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Andhakasura

Lord Shiva slaying Andhakasura, the blind demon, is a popular mythological theme carved on many Shiva Temples.

A

t Pattadakal you can see a giant image in the south side of the Galaganatha Temple.

The story goes like this. While in the mount Mandhara a baby was born to Parvati and Shiva. Shiva was in a meditating posture and Parvati closed his eyes mischievously from behind. The boy appeared out of Parvati's sweat. Shiva explains to Parvati that since his eyes were closed, the baby was born blind and calls him Andhaka (the blind). Since he posed devilish qualities he was called Andhakasura (the blind demon ).

Hiranyaksha , a troublesome demon did intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Hiranyaksha wanted a son who posses immense powers to rule the world. Shiva refused to grant such a boon. Instead he offered Andhaka to Hiranyaksha saying that Andhaka posses all the qualities he was looking for , and to treat him as his son.

Andhaka wanted more power and did intense penance to please Lord Brahma (the lord of creation). Among many things, the boons he asked for included extraordinary vision and immortality. Everything was granted except the immortality.
Instead Lord Brahma asked him to choose when he could die. Andhakasura asked for a boon that he would die  only when he aspires for a woman who he should never aspire for.

With time Andhakasura turned more materialistic and less interested in austerities. By this time he has already conquered the world and the heaven.

On a pleasure trip he along with his companions lands up in Mount Mandara where Lord Shiva and Parvati lives.  His companions tells of a yogi and his beautiful wife. Andhaka sends his companions to bring her along. Shiva explains to them that they are Andhaka's parents. The companions mistook it for a ploy and compels Andhaka for a fight.
Shiva was in the middle of an austerity and the Andakha enters in a fierce battle with Veeraka, the guard of Shiva. The battle continued for many thousands years. And finally Shiva himself enters into the battle after he has completed the austerity.

Shiva stabbed Andhaka with his trident and held him high in the sky for 1000 years. Andhaka finally understood that Shiva and Parvati were his parents. Hanging on Shiva's trident, Andhaka praises Shiva's 108 aspects. And finally Lord Shiva touches his son for the first time. Andhaka became bright and luminous on the touch. He begs for and gets forgiveness from Shiva and Parvati.

The Shiva stabbing Andhaka is a very animated theme that adorns many Shiva temples. You can see this in either in the form of Andhaka hanging from Shiva's trident held up in the sky or Andhaka submitting under Shiva's feet.
You can see this is mythical theme Pattadakal and also in other famous ancient temples of Ellora, Elephanta, Belur, Somnathpur etc.

On a very similar note many temples have the image of Shakti ( consort of Shiva ) slaying the Mahishasura, the Buffello Demon. That's another mythical story anyway.

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Destinations | Itineraries | Routes
Pattadakal , Karnataka

Pattadakal (Pattadakallu in local language ) in the Indian state of Karnataka is renowned for the group of the 8th century CE monuments. Pattadakal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Virupaksha temple

The Virupaksha Temple of Pattadakal signifies the high watermark of the Early Chalykyan architecture. This temple was built in commemoration to the victory of the Chalykyas over the Pallavas of the Kanchipuram.

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Train connections for Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal

Badami , located about 22 km (14 miles) southwest of Pattadakal is the nearest railway station for Pattadakal. Badami (Station Code:BDM ) itself is on the less busy Solapur-Gadag route. This means, there are not many long distance trains connect Badami directly with other metro cities in the region. However there are a few convenient express and local train connections for Badami.

Chalukya Dynasty

The history of Chalukyas is a bit complicated with controversies and ambiguities ; and often riddled with myths and legends. Complicated, because there were many dynasties ( to be specific three ) shared the name Chalukya. Before going further into this, let's first see where was this Chalukya Empire, as it is often referred, existed in India. Those of you with an understanding of the India's geography , imagine the Indian heartland bordered by two rivers - Narmada in the north and Kaveri in the south. Well, what lies between these two rivers was practically the span of Chalukyan Empire at its peak.

Golgumbaz Express | Solapur Express

Golgumbaz Express (Train Number 6535 / 6536) is a tri-weekly express train between Solapur and Bangalore( Yesvantpur Junction). In the Yesvantpur to Solapur route it is called Solapur Express and in the return route it is called Golgumbaz Express.

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