In a valley nestled between the hills of the rustling Satyamangalam forest in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka stands a temple which originated in the 15th century, to saffron-robed Shiva incarnate Mahadeshwara. The tiger-riding saint has followers cutting across caste and community lines on either side of adjacent state border with Tamil Nadu. He is the family God for many, ranging from former external affairs minister SM Krishna to the slain ivory smuggler, Veerappan, who is rumoured to have visited the temple every day. This temple, whose deity's miraculous powers are the inspiration for rich folklore in both Kannada and Tamil from the surrounding seven hills, could use a quick fix...
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