Spiritual Getaway - Sri Satya Shaneshwara Temple, Bidanagere

As mentioned in my earlier blog (link), after offering our prayers to Lord Chennakeshava we next started towards Bidanagere to visit Sri Satya Shaneshwara temple. For this you will need to drive further on Tumakuru-Kunigal road for another 50 minutes to reach Bidanagere.

Looks like this has been built recently. So, once you reach Bidanagere you will find huge signboards with directions leading to this temple and the world’s largest Panchamukhi Anjaneya statue welcomes you to this place from far off distance.

We reached parking lot and there is ample space to park your car with no fee.

We got down and took some time to get a good picture of the huge 161 feet tall standing Hanuman statue which was indeed a tough task. 

Since it was evening time, temple attendants were asking us to visit the main temple first since it was evening aarti (Pooja) time. So, we headed to the main Shaneshwara temple to offer our prayers to Lord Shani.

Shani is a Hindu God associated with planet Saturn. 

In this temple, priest will do archana/seva for Rs.50. You can take prasadam for another Rs 50. Finally, there are volunteers seated who will request you to give some donation towards the development and construction of this huge pilgrimage area. If you wish, you can go through all these or just walk straight to the deity, offer prayers and come out. We did archana/seva since it was Saturday and Lord Shani's day. We took the prasadam too which was yummy - 4 Coconut burfi's(made in jaggery with coconut aptly fried and sweetness was medium ) and 2 big size Boondi Ladoos. We were starving so this prasadam acted as energy boosters for us. 

After offering prayers to Sri Shaneshwara, when we came out, we saw directions leading to Sri Shani Shingnapura. Here you will find Shaneshwara's black stone idol kept just like in Main Shani Shingnapura temple in Maharashtra. But only men can enter here and offer prayers.

Right opposite to Shaneshwara temple, you will find huge Yaga Mantapam.  

You will find good seating arrangements to relax and some souvenir shops in the temple premises itself. Drinking water taps are available here. So please carry your own water bottles, fill them here and don't litter. 

Then we saw directions leading to Udbhava Basavanna temple. But for this you will have to come out of the main temple and walk 100 steps towards the backside of the temple. 

Dusk was sinking in slowly and we could see tall Anjaneya statue standing with cloudy sky in the backdrop. We walked some 50 steps and turned back to witness this and to get complete view of this holy area. 

Another 50 steps and we reached Udbhava Basavanna temple. Here we saw a Linga and the priest asked us to bow to the lord 3 times and offer prayers. But he did not explain us about the deity or the story behind this.

After offering prayers when we came out of this temple, we saw that the entire temple premise was beautifully lit by now. 

There are some tea shops here where you can get some quick refreshments (tea, biscuits, chips etc.) but nothing fancy to eat. Hence make sure you either visit this place in the morning or in the evening. But you will find clean rest room facilities here. 

It was dark by now and we started back to Bangalore with memories of the great divine places we visited today accompanied by a soothing drive along the countryside with mesmerizing views of the nature around.