Mukteeshwara

This is a Shiva Temple. Mukteeshwara is composed of ''Mukthi'' means liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and rebirth (reincarnation). Eshwara meaning controller or the Supreme controller here it means Lord Shiva. This temple is located in Murugamalla of Chinthamani Taluk, Chikkabalapura dist. in Karnataka. The temple is located at the top of a mountain ( made out of only rocks) This place is also called Baradwaja Shetra. Baradwaja is one of the greatest Hindu sages (Maharshis), descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He is one of the Saptarshis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa. This temple is many 1000 years old. The shiva linga here was worshipped by the great sage Baradwaja many thousand years ago.

There is a cave below the temple. This cave was used by many saints and sages to attain Siddhi and Mukthi. Siddhi in sanskrit means ''Perfection'', ''accomplishment'' , ''attainment'', or ''success''. As a result even today one can find human remains in this cave.  These remains are believed to be that of saints and sages. This place attracted many saints and sages, and still does. One of the very well know sages who made this place his home was Bardwaja Maha rushi. This whole area is known as Baradwaja Shetra. Through his divine knowledge Baradwaja realized the significance and importance of this place and migrated here with his parents. Baradwaja Maha rushi used this very same cave to meditate. Through his yogic knowledge, his soul travelled to Kasi every day and took bath at the holy Ganges river.  When his parents were bed ridden, he could not go to Kashi and his routine was broken. Sensing his difficulty, Ganges showed up to Bardwaja Muni at the cave (where he meditates) making it easy for him. Upon her order, a spring popped from the underground. And Baradwaja Munni used this spring to bathe from then on. This spring water never wizens up and it possesses medicinal properties too. There are several witnesses and recipients whose rarest disease have been cured with this spring water. The water here is known as ''servaroganivahrini''. This small temple was recently renovated by some good samaritans from Bangalore. There is a mukthi mutt located at the foot of the hill. The spring waters from the cave flows throw virabadreshwara swamy's feet and then through the help of Nandhi, it reaches the temple pond. And for many 1000s years this is how the water (ganges) flow from the caves to the pond. The water has never wizened up in the past and will not in the future too. Baradwaja maha rushi worshipped ''sapta matrikeyars ''( 7 mothers). Even today these idols are worshipped in the caves by the devotees. People who are the victims of black magic and other witch crafts can get rid of their spell here (at the 7 mothers sanidhi) all they need to do is bring tiny small black bangles and keep them in front of the idols, and pray to the Sapta Matrikeyars. Even monthly period problems for women will be cured here all by praying sincerely and taking the ganges water as medicine. The entire Baradwaja place is divine as Mukteeshwaras divine energy is spread through out!

This place is free of communal violence and is known for its communal harmony, in fact people from muslim community too are devotees. There are two Dargas located at close proximity to this temple. For the annual sandalwood festival at Abbajan and Ammajan Dargas the water used to make the sandalwood paste comes from this temple. This has been the practice for many decades. Also, muktheeshwara promptly shows up in some muslim devotees dream, and summons to visit the temple. And Muslim devotees promptly show up at the temple, and seek lords blessings by offering prayers to Mukteeshwara.

In order to make your wish come true, devotees are asked to tie 1 Re or 11 Rs (coins) in a piece of red cloth and later tied to stala virkusham or temple tree ( temple trees varies from temple to temple). The temple tree at mukteeshwara is ''hatthi'' mara (sorry, I do not know the english name for this tree). Before tying it to the tree, one has to hold it in the hand and pray to the god with complete faith and then tie it to the tree. There are many people whose wishes and prayers have been answered.

This temple is not too far from Bangalore. And also, if you're not able to visit Kashi for what ever reason, you may get a glimpse of ganges here at Mukteeshwara temple. Why wait, visit this temple whenever you can and seek the blesings of lord shiva.

Shambo Mahadeva!