Bhatkal: A holy cow used to pour its milk on a natural Linga that came into existence in Bhatkal taluk (of Uttara Kannada district) at Kithre, which is the most ancient Durga Parameshwari Temple area, Known as Power Centre of the Almighty(a Shakti Kendra).

When people went round the cow to see who was milking it, they saw the self-originated Linga. It soon became a place of pilgrimage and in 1979, the temple had a Tower built and maintained by Hosanagara Ramachandrapura Math authorities.

The re-construction of a Nagabana (Snake jungle) was undertaken at the time, when a live snake (Cobra) watched the entire work from a distance, instilling pious sentiments among the passing devotees to worship the place of holiness.

65 years ago in the year of Indian Independence a sage named Sridhava Swami lived in a cave nearly conducting penance and the place became the home of a goddess Shiva Shanthika Prameshwari. There is a tank in front of the temple with drinking water in clarity all thought the year.

A new rock temple has been built here at a cost of Rs 3 crores now, and it will be opened on Wednesday April 25th, by Ramachandrapura Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji.

About 50,000 devotees are expected for a Programme held between April 20 and 26, says Vasudeva Hebbar of the Temple Renovation Committee at Kithre