Sri Gosala Siddeshwara Swamiji & the Origin of Siddaganga

Sri Gosala Siddeshwara Swamiji (period approximately 1300–1350) set out from Haradanahalli, near present-day Chamarajanagara, along with his one hundred and one disciples.

Undertaking a pilgrimage across the land as per their Jangama dharma, he spread religious teachings and eventually arrived at this sacred site of Siddaganga.

Captivated by the natural beauty of this place, he settled here and immersed himself in deep Linga tapasya. His disciples similarly took to meditation in the many caves on this hill suited for spiritual practice.

Among his disciples, one elderly devotee was meditating in the cave where the sacred pond (Tirthakunda) now exists. One night, overcome with intense thirst, he remembered his Guru in prayer.

Merely through this remembrance, the compassionate Guru came to know of his disciple's distress and rushed immediately to the cave. He struck the rock firmly with the big toe of his right foot.

Through the divine power of his spiritual energy, a hollow formed in the rock and sacred water sprang forth. He made the elderly disciple drink this divine water and saved his life.

The Guru himself thereafter began his spiritual practices in this very cave, making it a place of great sanctity and devotion.

Thus, the sacred water that arose from the strike of the foot of this great saint, Sri Gosala Siddeshwara, came to be known as "Siddha Gange" — the divine spring of the Siddha.