Temple built for ‘miracle’ child in Yadgir

[1]

 
Yadgir: Temples, dedicated to gods and goddesses, are not often inspired by a child. But in the village of Gorunoor bordering Andhra Pradesh, a temple has been built in  memory of a dead child, who the people believe has been reborn.  And today the Maheshswamy temple has become a centre of pilgrimage for childless couples.  
 
The story goes that  Shivayya Hiremath and Shashikala, who had two sons, Mahesh and Veeresh, decided not to have anymore children. But after  Shashikala underwent tubectomy,  Veeresh died of epilepsy and Mahesh died of snakebite a year later.
 
A grief-stricken Shashikala gave up eating for several days and spent many  nights  sleepless. But one night she dreamt of Mahesh telling her that he would be reborn in her womb. When she shared her experience with her husband,  Shivayya gave her little hope as giving birth to a child after tubectomy was next to impossible. But brushing aside her husband’s doubts, she opted for the  best treatment they could afford and much to her joy was blessed with a son again.
 
So miraculous did this seem to the couple that they were convinced  their son Mahesh had been reborn. As word of the ‘miracle’ spread  people around, especially childless couples,  began worshipping Mahesh as a deity and villagers collected donations to build a temple in memory of the child. 
 
“Where there is way where there is a will and  Maheshswamy  has shown this to many childless couple who have reposed faith in him. We believe that he will continue to brighten our lives this way,” says a villager elder, Basayya Swamy.