Srikanteshwara Swami Temple Nanjangudu: The Nanjundeshwara Temple (also called Srikanteshwara Temple) is an ancient temple dedicated to Shiva in the Hindu pilgrimage town of Nanjanagudu in Karnataka, India. The festivities in the fair include five colorful chariots pulled by devotees on a path called the ratha beedi. Parasurama Temple is near Nanjundeshwara Temple. Nanju in Kannada means "to poison". The name Nanjundeshwara means the "God who Drank the Poison" (halahala, a word that has its origins in the legend of the Great Churning of the Ocean of Milk); thus, the town got the name "Nanjanagudu" which means "the abode of the god Nanjundeshwara". Nanjungud is mentioned as Sri Garalapuri, in the Shiva Purana. It is said that the legendary holy place is the abode of Shiva in southern India. It is also referred to as "Dakshina Kasi", where the god appeared at the plea of his devotees, the Devas, and sage Narada. Sage Parashuram, after beheading his mother as per his father Sage Jamadagni's orders, wanted to undo his sins from "Matru Hatya" (his mother's murder). Per Narada's advice, he reached Garalapuri (Nanjangud) and prayed to Sri Nanjundeshwara Swamy. Shiva appeared and advised him to build a mantapa and perform pooja to the Shivlinga. The name "Nanjundeshwara", meaning "the healer," is derived from Lord Shiva's act of consuming poison (Halahala) during the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean).