Shankaranarayana Temple near Kundapura In Karnataka is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Also known as Krodha Shankara Narayana Temple, it is around 32 km east of Kundapur on the Kundapura – Agumbe Road. The shrine is around 42 km from Agumbe.
The temple has a beautiful bronze image of Harihara, and there are also some fine wood carvings here.
Traditionally called as Krodha Kshetra, the temple is referred to in Skanda Purana. According to legend, a sage named Krodha performed intense penance in a cave here near the Western Ghats amidst sylvan surroundings.
6 AM – 12:30 PM
Evening Darshan and puja
4:30 PM to 8 PM
As per the purana, the demons Kharasura and Rattasura were creating havoc on earth and causing immense hardships to all living beings.
Kroda Maharshi meditated on Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu together and prayed them come in the form of Lord Shankaranarayana.
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, pleased with the meditation of Krodha Maharshi, came to this place as Shankaranarayana and killed Kharasura and Rattasura.
The hill beside the Shankaranarayana Temple, atop which Krodha Maharshi meditated Lord Shankaranarayana, is named as Kroda Giri. The murti of Lord Shankaranarayana along with Goddess Gowri and Goddess Lakshmi are at the top of Kroda Giri.
There is a cave known as Krodha Guhe atop the hill.
Kundapura Shankaranarayana Temple Timings
Mording Darshan and puja6 AM – 12:30 PM
Evening Darshan and puja
4:30 PM to 8 PM
Story of Shankaranarayana Temple
In the 24th Chapter of Pushkara Kaanda in Padma Purana, one can find a beautiful description of Krodha Shankaranarayana Temple.As per the purana, the demons Kharasura and Rattasura were creating havoc on earth and causing immense hardships to all living beings.
Kroda Maharshi meditated on Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu together and prayed them come in the form of Lord Shankaranarayana.
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, pleased with the meditation of Krodha Maharshi, came to this place as Shankaranarayana and killed Kharasura and Rattasura.
The hill beside the Shankaranarayana Temple, atop which Krodha Maharshi meditated Lord Shankaranarayana, is named as Kroda Giri. The murti of Lord Shankaranarayana along with Goddess Gowri and Goddess Lakshmi are at the top of Kroda Giri.
There is a cave known as Krodha Guhe atop the hill.
Main God Worshipped In Krodha Shankaranarayana Temple
The main deity of Shankaranarayana temple is in the form of two udbhava linga, but looks like one linga.
- The naturally formed lingam of Lord Shankara and Lord Narayana is one feet below the ground, inside the Garbhagudi.
- It is not possible to see the lingam.
- The Shankaralinga is on the right (left as seen by the devotees) and Narayana Linga on the left.
- While Shankara Lingam is in round shape, where as Narayana Linga is a flat one with foot prints of holy cow in it.
- Devotees believe that these were foot prints of Kamadhenu (holy cow) which had stood here for dripping milk on the Shankaralinga.
- There is water around Udbhava Linga at any time of the year. This holy water is called Suddhamrita Theertha.
Sacred Pond Koti Tirtha At Krodha Temple
- Koti tirtha is located in front of the temple. Devotees coming to this temple first make prokshana of this theertha and then make darshan of Lord Shankaranarayana.
- The stone enclosure and the surrounding coconut and areca nut groves enhance the beauty of the pond.
- The pond has rich spiritual bearing.
- Rituals such as Pitri Tarpana and Theertha Snana are held at this pond.
- Koti tirtha stands out as most beautiful and vast of all the twenty one ponds found around this place.
The temple has a beautiful bronze image of Harihara, and there are also some fine wood carvings here.
Tht temple complex has subsidiary shrines dedicated to Mahaganapati, Gopalkrishna, Panchamukhi Veeranjaneya, Subrahmanya, Gowri Lakshmi, Parthishwara, Basaveshwara, Gopinatha, Umamaheshwara, Mahalingeshwara, Nandikeshwara and Vira Kallutike.
There is life-size silver image of Belli Shankaranarayana within the inner parikrama.
In front of the temple, there is pond which is known as Koti Tirtha.
A large bell, bearing a Portuguese inscription in the front yard of the temple, is said to be a gift of Tipu Sultan. It is said that is chimes can be heard over a distance of about 8 kilometers.
There are a few inscriptions in the temple, one of which records that the temple was renovated in 1563 AD by the ruler of the area.