History of the Temple in Aarna

01

BEFORE AARNA

A sacred spot beneath an old tree

Long before Aarna existed, a small cement Shiva Linga rested under an old tree. People from nearby areas visited on special occasions to light a diya and offer flowers, finding peace at the spot. When construction of the Aarna complex began, the Linga stood where a boundary wall and garden were planned. The developers changed the garden layout and premises design so the sacred place would not be disturbed.

02

REVIVAL

Devotees restore the Shiva Linga

After residents moved in, a few devotees saw that rain, soil erosion and neglect were causing the Linga to sink into the ground. Eventually, only the carved Basuki Nag could be seen. Residents began worship twice a day, in the morning and evening. They raised the Linga and strengthened its foundation to restore the sacred spot.

03

A TEMPLE DREAM

A community comes together

As the old tree weakened and died, residents felt the Shiva Linga needed a shelter of its own. The proposal to build a temple was rejected by the residents’ association more than once. A determined group then went door to door across all 750 flats to explain the idea and gather support. More than 80% of residents supported the proposal, across religions, ages and backgrounds.

04

THE BUILD

Persistence through difficult choices

Choosing a contractor who understood both the skill and devotion the work required brought disagreement. Some people left when their preferred contractors or ideas were not selected. The group became smaller, but continued, and eventually chose a contractor who understood the spiritual and structural importance of the temple.

05

TODAY

A temple shaped by faith

Construction brought technical problems, material delays and unexpected changes. Tiles, idol placements and designs changed along the way, and the community felt each change made the temple more beautiful, as if guided by Mahadev. After months of effort, the temple was completed and the Shiva Linga was reinstalled according to local traditions and rituals. The supplied history describes it as one of Bangalore’s unique and beautiful Shiva temples.