
Raja Wadiyar sent his soldiers to Talakad. Alamelamma assumed theking’s men had come to capture her and make her a slave. She tried to escape to T Narasipura. She found no way to escape from the solders but to jump into Malangi river. Legend says that when the king’ soldiers tried to get at the fleeing Alamelamma, they got her hair before she disappeared into the water.
At that moment she cursed “Talakadu managali, Malangi madwagali, Mysooru arasarige makkalu aagadirali” which translates to “May Malangi become a whirlpool, Talakad turn into a desert and the Rajas of Wadiyar not beget male heir”. Till today whatever she has said stands true.
Now... (2007)
Nearly 400 years after the Mysore royal family was cursed by the Alamelamma, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar is making amends. He will construct a temple in Talakad near Mysore dedicated to Alamelamma. The deity of Alamelamma is now in a box and opened only on Navami (nith) day during Dasara. She is adorned with jewellery and finery, worshipped and replaced in the box.
The cue to dedicate a temple came from a well-wisher of Wadiyar, who had a clairvoyance of Alamelamma. Wadiyar said “In April 2007, my friend dreamt of seeing the image of a woman trying to emerge from a watery grave. He is said to have asked her what she wanted and the soman sought to know why the king (Wadiyar) not treating her pitra or matra”.
During clairvoyance, Alamelamma is supposed to have said that miracles will happen to him. Wadiyar said a curse uttered will stay for seven generations. The curse was uttered in 1610. Since 2003, Wadiyar had strange experiences. He use to get the smell of a cigar and perfume his father used. In 2006, he felt the woman was trying to tell him to light ghee lamps besides the oil ones before her portrait.
Wadiyar has not visited the room where the woman’s idol is kept in a box along with her hair. Alamelamma’s presence in Mysore Palace was supposedly witnessed by the guards, when the place was taken over by the state government in 1976-77 and they informed Wadiyar. It is believed during Navami night, the guards heard the jingling of anklets starting from the bridge which connects the palace and its annexe. The jingle grew louder as it neared the throne, reached the durbar hall where the armory is kept, went up to the Ganapaathi temple before dying down at the room where the deity is kept.
Some other legends : Several other interesting legends also surround this shrine. It is believed that an ascetic Somadatta headed out to Siddharanya Kshetra Talakad to worship Shiva. Having been killed by wild elephants enroute, he and his disciples re-incarnated as wild elephants and worshipped Shiva in the form of a tree at Talakad.
Two hunters Tala and Kada, are believed to have struck the tree with an axe to find blood gushing forth, they dressed and healed the wounded tree. Hence hunters became immortal. Since Shiva is believed to have healed himself through this incident, he is referred to as Vaidyeshwara. The Panchalingams here are all associated with this legend.
Essentials
Getting Here
- By Road: 48 Kms from Mysore
- By Train: Mysore is the nearest railway station
Where To Stay
Food
- Carry food from Mysore
Panchalinga Darshana at Talkad
The temple town is all set for the millennium's second Panchalinga Darshana held once in 12 years which begins on November 16 2009. It is one of the biggest religious congregation. The pilgrims are all set to visit the 5 shiva temples on this day. The glimpse of five Shiva Lingas namely Vaidyeshwara, Pataleshwara, Maruleshwara, Mallikarjuneshwara and Arkeshwara.
Though the pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year in normal course, the auspicious time comes once in 12 to 13 years. However , for the first time in this millennium it has come in just three years.
The Panchalinga Darshana mahotsava begins at 4.30 A.M lasts till 11 P.M
The 10 day long rituals touches it's peak on Nov 16.
The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) has come up with a one day special tour package. This package service is available from Nov 16 to Nov 21.
For more details contact
Phone- 080-22222400 or www.karnatakaholidays.net
