Shri Veerabhadra Temple



Shri Veerabhadra Temple, Godachi, Belgaum, Karnataka

Information of Shri Veerabhadra Temple, Godachi, Belgaum, Karnataka


Shri Veerabhadra Temple at Gudachi is a famous Shiva temple. This is an ancient temple, which came under the patronage of many Kingdom of this area. This temple was partly added up its new structure in phases of time. This temple is known for its architecture and the famous Jatre conducted here annually know as the Gudachi Fare. This temple is an important pilgrim place for the Hindu peoples. Many devotees visit here on all important days related to Lord Shiva and visit here with practicing lot of self discipline before visiting this temple. It is located at Godachi Village, Ram Durg Town, Belgaum District of Karnataka State in India.

Shri Veerabhadra Temple Religious Significance

Shri Veerabhadra Temple is an important pilgrim place for Shiviks. These devotees come here with a lot of customs on full moon and new moon days. Its local peoples used to worship here daily. This temple attracts lot of peoples on its festival time held in the month of November known as the Gudachi Jatre. This fair pulls peoples from Maharashtra too. This festival is a grand festival with lot of trade and entertainment activities included in it. The deities kept in this temple are ornate with gold jewels and looks magnificent along with fires and temple lamps. More of all, the faith of the people and the religious importance that this temple holds is worth to praise and so is the reason why, devotees offer their prayers here to seek blessing for happy and prosperous life.

Shri Veerabhadra Temple Mythology & History

Veerabhadra was made by lord Shiva after a great anger thandava performance to kill Daksha Yagnya. This act came just because of Sati Devis father known as Dkasha. He performed a powerful Yagna, which is known as the Dakshyani Yagnya. Here Siva was not invited and rest of the heaven abode gods were called for this Yagnya. Sati Devi invited on her behalf to come there. But Shiva refused to come and sent her alone. Sati Devi questions her father for not inviting her husband. Daksha became angry with her question in front of other lords present here and said he is not a God to be invited here. She became anger with it and stopped this yagnya by committing self immolation on the same fire place were yagnya was to be performed. Knowing this sacrifice of Sathi Devi, Shiva created Veerabhadra to kill Daksha. Knowing this the all heavenly lords requested him to calm down and asked to forgive and give them life. In this way Sathi Devi was recreated by his powers and she was later known as the Parvathi Devi. Here Daksha was also given life once again by his powers. Since, than Veerabhadra was known to be an incarnation of lord Shiva and he is worshiped in all Shiva temples. This temple at Godachi is also a very famous temple to have his big statue.

Shri Veerabhadra Temple Architectural Significance

A big statue of Shree Veerabhadra is built here. It is very color full and commanding to look. It is in a position of stamping the Daksha on his right feet along with a long sward placed on his neck. He is seen with 10 hands each 5 on its side holding long sward, Damaru, trident, a bell, Agni, Bow and arrow on each hands. This is seen in multicolor painting and looks great to see. The temple and its ditties are very beautifully carved here. The main deity place and few inner complexes are seen in the Chalukayan designs and the main entrance and outer structure have the credit of Vijayanagra architecture. It seems that this temple were the patronage of many rulers of this region. A rectangular mandap is built here. This is used for marriage function in the recent times. This temple is very lovely with a beautiful miniature minerate on its top. The entire temple is fenced with stone walls. Its sculptors and other stone art works on pillars are amazing to look. The architecture of this temple is truly a masterpiece worth to praise and worth to praise those great minds who put up all their efforts to bring this wonderful piece of temple among the people.