About Shree Basaveshwara Temple
According to Skanda Purana, Tarakasura received a boon from Brahma: whoever attempted Shirashedhana would see Tarakasura reborn, rendering his destruction impossible. However, when Subramanya Swamy sought Lord Mahadeva's guidance through penance, the deity appeared as a bull and imparted the knowledge of Nandi Vidya, the art of weaponry. Utilizing this divine knowledge, Subramanya Swamy destroyed Tarakasura.
Tarakasura's one part of him fell in Basaveshwara, Basavanamoola and another in Palani. It was when Mahadeva manifested in the form of Nandi that Basavana Moola came into existence. To sanctify the place where Tarakasura was destroyed, Rushi Munis proposed a solution involving cattle farming, cattle worship. and the initiation of cattle fairs.In accordance with this suggestion, cattle fairs were initiated, serving as a means of venerating cattle and seeking spiritual atonement. One such significant event occurs on the day of the full moon of Kartika Masa, typically around November, at Basavanamoola. This cattle fair, conducted on behalf of the Kukke Sri Subramanya temple, includes rituals such as cow pooja and the offering of gogras (food for cows), which have become ingrained traditions. At Basavanamoola, the commencement of the construction of Lord Shri Subrahmanya Swamy's Champa Shasthi Brahma Ratha is marked by the Go Puja, the worshiping of cows.
In the sanctum sanctorum (Garbagudi), Mahadeva resides in the head of Nandi, the divine bull. This unique presence signifies that Basavana Moola is the sole location where Nandi is revered in garbagudi. In all other temples Nandi will be outside Garbagudi facing towards lord. It is believed that any prayer made in this sacred space is fulfilled by Lord Mahadeva, deepening the spiritual connection between devotees and the divine.Similar to how Lord Mahadeva imparted Nandi Vidya to destroy Tarakasura, Basaveshwara bestows blessings upon his devotees. Through the granting of Ishtartha Siddhi or Karya Siddhi, devotees' desires and aspirations are fulfilled, mirroring the divine intervention witnessed in ancient mythological tales. Basavana Moola serves as a place of atonement for sins, where devotees seek solace and redemption.
About 800 years ago during Hoysala Dynasty ruling it was mentioned about the existence of such temple.Later from 1499 to 1763 this region of South Kanara was ruled by 17 Kings and 2 Queens of Keladi Dynasty Specially Shivappa Nayaka,Soorappa Nayaka, Somashekhara Nayaka, Queen Chennamma.During King Somashekhara Nayaka and Queen Chennamma's time they Dedicated Brahma ratha to Kukke Subrahmanya Swamy.This Royal Family knew the origin and history of Sri Basaveshwara and history of Kulkunda and got inspired by seeing Basava with Shivalinga on his forehead further renovated this temple as per Ashtamangala.
In the years that followed the entire town of Kukke was destroyed hy smallpox epidemic and it continued to be so during the later British ruling. Elderly devotees of this region,who saw Lord Basaveshwara with Shivalinga in the jungle to the recent past years made the statue sit on the foot of a tree and started worship in the course of time,a good theologian completely guided in renovating and reinstailing the temple through Ashtamangala. It is believed that,if you get darshan of Lord Kukku Subrahmanya and then get darshan of Lord Basaveshwara (Nandishwara) and offer prayers you will get full results.
It is believed by thousands of devotees that Lord Basaveshwara resides at Basavanamoola and grants all the wishes of devotees.