Vidurashwatha

2021-12-06T16:12:40Z

2406:7400:73:5BBD:5CA9:B192:FA82:C260: /* Present */

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vidurashwatha
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = city
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|13.61|N|77.52|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Chikkaballapur district|Chikkaballapur]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| population_density_km2 = auto
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 561208
| registration_plate =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Vidurashwatha''' is a small village located in the [[Gauribidanur]] [[taluk]] of [[Chikkaballapur district]] in the state of [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. Situated near the Karnataka–[[Andhra Pradesh]] border and about 6 km from Gauribidanur, it played a major role in the [[Indian independence movement]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bangaloretourism.org/vidurashwatha-gauribidanukolar-kolar-jallianwala-bagh-of-south.php | title=Vidurashwatha | publisher=bangaloretourism.org | access-date=6 July 2018 }}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The name ''Vidurashwatha'' is derived from that of a big ''Ashwatha'' ([[Ficus religiosa|sacred fig]]) tree located in this village.<ref>http://www.gowribidanurtown.mrc.gov.in/Tourism</ref> According to a legend of the times of [[Mahabharata]], this tree was planted by [[Vidura]], a courtier in the kingdom of [[Dhritarashtra]]; and hence the name ''Vidurashwatha''.<ref name="ibn">A brief description of Vidurashwatha is provided by {{cite web|author=Priyanjana Dutta|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/souths-jallianwala-caught-in-time-warp/17946-3.html|title=South India's forgotten Jallianwala|work=Online Website of IbnLive.com|publisher=IbnLive.com|access-date=2007-04-15}}</ref> In 2001, this ancient tree fell to the ground.<ref name="fell">Vidurashwatha: End of Flora-era {{cite web|url=http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/news/2001/05/24/tree.html|title=The fall of Vidurashwatha's big tree|work=Online webpage of Thatskannada|publisher=Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.|access-date=2007-04-15}}</ref>

The legend says that Yamadharma Raja was cursed to be born as a human being and was thus born as Vidura. After seeing all the bloodshed during the war, Vidura became remorseful and asked [[Krishna]] for salvation. Krishna asked him to go for a theerthayatra (pilgrimage). After visiting many places, Vidura came to this place, which was actually a hermitage of Maithreya Maharishi. Once during [[Sandhyavandanam|sandhyavandhana]] in the river, Vidura got a small sapling when he was about to offer argya to [[Surya]]. Maithreya Maharishi asked Vidura to worship the sapling to get salvation. With great devotion, Vidura worshiped the sapling and [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]], pleased with the devotion, gave him [[Darśana|dharshan]], and thus the name of the location became Vidura Ashwatha.

Another story is that, a long time ago when the river was flowing rapidly, two brothers who could not cross the river took shelter on the other side of the river bank where there is a temple to Shiva. In the night, one of the brothers dreamed that Ashwathnaryana came and asked the brother to worship him so that he and his future generations would be benefited. The next day the brother was found on the other side of the river bank under the great sacred fig. From then on, the worship of Ashwathnaryana was done by this family only.

==History==
Vidurashwatha is known as the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre|Jalianwalabagh]] of [[South India|southern India]]. 35 freedom fighters martyred while hoisting congress flag here.<ref>{{Cite news|title=ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ సరిహద్దుల్లో మరో జలియన్‌వాలా బాగ్|language=te|work=BBC News తెలుగు|url=https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-47906501|access-date=2021-05-04}}</ref> Veera Saudha is built on the memory of this freedom movement.

==School==

Satyagraha Memorial high school is one of the older schools in the taluk. It was named and formed after the freedom movement. Though stated private later on received the aid from the state government of karnataka.

==Nagaprathistha==
One of the most important ceremonies which is done in this place is Nagaprathista, it's done by the people who have [[sarpa dosha]] in their horoscope. Here the devotees come and pray to the lord asking for a specific boon (such as a child or for marriage). Once the boon is fulfilled, they perform a prathistha. Not all devotees need to do the same, only those devotees who had taken a vow in front of the lord need to do it.

Nagaprathista when done under the fig tree is the most auspicious and fruitful for the devotees, as this fig tree is the oldest and most sacred, doing prasthita here is considered most beneficial.

[[Adi Shankaracharya]] interprets this tree as representing the entire cosmos. 'Shwa' in Sanskrit means tomorrow. 'a' indicates negation, and 'tha' means one that stands or remains. He interprets Ashwatha to indicate "One which does not remain the same tomorrow", or the universe itself. The eternal life of the Ashwatha Tree has inspired many Indian philosophers and Hindu thought.

==Contacts==
For Nagaprathista,Abhsiheka,Marriages,Guesthouse stay pls contact Mr Manjunath +91-9535174945
==Present==
The village has a temple and few ''Kalyanamandapa'' (marriage halls). For Nagaprathista pls contact +917899488889

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Villages in Chikkaballapur district]]

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Vidurashwatha