Bantwal : Like every year, there are many Amavasyas are celebrated all across India namely – Mauni or Magha Amavasya, Bhemaana Amavasya, Aati Amavasya, Hariyali Amavasya and Bhado Amavasya, to name a few. One of the very common practice followed by many on Amavasya days is to take holy dip in the holy rivers of India.

As we all know, there are 12 Amavasya days every year. As the Moon completes its cycle, it comes up as a new moon. When the moon is in the process of completing its cycle, the front side of the Moon comes on darker side of earth; and the back side of Moon remains the same i.e. bright. But, we can not see the bright (back) side of moon. So, new moon is not visible from earths perspective. New moon occurs every month.

`Narahari Parvatha Sadashiva Temple’ is located in Bantwal Taluk, nearly 30 km from Mangalore. Every year large number of devotees takes holi bath ‘Theertha Snana’ here on Ati Amavasye in Ashada Month.

On 26 July, Saturday devotees offered poojas to lord Sadashiva and takes their holy bath in the four ‘Teerthakoopas’ at Narahari Parvatha.

The temple situated in the hill top, it is called Narahari Parvatha. The lord Sadashiva worshipped in the temple. It could be pilgrimage to the devotees or an expedition for the trekkers but it takes a climb of 333 steps to reach the top. Devotion to the belief

At the top, the four ‘Teerthakoopas’ are an unbelievable sight as they are perfectly in the shape of a Shanka, Chakra, Gadha and Padma.

According to a legend, Sri Krishna (Lord Hari) accompanied with Arjuna (Nara) offered penance here to free themselves from the sins committed during the Mahabharatha’s Kurukshetra war. Lord Hari as a sign of his visit sculpted Shanka (Conch), Chakra (Wheel), Gadha (Heavy Weapon) and Padma (Lotus) giving rise to the four ‘Teerthakoopas’ (Holy Ponds) which are present even today. Arjuna purified himself by bathing in these holy ponds and installed the Shivalinga and worshipped it and hence the hill gets its unique name ‘Narahari Sadashiva’.