Avani, Kolar

Avani
village
Avani
Location in Karnataka, India
Avani
Avani (India)
Coordinates: 13°06′33″N 78°19′46″E / 13.109060°N 78.3295800°E / 13.109060; 78.3295800Coordinates: 13°06′33″N 78°19′46″E / 13.109060°N 78.3295800°E / 13.109060; 78.3295800
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Kolar (Taluk: Mulbagal)
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Nearest city Kolar
Lok Sabha constituency Kolar

Avani is a small village in Mulbagal taluk, Kolar district in Karnataka, India, about ten miles from Kolar Gold Fields. The village is located at 32 km from Kolar, the district centre and 13 km from Mulbagal, the Taluk headquarters. It is a popular location for rock climbing.[1]

Legend

Avani is known for the Sita temple situated on a hill.[2] This temple is one of the few temples dedicated to Sitadevi in India. There is a belief that the sage Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana, was residing here during the period of Ramayana. Sitadevi lived here in his ashram while in exile. Sitadevi gave birth to her twin children Lava-Kusha here. Even today the room where Sita gave birth to her children exists. The war between Sri Rama and his sons Lava and Kusha happened in this village.

This hill also has the temple of 'Hari Shresta Adi Jambava', Jambava is attributed to Agra Archana. He gave Shyamanthak jewel to Lord Krishna. On the same occasion Lord Krishna marries Jambavati the daughter of Adi Jambav. Jambava along with his army constructed Ramsethu. Jambavan is also been associated with Jamthun village in Ratlam tahsil of Madhya Pradesh and Jambuvan Cave of Ranavav Taluk of Porbandar, Gujarat state.

Avani is also known as the Gaya of the south and has ancient temples known as the Ramalingeshwara, Lakshmaneshwara, Bharateshwara and Shatrugneshwara, dating back to the period of the Nolamba Dynasty.[3]

When Sri Narasimha Bharati IV of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham was on his sancharas, he camped here for a few days. During his stay here, in Avani, he found an idol of Goddess Sharada, in standing posture flanked by Srimajjagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and the Sri Chakra. He consecrated this idol here and established a new Matha and installed one of his shisyas as the head of the new Matha. This matha is now known as Avani Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sharada Peetham. There is a branch of this matha in Basaveshwaranagar in Bangalore.

Etymology

The name Avani is of Dravidian (kannadiga) origin, and means "earth". Hindu goddess Sita was also called Avanisuta meaning 'Daughter of Earth'. The legend goes that she was found while ploughing the earth.

Festivals

Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated very grandly. 'Ramalingeshwara Rathostava' (jatre), which is celebrated every year, is also very famous.

References

  1. ↑ "Avani-Kolar District". sutthonabanni. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  2. ↑ "Avani - The Birthplace of Lava and Kusha". www.tirthayatra.org. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  3. ↑ "Avani's many wonders". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
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