The Shishileshwara temple is situated on the banks of the Kapila River in Shishila village of Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada district. The famous temple is also known as Matsya Theertha Kshetra because of the fish deity there. The special feature of this place is that the devotees who visit here pray to the fish in the Kapila River and offer flowers to them. According to reports, the Kapila River is drying up. Because of this, the temple administration has banned offering flowers to the fish. The water level in the river has also fallen. Due to excessive feeding of fish, the water has become polluted, and the animals are suffering a lot. Realising this, the temple management has banned devotees from offering flowers to the fish. Along with this, Aralu (Puffed Rice) – which is often fed to fish – is said to have chemical substances. In this regard, the administration has decided to entirely prohibit feeding fish because it can affect their health and pollute the water.
According to the previous tradition, puffed rice can be put in the water in small quantities if needed, and no other food should be put in the water as per the management board.
For the unversed, in 1930, Mr Cotchman — the district’s British collector at the time— banned fishing around the temple area. One incident happened thereafter, which was the reason behind the temple’s formation. On the morning of May 25, 1996, thousands of fish met their end as miscreants poisoned the river. Later, a stone memorial was built next to the temple as a poignant memory of the tragic poisoning of the fishes. Later, the people created Matsya Hitarkashana Vedike – a forum for the conservation of the sacred fish – in the wake of this terrible event.
As per the latest reports, the Shishila Temple Fish Sanctuary is one of the finest fish sanctuaries in the country, accommodating about 40 species of fish. Shishila is one of the very few locations in India where one may find the enormous Mahseer fish.
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