Sri Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple

Sigandur Temple was our first stop on the Shimoga trip and the first visit to a major temple after news of my pregnancy. The temple is 30 kms from Sagar. The drive takes two-and-a-half hours from Shimoga as Sagar itself is around two hours.

This was the first place, of all the places Sathya and I have been to and seen, during all our trips and travels, that I didn't know anything about!! All our trips, I am the one who always chooses the place and he is the one who draws up the travel plan. But this time was different. Strangely, Sigandur is very close to Kundapur and yet I had never heard or read about it even though I am from that region. When we planned this trip, the first item Sathya wrote on the itinerary was Sigandur temple. That was the first time ever I even heard the name! I am so glad I saw this really nice temple. Thanks a ton to him for that!

To go to the Temple, you have to cross the scenic Sharavathi backwaters. 

Government buses ply at regular intervals to and from Sagar. The bus stop is called Holey Bagilu (river door). We have to use the inland water transport called the "launch". Yup, that's what the boat that takes you across is called - The Launch!

The ride costs Rs 10 for adults and takes about 10 minutes. It ferries both men and their machines across the river. Buses, cars, cement trucks, bikes and people are all welcome.

While returning, we sat in a bus, which was also being ferried across, in the launch and the bus took a reverse and slided gently into the shore and drove off to Sagar town. Tanvi was like, "We are travelling in a bus but the bus is not moving but we are going to our stop! Everyone on the bus paid for the bus and the launch separately. 

Once you alight, you will find government buses, cabs and taxis to take you to the temple. The bus charges Rs 10 whereas the group cab (13 people in a Toofan vehicle) is Rs 20. It is just 10 mins drive up the hill to the temple. We took a separate cab for Rs 200 as we missed the bus by a few minutes.

The temple is very well managed. Everything is done in an efficient and hassle-free manner. This was our second major temple visit after Tirupathi, in April, and the contrast was striking. There was a huge crowd (though minuscule compared to the numbers in Tirupathi!!) but the staff did not hurry or scream at or push anyone or bang the floor or the pillar with a stick. As we waited for our turn for the Darshan, we were made to sit, in silence, once inside the temple.

As each small batch of 20-25 people moves closer to the Garbha Griha and watches the Aarthi, you truly feel you are in the 'sannidhi' (presence) of the Devi. You then move along in the line as a priest waits to give you the mangalarthi. There is a separate counter, up ahead, for theertha and one for prasada. No one misses on anything. No one jostles. Everyone gets time with the Goddess to one's heart's content.

In Tirupathi, we had a feeling of being captured and caged. 15 hours locked up in a big hall with hundreds of people in it!  The moment the locks of the waiting rooms are opened, people scream and there is a huge rush and fear of missing our children in the constant push and pull. Endless rows of devotees inch forward one single step at a time. All this for a ONE SECOND darshana. And this after traveling all the way and foregoing sleep and food!

Recalling our horrid experience at Tirupati , we opted for special darshna (shorter queues and lesser waiting time) at Sigandur. Most temples have a separate fee for it. In Dharmasthala, it is Rs 200 and in Tirupathi Rs 300. Interestingly, the concept here is different. They don't charge you anything extra specifically for it. Instead, you can sponsor the Anna Dana (free meal service) for 25 people by paying Rs 500 and the entire family can join the special queue. Or sponsor for 50 people paying Rs 1000. This is a more gratifying experience for the devotees who feel content that their contribution goes for providing free lunch and not for escaping a long queue. Your contribution is promptly acknowledged with a receipt by a person who enters your postal address in the system, so that you can use it for tax exemption as well.

Everyone is then led to the Anna Dana or Prasada Seve hall which is, of course, free for all, as in every Hindu temple from centuries. Food service style is similar to Tirupathi. You take a plate and pass from each sevak who serves rice, sambar, curd rice, kheer and pickle. It is not like the system followed everywhere else, in most South Indian temples or in langars in Sikh Gurudwaras, where you sit and the sevaks go around serving the food and giving water. Kollur Mookambika, Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt, Dharmasthala, Mantralaya follow this tradition.

Your kanike (gift) - gold, silver, cash payment - is immediately acknowledged with a receipt and a book on yoga, a photo frame of the deity, stickers and kumkum are given. The hannukai (fruit & coconut) for Rs 100 is given in a nice bag made from saree. The staff politely explain where to go and what to do next. All your queries are addressed promptly. Everything is systematic. It is a must visit temple.