Vidurashwatha
Encyclopedia
Vidurashwatha is a small village located in the Gauribidanur
taluk of Chikkaballapur district
in the state of Karnataka
, India
. Situated near the Karnataka - Andhra Pradesh
border and about 6 km from Gauribidanur, it had a major role to play in the freedom movement of India
.
, this tree was planted by Vidura
, a courtier in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra
; and hence the name Vidurashwatha. Unfortunately, in 2001, this ancient tree fell to the ground.
of the South. On April 25, 1938, as a part of the freedom struggle of India
, a group of villagers had congregated in a ground to organise a Satyagraha
. Similar to what happened at Jallianwala Bagh
, police fired indiscriminately at the group resulting in the death of 10 people. A memorial has been erected in this location bearing the names of those who lost their lives in this incident.
There is also Naga Devatha Temple which is as old as the tree, here people do the prathishtapana of the naga god, to fulfil their desires, like having child, do better in business etc., the pooja here is done to alleviate all problems concerned with Naga dosha. There is also lots of monkeys which are harping at people to get something to eat. There are few charity halls which give food to the devotees these charity halls are mainly the religion based, like the arya vysya choultry which provide food for their community people who come to visit the temple, there is new Sri Raghavendraswamy math, on the way to temple for brahmins also they have provision for lodging which is charged very nominally on a weekend about 200-250 people are fed. (there are no good hotels in the vicinity for about 10 km on either side).
Moreover the peace you get after going to the temple is astounding, it is said that snakes used to visit the temple during festivals and take the offerings given by the devotees.
The place is very close to Bangalore (about 100 km) and from Gauribidnaur (10 km), it is also close to Hindupur (Andhra border). The other nearby interesting place is the Lepakshi Temple (about 30 km from Vidurashwatha.
Vidurashwatha can be reached by bus directly from Bangalore, the nearest railway station is about 4 km to 5 km but the next best option is to get down at Gauri bidnaur and take a private vehicle to the temple. There is one more option to get down at Hindupur station (18Km) from Vidurashwatha. You can get hotel accommodation and can reach the place by bus.
Gauribidanur
Gauribidanur is a historical town in Kolar district; now a part of Chikballapur district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is about 75 km from Bangalore, and 25 km from the Educational Hub of Muddenahalli-Kanivenarayanapura. kannada is spoken widely as primary luanguage...
taluk of Chikkaballapur district
Chikkaballapur district
Chikballapur district is a newly created district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was carved out of the existing Kolar district by moving the taluks of Gauribidanur, Gudibanda, Bagepalli, Chikballapur, Sidlaghatta and Chintamani into the new district....
in the state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Situated near the Karnataka - Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
border and about 6 km from Gauribidanur, it had a major role to play in the freedom movement of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Etymology
The name Vidurashwatha is derived from that of a big Ashwatha (Ficus religiosa) tree located in this village. According to a legend of the times of MahabharataMahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, this tree was planted by Vidura
Vidura
Vidura was an important figure in the Mahabharata, a major Hindu epic. He was half-brother to the kings Dhritarashtra and Pandu of Hastinapura, born the son of the sage Vyasa and a lady-in-waiting to the queens Ambika and Ambalika of the city...
, a courtier in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra
Dhritarashtra
In the Mahābhārata, Dhritarashtra was King of Hastinapur at the time of the Kurukshetra War, the epic's climactic event. He was born the son of Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika, and was fathered by Vyasa. He was blind from birth, and became father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari...
; and hence the name Vidurashwatha. Unfortunately, in 2001, this ancient tree fell to the ground.
Significance
Vidurashwatha is known as the Jallianwala BaghJallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in Amritsar in the Punjab province of India, and houses a memorial of national importance, established in 1951 to commemorate the murder of peaceful celebrators on the occasion of the Punjabi New Year on April 13, 1919 in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre...
of the South. On April 25, 1938, as a part of the freedom struggle of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, a group of villagers had congregated in a ground to organise a Satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
. Similar to what happened at Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in Amritsar in the Punjab province of India, and houses a memorial of national importance, established in 1951 to commemorate the murder of peaceful celebrators on the occasion of the Punjabi New Year on April 13, 1919 in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre...
, police fired indiscriminately at the group resulting in the death of 10 people. A memorial has been erected in this location bearing the names of those who lost their lives in this incident.
There is also Naga Devatha Temple which is as old as the tree, here people do the prathishtapana of the naga god, to fulfil their desires, like having child, do better in business etc., the pooja here is done to alleviate all problems concerned with Naga dosha. There is also lots of monkeys which are harping at people to get something to eat. There are few charity halls which give food to the devotees these charity halls are mainly the religion based, like the arya vysya choultry which provide food for their community people who come to visit the temple, there is new Sri Raghavendraswamy math, on the way to temple for brahmins also they have provision for lodging which is charged very nominally on a weekend about 200-250 people are fed. (there are no good hotels in the vicinity for about 10 km on either side).
Moreover the peace you get after going to the temple is astounding, it is said that snakes used to visit the temple during festivals and take the offerings given by the devotees.
The place is very close to Bangalore (about 100 km) and from Gauribidnaur (10 km), it is also close to Hindupur (Andhra border). The other nearby interesting place is the Lepakshi Temple (about 30 km from Vidurashwatha.
Vidurashwatha can be reached by bus directly from Bangalore, the nearest railway station is about 4 km to 5 km but the next best option is to get down at Gauri bidnaur and take a private vehicle to the temple. There is one more option to get down at Hindupur station (18Km) from Vidurashwatha. You can get hotel accommodation and can reach the place by bus.