No entry for women, non-Lingayats to this temple

The Mahadeshwara Temple, which has a history of hundreds of years in Nagasamudra of Arasikere taluk, is in the news for the wrong reasons.

The temple has banned entry for women and a board has been displayed in front of the temple. Except for Lingayats, no other caste's people are allowed to enter the temple for many years now.

Priest Omkaraiah claimed, “We have never stopped women and other community people from entering the temple. There is a belief that people will face hardship if they enter the temple and thus they themselves stay away.” Arasikere Tahsildar Natesh said the temple does not come under the Endowment department, but he will take measures to remove the board.