Amrutheshwari Temple is located at Kota in Udupi, Karnataka. The shrine is an important center of Shakti worship and is also famous for numerous Shivlings which keep on appearing.
Amratheshwari Halavu Makkala Thayi Temple Story
The Legend of Khara, Kumbhamukhi, and the Origin of the Amrutheshwari Shrine
Once upon a time, in the Dandakaranya forest, there lived a powerful demon named Khara, who was the brother of Ravana and possessed valor equal to that of Lord Shiva. Along with his wife Kumbhamukhi, his sister Surpanakha, and his loyal followers like Dushana and Trishira, Khara governed the northern region of the Dandakaranya forest on the orders of his elder brother, Ravana.
Although Khara was a demon, he was righteous and mighty. He was a devout worshipper of Lord Shankara (Shiva), his family deity. His wife, Kumbhamukhi, was a chaste and noble woman, deeply immersed in the service of Parvati and Parameshwara (Shiva) alongside her husband.
One day, Kumbhamukhi went on a forest stroll with her sister-in-law Surpanakha. As it was the spring season, the enchanting beauty of the forest tempted them to collect flowers and honey. They wandered off in separate directions. At the same time, a sage's widow named Atiprabha, who had become renounced after her husband's death, was passing through that forest with her son, a young and virtuous boy named Bahushruta, who was well-versed in scriptures. They were on a pilgrimage to Kashi.
Surpanakha, a lustful woman by nature, happened to see Bahushruta and became infatuated with him. Though she tried to seduce him in many ways, he refused her advances. Enraged by his rejection, Surpanakha killed him forcibly.
Hearing the cries of grief from Atiprabha, Kumbhamukhi rushed to the scene. In her sorrow and confusion, Atiprabha mistook Kumbhamukhi for Shurpanakha and cursed her: “May you never bear children!” Later realizing that it was Surpanakha who had killed her son, not Kumbhamukhi, she turned to Surpanakha and cursed her:
“O Surpanakha! You will fall in love with a handsome man again and be humiliated. May you become the cause of destruction for your own race!”
Saying so, she jumped off a nearby cliff and ended her life.
Devastated by the curse, Kumbhamukhi informed her husband Khara of the entire incident. Khara tried to console her in various ways and approached their family priest, Shukracharya, to find a way to nullify the curse and enable his wife to bear children.
Shukracharya advised Khara:
“Bring the Jyeshtha Linga, created by the architect Mayasura, and worship it with dedication for a year. Your wife Kumbhamukhi should also worship the goddess Amriteshwari with complete devotion.”
Following this guidance, Khara visited Mayasura and obtained the Jyeshtha Linga. He established it at a beautiful place called Shukapura (modern-day Giliyara, Hartattu), and nearby, he also consecrated the idol of the divine mother Amriteshwari. As per Shukracharya’s instructions, the couple began worshipping Uma and Maheshwara (Parvati and Shiva) with utmost devotion, giving up sleep and food, and performing intense penance.
Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before them and gave them spiritual knowledge. He also granted them a boon:
“In the future, when Lord Vishnu incarnates as Sri Rama and comes to this forest, you shall attain liberation through battle with him. Until then, continue worshipping the Jyeshtha Linga here. To support your daily rituals, I will create a sacred pond called Varuna Tirtha, which will contain the essence of all holy rivers, including the Ganga.”
Similarly, pleased with Kumbhamukhi's penance, the goddess Amriteshwari appeared to her in a radiant and beautiful form and said,
“O Kumbhamukhi, ask for any boon you desire.”
In her bliss and confusion, caused by the sage’s curse and her overwhelming joy at seeing the goddess, Kumbhamukhi mistakenly said:
“O Mother, may you eternally remain youthful and bear sons like Shiva for a long time!”
Smiling gently, the goddess replied:
“So be it. But due to the sage’s curse, you are not destined to bear children. Instead of asking me to bless you with children, you asked me to bear children myself. Still, don’t worry. Soon, your husband Khara will attain liberation through battle with Sri Rama. Then, you will also merge with me in this very place. In the future, whenever Linga-like forms spontaneously appear here, consider them your children. From now on, I shall be known as the ‘Mother of Many Children’ and will continue to bless devotees here.”
After saying this, the goddess disappeared.
Some time later, when Sri Rama came to Dandakaranya during his exile with Sita, a battle occurred between him and Khara due to Shurpanakha's actions. As per Lord Shiva’s boon, Khara recognized Rama as the incarnation of Vishnu and attained liberation through their battle. Kumbhamukhi, through her penance and devotion, merged with Goddess Amriteshwari.
Since then, Shiva Lingas began to manifest naturally in the presence of the goddess, and Amriteshwari came to be known as “Mother of Many Children” (Bahupatraparameshwari).
After Rama destroyed the demons Khara, Dushana, and others in the forest, the sages, now free from fear, established their hermitages and resumed their sacrificial rituals. But Bahushruta, the son of Atiprabha who had died prematurely at the hands of Shurpanakha, was reborn as a Brahma Rakshasa due to past karmic deeds and began tormenting the sages and Brahmins in the area.
One day, while the sages were performing a yajna in the presence of Amriteshwari, the Brahma Rakshasa, using illusion, stole the sacrificial offerings. The sages, suspecting his involvement, prayed fervently to the goddess, believing that only she could destroy him.
Moved by their devotion, Amriteshwari appeared before them and asked them to seek their desired boon. The sages requested her to slay the Brahma Rakshasa and protect their rituals. The goddess assured them, saying:
“I will take the fierce form of Maha Mari and destroy this Rakshasa. To continue worshipping me in this form, you must offer wine, meat, and other Tamasik items. I shall now reside here in both forms — as the Satvik Amriteshwari and the Tamasik Mari — and will protect the people by removing all their troubles.”
She then vanished after granting them this assurance.
Taking her Mari form, the goddess destroyed the Brahma Rakshasa and granted him liberation. She now resides here, blessing devotees, curing diseases, and warding off evil spirits. In this sacred place, she manifests in two aspects — as “Mari” and “Amriteshwari.”
In front of the goddess stands the idol of Sri Rakteshwari.
Close by are shrines to various deities including Veerabhadra, Nagashila, and the wooden idols of Bobbarya, Ummalti, Chikku, Nandi, and Panjurli.
To the south lies the sacred pond Varuna Tirtha, and amidst it, Amriteshwari remains gloriously enshrined.
Nearby, one can also visit the temples of Rajasekhara and Hire Mahalingeshwara.