KALLAHALLI BHOO VARAHASWAMY TEMPLE
This temple is said to be more than 2500 years old. This region is said to be a ‘punyakshetra’ or a holy region where the great sage Gautam performed penance. It was the maharishi who worshipped the saligrama here. Many years later, according to legend, king Veera Ballala got lost in these forests during one of his hunting trips. When he was resting under the shade of a huge tree he saw a hunting dog chasing a rabbit. When they reached a particular spot, the rabbit turned back and started to chase the ferocious dog. Noticing this strange turn of events, the king was convinced of some unseen powers in that place.
He dug up the whole area and found the deity of Pralaya Varahaswamy hidden under the layers of earth. The king then installed it in the temple and offered regular prayers. The temple that we see today is the remains of what the king had built. It has weathered severe floods and stood to tell the tale. Even today, right in front of the temple is the stone slab with Devanagiri inscriptions on it, telling us the story of the place.
THE ANCIENT BHOO VARAHASWAMY TEMPLE BUILT BY THE HOYSALA KING VEERA BALLALA III
It was undiscovered and unprotected until a few years back. It must be either a divine intervention or that we Indians have started tracing back our rich heritage and culture that has bought this temple to its present light and glory.
THE TEMPLE IS SITUATED IN KALLAHALLI VILLAGE ON THE BANKS OF RIVER HEMAVATHI
The temple has survived several floods. The temple is built in a rectangular shape using grey stones and looks plain from outside, but the deity inside is breathtaking. The temple is divided into two portions: garba griha / sanctum sanctorum and a outer hall.
THE PRESIDING DEITY IS BHOO VARAHASWAMY, WHO IS LORD VISHNU’S THIRD AVATAR / INCARNATION
It is also known as Pralaya Varaha Swami and Adi Varaha Mahishi. In this avatar Lord Vishnu appeared as a boar to rescue Goddess Bhoodevi / Mother Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha.
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