Rishyasringa Temple

Rishyasringa Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Kigga village, Sringeri Taluk, Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as Rishyashringeshwara and associated with Sage Rishyashringa, it is noted for its Hoysala and Keladi Nayaka style architecture. Set amid the Western Ghats near Sringeri, the temple features a distinctive sloping roof, intricate carvings and a sacred pond, attracting pilgrims and visitors interested in heritage and architecture.

Visitors can expect a small, historic temple complex set in a forested village landscape in the Western Ghats. The main shrine houses a Shiva linga, with stone carvings, a sloping tiled roof typical of Malnad architecture, and a Nandi mantapa. The surroundings include a temple pond and quiet village setting. Visitors can explore the shrine, observe daily puja rituals, view architectural details, and experience a calm pilgrimage atmosphere near Sringeri.

The temple is believed to have origins in the Hoysala period and was later renovated and developed under the Keladi Nayakas. It is dedicated to Sage Rishyashringa, a revered rishi associated with the Ramayana, who is said to have lived and worshipped at Kigga. The shrine enshrines Lord Shiva as Rishyashringeshwara and exhibits traditional Malnad temple architecture with stone work and tiled roofing.

The temple holds religious importance for devotees of Lord Shiva and followers of the legend of Sage Rishyashringa, who is credited in tradition with performing the Putrakameshti yagna for King Dasharatha. It is an active place of worship and pilgrimage, especially for visitors to the Sringeri region, and reflects the cultural heritage of the Malnad region of Karnataka.