A Spiritual Walk on the Kolar Temple Trail
As part of my trip, I decided to go see temples this month. Going to a temple is different from visiting a waterfall or other places because it’s about culture and teachings.
Even though I’ve learned different things, I come from a strong background of supreme power. Because of that, I have certain habits that are too inherited, like not going to temples on certain days of the month, taking a bath before going to a temple, and avoiding meat on those days. There are strong beliefs and fears connected to these practices that are hard for me to change. Well, that said, let’s explore my journey.
The journey starts in morning, 8:40 AM IST
When you begin as a solo traveller and meet amazing people who share your interests, your next trip won’t be solo anymore. That’s how I met Priya on my last trip, and this time, we were travelling together. She was a great companion who helped me out when necessary and understood my comments well. So, I want to take this chance to say thank you, Priya!
We started our journey from the same pickup point and travelled together for the whole day, as though we had known each other for a long time!
In the morning, the sun was shining bright, and there was a news buzz saying that it might rain in Bangalore. I used to avoid rain before, but now I’m desperate for its arrival. But I couldn’t see any signs of rain in the sky. Even so, I kept a little hope for some magic for the day.
Our coordinator was an incredibly accommodating example in locating Radha, who either lost her way at the pickup point, was confused about the pickup point, or the BOZ did not share the right one for her. Despite the initial hiccup, Radha made up for the waiting time by taking some great photos. 😄 She’d probably give me a piece of her mind if she read this!
Kolaramma Temple: Morning, 11 AM IST
After a peaceful breakfast and a quiet journey, not really, it all began with introductions from everyone, followed by our singer, Ravi, performing his favourite songs by Arijit Singh. His melodious tunes guided us to Kolaramma Temple.
The temple, built of granite stones, included architectural aspects typical of the southern area. However, it had been renovated with some modern additions. Stepping inside was like entering one’s comforting home temple. Carvings of the Tamil alphabet, animals, and celestial creatures graced the walls, bringing a smile to my face. Parvathi is said to live here as Kolaramma, the local deity of Kolar.
After our prayers to Kolaramma, we pass by a gold-plated statue of Chelamma, the scorpion goddess, surrounded by paintings of scorpions. It is believed that real scorpions exist beneath the temples; thus, travellers are encouraged to remain silent near them. It is believed that worshipping this deity protects against scorpion stings.
Storytime: https://medium.com/@isaritha2015/chellamma-and-scorpion-the-story-of-kindness-762789cb282c
Outside the temple, there was a park area that didn’t exactly match the temple’s style but offered a green scene. Because of the heat, I ended up running around the temple grounds instead of walking. Socks are an absolute essential!
Someshwara Temple: Afternoon, noon IST
The Someshwara temple was within walking distance of the Kolaramma temple. However, we chose to travel by vehicle.
We were greeted with a great architectural welcome. All were lured to take a selfie in front of the temple by the attractive setting. Going inside, I have to admit that Shiva’s Someshwara was extraordinarily attractive and sparkling with flowers. Nandi, standing in front of Shiva, is listening to the wish lists of all the devotees with patience. After puja and blessings, we had some leisure time to look around the structure and its sculptures. The wooden carvings were perfect, and the main temple was encircled by Vasantha Mandapam, Kalyanam Mandapam, and Parvathi’s temple.
In a nutshell, the architecture is breathtakingly brilliant. Walls have been carved with images of every god. This architecture is a visual delight, taps into one’s imagination, and makes us proud of our ancestors. Pushkarini (the temple’s pond), glitters in the sunlight; but we question ourselves about how we are taking care of our monuments.
The ancient lake is tucked away under a thick blanket of green algae, hiding its once-pure waters from view. The surface, which was once a mirror reflecting the blue sky above, is now muddy and motionless, only sometimes stirred by a breeze. The edges of the lake are covered with plastic bottles, discarded wrappers, and branches swept in by the wind, creating an unsettling contrast against the natural beauty. The air carries a faint odour of decayed particles. Despite its damaged state, the lake radiates a calm resilience, as if it contains secrets and stories from bygone eras.
Radha, the aspiring photographer, did not have to be disappointed in clicking shots from every angle possible, while our devotees Neha and Rashi were strictly bonding with Someshwara in their language. The rest of the crew, or we, had a lovely, lighthearted conversation on the enormous mandapam.
Lunchtime: Afternoon, 1 PM IST
At lunchtime at Aradhana Hotel, there were more menu cards than people were waiting. I went with a weird combination of cold coffee and curd rice. The subject of marriage vs. travel came up at lunch. In particular, it talked about how the present generation is passionate about travelling, but not their partners! This seems like a never-ending problem in marriage.
Kotilingeshwara: 4 PM IST
It took us approximately 40 to 50 minutes to reach our destination. Upon arrival at the temple, we were approached by members of the transgender community who were seeking monetary contributions. While this encounter initially caught us off guard, we responded respectfully by expressing our gratitude for their offer while politely declining and then proceeded with our visit.
As the name implies, Shiva lingas of various sizes and forms were decorated in the temple. The first linga is considered auspicious, thus the darshan starts with him. During our turn to be near the deity, we were requested to repeat the Shiva sholgan. When we did it as a group, it came out strong and full of energy. The pujari gave an introduction to temple history, followed by a darshan of other southern gods. It’s crucial to remember that money talks everywhere! ☹️ However, lighting diyas, tasting laddu, and having a lighthearted conversation were all memorable moments.
Since it might be challenging to recall people’s names when we are unfamiliar with them, Rashi was referred to as yellow, Neha as white, and Appruva Kumar as a red shirt. They all acted sportily and made the vacation unforgettable.
Wrap-up: 6 PM IST
As we journeyed back, we encountered members of the transgender community once more. While some individuals approached us with aggressive fundraising tactics, it’s important to recognize that they may face challenges in their livelihood. However, I hoped the temple committee looked into their concerns.
Laughter, dumb charades, song dedications, and other activities dominated the return trip. The summer heat made it exhausting, yet there was no physical fatigue.
Priya dedicated this song to me: Patakha Guddi Highway: Thank you, Priya!
