Nandishvara Svami Temple

Overview

This temple, also called Dakshina Mukha Nandi Teertha Kalyani Kshetra, is located at 17th cross, Malleshwaram, Bangalore. This temple dedicated to Nandishwara. Here water falls on Shiva Linga from the mouth of Nandi and this goes directly to a small pond in front of the Lord. Water, which flows down the Shiva linga, is considered to be holy. It is carried home by the devotees and is used as medicine for various diseases.

About The Temple

This underground temple is enclosed within a stone courtyard supported by ancient pillars made of stone. At the far end is a Nandi, carved out of a black stone with eyes painted in golden colour. From its mouth, a clear stream of water flows directly on to a Shiva-ling made out of the same stone at a lower level. There are steps that lead to a small pool in the center of the courtyard where the water gets collected. People sit on these steps around the pool during all pujas.
Nobody knows from where the water comes and how it passes on to the Shivalinga. Nobody knows how the whirlpool came into being. Things like the source of water, the sculpter, even the time when it was built remain a mystery. There are lot of tortoises and fishes in the pond.

About The Deity

The main deity is Nandikeshwara, the Shiva Linga. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Nandi. In most of the temples, Nandi is in front of Shivalinga but here the Nandi is above the Shivalinga.

Legend and Stories

This temple complex was excavated in 1997. The Archaeological survey of India (ASI) officials dug up the area, and they found a 7000 year old temple of Nandishwara almost intact.
The locals say that part of the water to the pond comes from the Sankey Tank nearby. There is also a belief that Maratha King Shivaji contributed in some way to the construction of the temple. This is because King Shivaji and his father King Shahaji are closely associated with the Kadu Mulleshwara Temple which is almost situated opposite to this temple.

Festivals

The major festival celebrated here is Shivaratri. Shiva Deepam is another festival celebrated during Karthika Poornima. Anointing with rice (Annabishekam) is performed during this festival.

Nearby Places to Visit

Once can find other important temples like Gangamma Devi Temple, Kadu Malleshwara Temple and Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in the vicinity.

Accessibility

Road

There are plenty of buses which go to Malleshwaram from Majestic or K. R Market bus stands in Bangalore

Railways

Bangalore railway station is nearby to this temple.

Temple Address

7000 year old Nandishwara Teertha Temple in Malleswaram at Bangalore
17th Cross Road Malleshwara
Bangalore,
Karnataka,
Pin code - 560003