eNarada, Kokkada, Dakshina Kannada, August 1, 2014
Heavy rains submerged Garbhagriha of Neelakanta Swamy (Lord Shiva) located in a Kalyani (pond) at Vaidyanatheshwara Vishnumoorthi Temple premises in Dakshina Kannada District.
This ancient temple complex is in Kokkada Village, Belthangadi Taluk, 17 Kms away from Dharmasthala on Bangalore – Gundya- Dharmasthala route.
As today being ‘Nagara Panchami’, devotees had gathered to perform Abhishek with Water, Milk and tender Coconut water to the idols of Naga Devathas in the ‘Naga Bana’ located opposite to the Shiva Garbhagriha.
Normally, devotees offer lamps, flowers and perform few rounds of pradakshina to Lord Shiva before going to Naga Bana.
Since the bridge connecting Girbhagriha is inundated, devotees offered prayers from a distance by folding their hands and went to Naga Bana directly.
Speaking to eNarada, Sathyanarayana Bhat, temple administrative committee member said, it was for the first time the Shiva temple was submerged with water. He further added that other temples in the premises might sink if the heavy rains continue for few more days.
