Kotilingeshwara Temple Guide: Kammasandra's Giant Linga, Shrines and Visiting Tips

Quick answer: Kotilingeshwara Temple is at Kammasandra village in Kolar district, Karnataka, near Kolar Gold Fields and about 100 km from Bengaluru. It is famous for one of the world's largest Shiva lingas, about 33 m (108 ft) tall, facing a Nandi about 11 m (35 ft) tall, and for its vision of installing one crore (ten million) lingas, sponsored by devotees, which is what its name means. It was founded by Swami Sambha Shiva Murthy, who installed the first linga in 1980. The complex also has shrines to many other deities. Maha Shivaratri is its biggest festival. Check the temple's official website for current timings.

Kotilingeshwara is very different from the ancient Jyotirlingas and the great Chola and Pallava temples. It is a modern devotional complex, built over a few decades through the faith of one swami and lakhs of ordinary devotees, and that is part of its appeal. For NRI families visiting Bengaluru, it is a popular day trip that children remember: a field of lingas stretching in every direction, dominated by the giant linga and Nandi.

Kotilingeshwara at a glance

History: a swami's vision

Swami Sambha Shiva Murthy dedicated his life to Lord Shiva and began the temple at Kammasandra by installing a linga in 1980. His vision was unusual: rather than one grand sanctum, he wanted the place to hold one crore lingas, each installed by a devotee, so that the whole site would become a vast offering to Shiva from countless families.

Over the following decades the giant central linga and Nandi were raised, shrines to other deities were added, and lakhs of smaller lingas were installed in rows across the complex. The swami passed away in 2018, and the temple continues to be managed by its trust. The goal of a crore lingas is a long-term work in progress, and new lingas continue to be installed.

The giant linga and Nandi

The central linga, about 33 m (108 ft) tall, rises on a raised platform and is visible from a distance as you approach. The number 108 is sacred in Hindu tradition, the number of beads on a japa mala and of the names in many ashtottara stotras. Facing it is a huge Nandi, about 11 m (35 ft) tall, Shiva's bull and devoted gatekeeper. Together they are among the largest such figures anywhere, and they are the reason many first-time visitors come.

Around them stand row upon row of smaller lingas, each installed by a devotee, often with the donor's name. Walking among them gives a powerful sense of collective devotion.

Shrines in the complex

Kotilingeshwara is not only a Shiva temple. The complex includes a number of shrines to other deities, so that families from different traditions can worship together. These include shrines associated with:

• Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (the Trimurti)
• Goddess Annapoorneshwari
• Lord Venkataramana (Venkateswara)
• Lord Panduranga (Vithoba)
• Rama, Sita and Lakshmana
• Panchamukha Ganapati
• Anjaneya (Hanuman)
• Goddess Kannika Parameshwari
• Other forms of Shiva and the Goddess

Shrines and their names can change as the complex develops; follow signs at the temple. The variety reflects the open, inclusive spirit of the place.

Installing a linga: what devotees do

Many visitors come to sponsor a linga, often to mark a birth, a marriage, a new home, the memory of a parent or the fulfilment of a vow. The linga is installed with puja by the temple priests, and the devotee's name may be associated with it. For families abroad, this can be a meaningful way to honour elders or mark a milestone during a trip to India.

• Enquire at the temple office or the official website about current arrangements and offerings; do not rely on unofficial agents.
• Bring the names and gotra of the family members for whom the puja is offered, if you follow that custom.
• Keep receipts for any offering, and avoid touts outside the temple.
• Approach it as an act of devotion; no particular outcome is promised.

Rituals and worship

Devotees typically offer water, milk, bilva leaves and flowers to the lingas, and many pour water over the smaller lingas as they walk through the complex. Abhishekam, archana and special pujas can be arranged at the main shrines. As at all Shiva temples, chanting Om Namah Shivaya or the Panchakshari mantra while you walk is a simple, beautiful practice.

Festivals

• Maha Shivaratri: the biggest day of the year, with night-long worship and very large crowds from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Karthika Masam: Mondays of the Karthika month are popular for Shiva worship and lamp-lighting; see our Karthika Masam 2026 guide.
• Shravana Mondays: popular days for abhishekam.
• Pradosham: the twice-monthly evening worship of Shiva.

Dates follow the Hindu calendar. During Dasara season, Karnataka celebrates Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October 2026; our Dasara 2026 Karnataka district-wise guide covers Kolar and other districts, and the Mysore Dasara 2026 guide covers the state festival.

How to reach Kotilingeshwara

• By air: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, is the nearest international airport.
• By rail: Bangarapet Junction is a convenient railhead, and KGF and Kolar have stations too. From there, take a taxi or auto-rickshaw to Kammasandra.
• By road: most visitors drive or hire a taxi from Bengaluru, roughly two to three hours each way depending on traffic, via the Kolar route. Buses run to Kolar, Bangarapet and KGF.

Tips for NRI visitors

• Check the temple's official website for current timings and any arrangements for pujas or linga installation before you travel.
• Start early from Bengaluru to avoid traffic and midday heat; the complex is large and much of it is open to the sun.
• Wear modest traditional clothing, and carry socks or light footwear for the shoe-free areas if the ground is hot (where allowed).
• Carry water, hats and sunscreen, especially for children and elderly parents.
• Maha Shivaratri and long weekends are extremely crowded; weekdays are calmer.
• Keep valuables to a minimum and use official counters for offerings.

You can combine the trip with the Kolar Gold Fields area and Kolar town's older temples, or plan a wider Karnataka temple journey that includes Murudeshwara, with its giant Shiva statue, and Dharmasthala.

Why Kotilingeshwara resonates

Ancient temples show the devotion of kings; Kotilingeshwara shows the devotion of ordinary people. Each small linga stands for a family's prayer, gratitude or remembrance. For children growing up abroad, the sight of so many lingas, and the idea that their own family could add one, can be a memorable introduction to Shiva worship and to the idea of offering something of oneself to the Divine.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Kotilingeshwara Temple?

It is at Kammasandra village in Kolar district, Karnataka, near Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) and Bangarapet. It is usually visited as a day trip from Bengaluru, roughly 100 km away by road.

What does Kotilingeshwara mean?

Koti means crore (ten million), so Kotilingeshwara is the Lord of a crore lingas. The temple's founding vision was to install one crore Shiva lingas, sponsored by devotees, around a giant central linga.

Who founded Kotilingeshwara Temple?

The temple was founded by Swami Sambha Shiva Murthy, who installed the first linga in 1980 and devoted his life to developing the complex. He passed away in 2018, and the temple continues under its trust.

How tall is the Kotilingeshwara linga?

The central linga is about 33 m (108 ft) tall, and the Nandi facing it about 11 m (35 ft). They are among the largest Shiva linga and Nandi figures in the world and can be seen from far away.

Can devotees install a linga at Kotilingeshwara?

Yes. Devotees can sponsor the installation of a small linga in their name or a family member's name, with puja performed at the temple. Arrangements and offerings are set by the temple; check the temple's official website or enquire at the temple office.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. It covers well-established history and general travel information. Sizes of the linga and Nandi are as widely reported; we have not listed timings, puja or installation fees, or contact details, which change. Please check the temple's official website before you travel.

Related guides

• Murudeshwara Temple guide
• Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple guide
• Male Mahadeshwara Temple guide
• Dasara 2026 Karnataka district-wise
• Karthika Masam 2026
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple