The Basavanagudi BULL temple is famous for the monolithic image of the Bull. Built during the Kempe Gowda era, the black stoned bull is rugged and feared official carrier of Lord Shiva. On every Makar Sankranti (14th January) the sun rays pass through the two horns of Nandi and illuminate the lingam which is inside the temple.
Legend has it that the area around the temple is known as Sunkehahalli which was populated by the groundnut farmers. A farmer found a mighty bull grazing on the well grown crop. Enraged by this he hit the bull with his club. The bull sat astounded and was quickly transformed into a stone statue. The farmers of the place were shocked and to atone for the harsh deed decided to build a temple of the bull. But to their surprise they saw the bull growing taller and taller. Then the worried farmers prayed to the Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva advised them to retrieve a trident buried some feet away from the now stone bull and to place it on its forehead. When the farmers did as advised, the stone bull stopped growing. As homage the farmers then decided to offer their first crop of groundnut to the sacred Bull. This practice continues till this day and is know as Kadalekayi Parishe, or the groundnut fair. This fair is held annually in the month of November. This story explains why the statue of Bull has a trident on the forehead, though all said and done it is a mythological explanation without any historical backing.
A river or a tributary called vrishabavati originates from under the Bull it seems. Years back there was a pond but nowadays only the older folks know this story. The water is part of a drainage system now. Also, legend has it that the BULL is growing year over year. The big BULL TEMPLE looks like the back side of the bull faces Linga (Lord Shiva). In actuality there is a Shiva about 100 meters away.
The bull temple entrance has a Dodda Ganesha temple which is fabulous and is buttered on some days (Benne Alankara) and looks white. For Rs 10k you can do it too. Here is the photo of the rates.
A picture of Beddara Kanappa who loses his eyes as a sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Ultimately he donates his second one and as to know the location when he removes his second eye he keeps his foot on the lingam to place his second eye. Lord Shiva is so impressed by this hunter that he reveals himself to him in the end.
The Basavanagudi BULL temple is famous for the monolithic image of the Bull. Built during the Kempe Gowda era, the black stoned bull is rugged and feared official carrier of Lord Shiva. On every Makar Sankranti (14th January) the sun rays pass through the two horns of Nandi and illuminate the lingam which is inside the temple.
Legend has it that the area around the temple is known as Sunkehahalli which was populated by the groundnut farmers. A farmer found a mighty bull grazing on the well grown crop. Enraged by this he hit the bull with his club. The bull sat astounded and was quickly transformed into a stone statue. The farmers of the place were shocked and to atone for the harsh deed decided to build a temple of the bull. But to their surprise they saw the bull growing taller and taller. Then the worried farmers prayed to the Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva advised them to retrieve a trident buried some feet away from the now stone bull and to place it on its forehead. When the farmers did as advised, the stone bull stopped growing. As homage the farmers then decided to offer their first crop of groundnut to the sacred Bull. This practice continues till this day and is know as Kadalekayi Parishe, or the groundnut fair. This fair is held annually in the month of November. This story explains why the statue of Bull has a trident on the forehead, though all said and done it is a mythological explanation without any historical backing.
A river or a tributary called vrishabavati originates from under the Bull it seems. Years back there was a pond but nowadays only the older folks know this story. The water is part of a drainage system now. Also, legend has it that the BULL is growing year over year. The big BULL TEMPLE looks like the back side of the bull faces Linga (Lord Shiva). In actuality there is a Shiva about 100 meters away.
The bull temple entrance has a Dodda Ganesha temple which is fabulous and is buttered on some days (Benne Alankara) and looks white. For Rs 10k you can do it too. Here is the photo of the rates. 
A picture of Beddara Kanappa who loses his eyes as a sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Ultimately he donates his second one and as to know the location when he removes his second eye he keeps his foot on the lingam to place his second eye. Lord Shiva is so impressed by this hunter that he reveals himself to him in the end. 
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