Kotilingeshwara Temple, located in the village of Kammasandra near Kolar in Karnataka, is a unique and significant Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is famous for having millions of Shiva Lingas (lingams), which are stone representations of Lord Shiva. The word “Koti” means “crore” (10 million in Indian numbering), and the temple aims to house a total of one crore (10 million) Shiva Lingas, hence the name “Kotilingeshwara.”
The temple complex features a towering 108-foot-tall Shiva Linga, one of the largest in the world, and a 35-foot-tall statue of Nandi (the sacred bull of Lord Shiva). Currently, the temple has installed over 90 lakh (9 million) lingams, with more being added by devotees who wish to contribute.
Apart from the impressive number of Shiva Lingas, the temple also houses smaller shrines dedicated to other deities, including Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Goddess Annapoorneshwari. The temple draws a large number of devotees, especially during important festivals like Maha Shivaratri.
The Kotilingeshwara Temple is not only a place of religious worship but also a spiritual landmark for pilgrims and visitors from all over the country. The serene atmosphere, along with the sheer scale of devotion represented by the numerous lingams, makes it a unique and sacred destination in Karnataka.
