Ramalingeshwra Kamanna

Navalgund, a small town in the Dharwad district of Karnataka comes alive with frenetic activity during the Holi festival. The festival sees the installation of a beautiful idol of Kamanna or Kamadeva, also known as Manmatha, at the Ramalingeshwara Temple. According to legend, Kamanna was the son of Vishnu and was tasked with disturbing Lord Shiva’s meditation by Indra and other Gods. The reason for this was, that they wanted to get the demon Tarakasura killed, and this would be only possible by Shiva’s son who was not yet born. The popular legend has it that Shiva opened his third eye and Kamadeva or Kamanna was reduced to ashes. This is also one of the legends associated with the celebration of Holi. In the Ramalingeshwara temple of Navalgund, the idol Kamanna is installed and worshipped during Holi. Devotees offer silver articles to the idol of Kamanna and believe that their wishes would be granted. If they are praying for a child they offer a silver cradle, and so on. The idol of Kamanna is installed and worshipped for a period of 5 days. People from far and wide irrespective of their faith throng the Ramalingeshwara temple to pray and worship the idol of Kamanna during the Holi festival. Navalgund is located at a distance of about 40 kilometres from the city of Hubballi in Dharwad district of Karnataka.