Kaivara

As of the 2001 Indian census, Kaiwara's population was 5,488, of which 2,792 were male and 2,696 female.[1]

Kaiwara is famous for Saint Narayanappa, Sri Yogi Nareyana (1730-1840 AD), popularly known as Kaiwara Narayana Thata ನಾರಾಯಣ ತಾತ in Kannada and Narayana Thatayya in Telugu, a bilingual poet who meditated in a cave in Kaiwara. Narayanappa prophesied and composed poems in praise of Amara Narayanaswamy, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in both Kannada and Telugu. His works include "Amaranarayana Shathaka", "Kaalagnana",[2] and "Bramanandpuri Shatakka", in which he explains all the nuances of yoga. The Keertanas are comparable to famous Keertanakaras of Karnataka such as Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa. Thatayya also appears to have been influenced by Vemana Kavi and Veera Bramhendra Swamy of present-day Andhra Pradesh, and Sarvajna of present-day Karnataka.

In one of his poems, half of each line is in Kannada, and the other half in Telugu. This poem has been composed in carnatic classical music style and sung by Sri Balamurali Krishna, a prominent Indian musician. Composer Mahesh Mahadev has tuned and composed music for his 25 poems and given it the shape of a song using popular Hindustani and Carnatic ragas. Dr.S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Priyadarshini and many other popular singers have sung these songs.

The Swami Narayana Ashram in Kaivara is dedicated to him and has become a pilgrimage and a tourist destination.[2] The cave, the Vaikunta (temple) by the side of the cave, Amara Narayanaswamy temple, and the hillock on which Bheema is supposed to have killed the Bakasura are also notable sites in Kaivara.

The town was known as Ekachakrapura in Dwaparayuga. The Pandavas of India's greatest epic Mahabharata lived here during their vanavasa (period spent in the forest). Bheema, the brother of Dharmaraja, has established a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Bheemalingeswara temple). A park that is maintained by the forest department of Karnataka is located nearby.

Amaranarayana Swamy Temple: The temple of Sri Venkateshwara was established in the form of Amaranarayana, god of eternal life. It is said to have direct connection between the temple of Tirupathi, where Sri Tatayya worshiped both Amaranarayana and Tirupathi Thimmappa at the same time. Once, there was a fire near Thimmappa's foot at Thirupathi, and it was Tatayya who extinguished the fire. The charm of Amaranarayana overtakes that of Thimmappa. Also as per a legend the Amaranarayana idol here was installed by Lord Indra. The story is associated with Indra killing Vritrasura in Satya yuga. Indra installed Deities of Lord Narayana in five places – Sri Amara Narayana in Kaiwara, Sri Desh Narayana in Budigere, Sri Veera Narayana in Yadokodi, Sri Adi Narayana in Yallodi and Sri Lakshmi Narayana in Gadag.[3]

During the period of Lord Rama's exile, he stayed in this area. Thus there is a small sculptor of Lord Rama accompanied by Seeta Devi and Lord Lakshmana in this temple. [Aranya Rama Temple or Rameshwara swami temple is located very near to the Amaranarayana temple]

Yoginarayana Mutt: Ashram dedicated to the Thatayya where he was buried alive as a ritual of Jeevasamadhi.

Vasavi Kanyakaparameshwari temple: The Goddess Vasavi is the sacred god of Vaishyas community. This is a newly built temple. We can also see idols of Lord Ranganatha Swamy and Lord Shiva and Parvathi Devi here. There is a Venugopala swami temple close to this temple.

Bheemalingeshwara Temple: During Agnathavaasa of Pandava, they stayed in Kaiwara (then Ekachakrapura) for one year. During their stay, Bheema fought the demon Bakasura, put the demon into a cave and blocked it with a huge rock. The rock came to be called Bakasurana Bande (Bakasura's Rock). After taking a life, Bheema was burdened with Bramhahatyadosha (sin of killing). To rid himself of it, Bheema established a Shivalinga (a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples), followed by his brothers and mother. Later temples were built and came to be known as Bheemalingeshwara temple.

Laxmana Theertha: Located on top of the hill in front of Chamundeshwari temple, Laxmana Theertha dates back to the period of Thretha Yuga. While in exile, Rama, Seetha and Laxmana were said to have gone there. Laxmana used an arrow to make a hole in the rock to get water for Seetha, who was extremely thirsty.

Yoganarasimha swamy Temple, Vaikunta and Thatayya Cave:Yoganarasimha swamy Temple is at a distance of about one kilometer from the Mutt on a small hill called Vaikunta. There is a cave here in which Thatayya meditated and attained the supreme spiritual enlightenment. Thatayya did all his meditation in a cave which is 3 km from Kaiwara and they call it as Gavi. During his period of meditation, a tiger and a leopard used to guard him and few years later he was enlightened.

Hilltop: A place in which the footprints of Bheema and Bakasura's fighting are preserved. At the pinnacle of the hill is a stone where Bheema used to meditate daily. Prints of his one-foot and knee have been seen in this location.

A National park and a small zoo is maintained by the department of forestry with a few animals and birds. This place is around Vaikunta.

Kailasagiri cave temples of Lord Shiva and Ambaji Durga cave temple on a rock hill top are located about 7 km from Kaiwara, which are being restored.[4] The magnitude of the cave and the efforts made to construct the temple are impressive. At the foothills of the Kailasagiri/Ambajidurga for the benefit of devotees free Prasadam distribution centre is arranged.

Other places of interest near Kaiwara include Temple of Lord Venkateswara in Alamgiri.