Agastya Muni Consecrated Shri Kalaseshwara Swami Temple, Kalasa, Karnataka

Also known as ‘Dakshina Kashi’, Kalaseshwara Temple is located on Kalasa road in Mudhigere Taluk of Chikkamagalur district in Karnataka. A beautiful road crossing the Ghats, the aroma of Chikkamagalur specialties like coffee and cardamom plantations, and the captivating hills and gorges will make your journey to Kalasa a memorable one.
Nestled in the picturesque town of Chikkamagalur in the lap of nature, Kalasa temple is located on the banks of River Bhadra. Believed to have been built by Sage Agasthya, the Kalasa temple has many other small temples and sacred water bodies that add value to its serenity.
As per the researchers, the temple has a few inscriptions from 1154 CE. It is believed that the sanctum was built by Vidarbha king Shruth Bindu and later in the 16th century was modified by Keladi and Karkala Nayakas and kings. Much later Maharaja of Mysore contributed to the intricate silver door and the golden crown was offered by Somashekhar Nayaka.
The temple is also known for its sacred Pancha Theertha and Duggapan Katte. Duggapan Katte is the viewpoint from where the vast Kalasa town can be seen. Pancha Theertha is the 5 sacred water bodies present in the temple premises namely Vasishtha, Naga, Koti, Rudra, and Amba representing Sage Vasishtha, Naga dosha ( snake ), Koti Deva, Vishnu, and Goddess Parvati respectively.
The temple has many mythological stories. It is as per the Skanda Purana, the Kalasa is considered the Dakshina Kaashi It was when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were getting married in Kashi, there was a shift in the earth’s rotation because of the huge presence of gods and goddesses. It was then Lord Shiva requested sage Agasthya to travel to the south and take care of balancing the earth. However, the sage Agasthya requested Lord Shiva that he wish to be part of the wedding and witness it. Lord Shiva then grants Agasthya a divine vision that would enable him to witness the wedding anywhere in the world. Agasthya witnessed the wedding from Kalasa and installed a Shivalinga there. The sanctum and the lings are in the form of a pot or a Kalasa, hence the name Kalasaeshwar temple.