Avani - Part I, Prehistoric period

Avani - Part I, Prehistoric period

Did you know that Avani village in Mulbagilu taluk of Kolar district is renowned for its plethora of ancient monuments and temples related to the pre-historic epochs (aeons) of Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga of Hindu sanctity linked to the present epoch of Kali Yuga with historic linkages to the 8th to 10th century AD reign of the Nolamba Dynasty, and followed by other dynasties of Southern India?

Avani, a small, rocky, and temple-dotted village in a hilly plataeu in Mulbagilu taluk of Kolar district, known in pre-historic epochs (aeons) as Aaha-Vani, a kind of Homa or Yagna- a religious fire practice, is known in Treta Yuga of the epic Ramayana Period for the Hindu goddess Sita, daughter of Janaka and wife of Lord Rama of Ayodhya; Sita was thus called Avanisuthe meaning 'Daughter of Earth'. Sage Valmiki, the author of Hindu epic Ramayana is said to have lived here and hence the small hill is also called Valmikiparvata. In contemporary oral traditions of the period of the Sanskrit Ramayana epic, it is said that Rama, the central hero of the epic story, and his wife, Sita, stayed at Avani on their return from Lanka after Rama killed the asura King Ravana. But unfortunately, the Rama who was hailed after crowing as the King of Ayodhya, and adored as Maryada Purushottama, some time after assuming power as the King of Ayodhya, on the basis of an unjust wild allegation against her by a local washerman, sent away his consort Sita to live in a hermitage of sage Valmiki. The then pregnant Sita retreated, heartbroken to live in the Avani Hills in the ashrama of Valmiki. And it is here that she birthed her twin sons in the sanctuary of Valmiki's hermitage in a cave in the surrounding forest. Valmiki treated Sita as his own daugher, and was also the guardian and teacher to Lava and Kusha. A temple to Sita, and boulders where Lava and Kusha played called 'Tottalagundu (cradle rock)', and where they held the sacrificial horse of Ashvamedha Yagna called "Kudregundu (horse-rock)" are notable sites to visit in Avani.

Later, in the Dwapara Yuga of Mahabarata epic, Avani’s fame came to be associated with the memory of one of the Mahabharat's characters, the timeless Jambavan, the bear-king who was Lord Rama's devotee in the Treta Yuga epoch. In the story, Lord Krishna who is erroneously accused of theft of a precious jewel called Shyamantaka Mani, finds that Jambavan living in Avani has it. Then Krishna goes to Avani to claim the jewel, and a fight ensues between Krishna and Jambavan which lasted for twenty one days of wrestling. Jambavan suddenly realises or recognises that Krishna is none other than his Rama of Treta Yuga, Vishnu's form reincarnated. Overcome with devotion, he immediately surrenders the jewel to Krishna. A temple on Avanis' Valmiki Hill called the temple of 'Hari Shresta Maharshi Adi Jambava', celebrates this story, with folklore also claiming that Jambavan's daughter (Jambavati) was given in marriage to Krishna here. Jambavan is also consiered kshetra rakshaka (guardian ) of Avani.

It is also said that the Pandavas of Ayodhya and Hastinapur also stayed here for some time on the Avani hill in a cave on the Avani Hill during their 14 years of exile period.

In the present Kali Yuga, during the ninth and tenth centuries AD, as recorded in an inscription of the Nolamba king dated 920 CE, rulers of the Nolamaba-Pallava dynasty built temples dedicated to the charachters of Hindu epic Ramayana, in a synchretic form dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva faiths, namely, Ramalingeshwara dedicated to Lord Rama, Lakshmanalingeshwara, Bharatalingeshwara, Shatrugnalingeshwara, Anjanayeshwara and Sugriveshwara, all in a cluster called the Ramalingeshwara group of temples. These temples were later rebuilt or renovated during the reign of Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas, and Vjiyanagara emperors.

A recent event of the early ninteenth century relates to Sri Narasimha Bharati IV of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. The pontiff while on his 'sancharas' (travels during four months of Chatrumas), had camped at Avani for a few days. During this stay, the pontiff discovered an idol of Goddess Sharada which was in a standing posture flanked by Adi Shankaracharya with Sri Chakra. Soon after, the Sri Narsimha Bharati established a new Mutt, which is presently known as Avani Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sharada Peetham. A new Swamiji from Sringeri has become Peedadhapatti at Avani. 

In view of its association with the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Avani village and hills surrounding it dotted with temples and relics, is held sacred and is considered as one of the ten places of greatest Hindu sanctity. 

The Avani village is located 32 km away from Kolar, the district centre, 13 km from Mulabaagilu, the Taluk headquarters, and 97 km from Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka.

Narasipur Char