Kottur is named after Saint Kottureshwara, so its history
stems from the history of Guru Kottureshwara. Once on the Earth when the
Veerashaiva Sect was under threat, Lord Shiva and Parvathi from Heaven
(Kailasa) ordered Nandi
to go to Sarasipura/Shikapura (the earlier name of Kottur) and protect the
innocent people. So Lord Nandi
disguised in a form of saint and reached Shikapura.
This Saint was later called by people as Kottureshwara (Kottu or Kodu in
Kannada means "Give" and Eshwar means "Lord Shiva"),
the one who gives blessings.
Kottur is also famous for a dish called Mandakki-Menasinakai.
There are different varieties of mandakki.
Devotees make it a point to have this dish when they visit.
Ancient
history:
It is believed that Darbar Mutta (or Dodda Mutta or Hire
Mutta) (Shrine)
used to be a temple of Lord Veerabhadra. Once people started visiting Lord
Kottureswara to get the blessings, they stopped worshiping Lord Veerabhadra.
Lord Veerabhadra complained about this to Lord Kottureshwara. Then the Guru
asked him to occupy another place called Kodathgudda where Lord Veerabhadra Swamy
temple is now. This is an equally famous temple in this region.