The historical Ravi Rameshwara Temple in Kabini, Karnataka is one of the most renowned and magnificent architectural structures of the Dravidian descent. The history, mythology, beauty and traditions behind it along with the beautiful backdrop of Kabini make it a top destination for tourists to visit in the region. The temple itself is ancient and ambient with a good amount of worshippers visiting here daily. There are many places around Kabini for one to tour, and a lot of them have wondrous pieces of ancient architecture like temples.
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History Behind the Temple is constructed as a replica of Lord Rama’s house, including the terracotta art depicting Lord Ram’s small palace, Rama’s eight mansions, where the ageless gods reside and his flying chariot. These art pieces were created by the master of the arts Raavi Ganesh. The Temple of Rama as Lord Rama in Hindu mythology is a manifestation of a Supreme God who is not human. He is with Lord Shiva as Parvati, the beautiful consort of Lord Rama. Rama is the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu and a symbol of light and wealth. His name is Rama and his wife Lakshmi is called Ashtamangala (the female of his image).
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The architecture of the Temple The temple has been constructed in the shapes of a Linga and two human figures holding the conch in one hand and Chakra in another hand. The humans are holding a pile of conch and a conch shell respectively. The temple is built in such a way that they are positioned with their heads and toes pointed towards the west, keeping the sun at their back. The temple has nine pillars along with two smaller shrines – one for Lord Rama and the other for the Sita Devi. A temple is a place where people congregate to seek protection, aid and blessings from God. The central shrine is of Lord Rama and the innermost sanctum is of Sita Devi. The temple is heavily ornamented and ornamental features such as lions, Nandi (bulls), Arjuna (cowherd) are found all over the temple.
Heritage & Mythology It is believed that the river gushes from the rock in a series of forty-two drops before reaching the earth, due to which the temple is also called Sri Ravi Kunda. The Ravi river god here was also known as Sri Krishna. The temple was built by Kamaleshwara who is said to be a descendant of a Lingayat ruler named Nagalanka. There are many theories on who built this temple and when and why it was built. It is said that a saint, Kubera, travelled with his son Yugandha who was addicted to spirits. He asked for Shiva’s boon to free him from this addiction. Shiva granted him this boon which also enabled him to build the temple dedicated to Lord Rama as part of his community service.
Festivals Celebrated in the Temple Of the many festivals celebrated in the temple, the most popular ones are the Chivayya Vishu in April which is one of the major festivals celebrated in the temple. While Utsava Pournami (the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam) is another festival that is celebrated in the temple. The Temple is also famous for the Thayambaka (cross-art) that is present in the temple. The cross art, which is composed of 24 major and 101 minor carvings, is spread across the walls of the temple. The worship of Lord Rama is the most important offering to Lord Vishnu. As you will come to know as you wander around this magnificent sight, the deity of Lord Rama is one of the most cherished gods for people belonging to the Hindu religion. So amongst the places around Kabini, this temple is a must-visit in different festival months when it comes alive.
How to Reach Kabini There are multiple ways to reach Kabini. From Bangalore, you can take the Southern Railway journey to Hosur and catch the Raghunath railway station, which is about 18 kilometres from here. From Hosur, you can hire a taxi and reach Kabini in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bangalore to Mysore and reach Raghunath railway station in 1 hour. From here, you can take a train to Mysore in 1 hour. From Mysore, you can hire a taxi and reach Kabini in 1 hour. Popular Holiday Destinations in Karnataka Shivamogga, Bidar, Kolar: Home to Traditional Indian Food Popular among the tourists in India and abroad, Kabini is home to some of the world’s best in traditional cuisine like shabdoni (Marinated Vegetables), chakli (Sugar Cane Fritters) and other traditional delicacies.
The Dravidian rooted population of the region was probably the first to reach Kabini and have a divine encounter with Rama. Hence, Ravi Rameshwara was built in honour of that feeling and worship. The famous Baba Budan Bhagwan Swami Temple is not very far from here and you can often spot devotees getting in line to get a glimpse of the Baba. Gulbarga: The City of Rama, Or Idol or Gokarna Gulbarga is a beautiful city. It’s been called both “Devnagari Puri” and “the Jerusalem of India”. The popular Akka Mahadevi Temple is perhaps the most visited attraction in the city. It’s definitely worth a visit as you’ll be able to enjoy the full spectrum of the culture here.
Several resorts in Kabini are situated not too far from this temple, and one such resort which is not only great to stay in but also well-connected to the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is Red Earth Kabini. Spend a couple of days here, visit the historical sites and temples around and rejuvenate your body as well as your spirit in Kabini.
