Pancha Linga Shrine

Pancha linga temple, located at a distance of about 15 km from Chennakeshava temple of Somnathpur, is dedicated to five forms of Lord Shiva.

Talakad had about 30 temples that today are buried in sand. Among the temples of Talakad, the Pataleshwara or Vasukishwara, Maruleshwara or Saikateshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna temples, the five Lingams believed to represent the five faces of Shiva. The Pataleshwara Shivalingam is said to change colors during the day (red in the morning, black in afternoon and white in the evening).

Talakad also houses a Keerthinarayana temple (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) of 12th century, which is built in the Chalukyan style.

The Panchalinga darshana in Talakad: In honor of the five lord Shiva temples in Talakad, a fair is held once every 12 years called the Panchalinga Darshana. The Panchalinga Darshana is held on a new moon day in the month of Karthika (November/December) when two stars conjoin, the stars of Khuha Yoga and Vishaka. The last Panchalinga Darshana held in the year 2006.

There are five Shiva shrines on the banks of river Cauvery, which flows in all directions here. Devotees take a holy dip at the Theerthas and worship at the shrines of Lord Vaidyeshwara, built by Vijayanagar rulers in Dravidian style, Arkeshwara, Vasukeeshwara, Maruleshwara and Mallikarjuna. While the Vaidyeshwara temple is clearly visible above the ground, the other four are lying partly buried under sand, which is removed from time to time. Sandstorm is a strange phenomenon here.

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