Information of Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore, Karnataka

Chamundi Temple is a hilltop temple built on the Chamundi Hills in Mysore. It is a landmark of Mysore city. This is a godess temple were many devotees come here on pilgrimage. It is famously called as the Chamundieshwari Temple locally. It is an ancient temple built in the Dravidian style in many phase of times. It was once the tutelary deity of the Mysore Maharajas. The Dasahara Festival is celebrated grandly here. This temple conducts its annual festival named Topostuv, which attracts many people here. During the festival time, the temple is elaborately decorated with gleaming lights, flowers and various cultural programmes are organized, which entertains both visitors and devotees. It is located at a height on 1000 meters above the sea level on the Chamundi Hills of Mysore District of Karnataka State in India.

Chamundeshwari Temple Religious Significance

This temple is mostly adorned by the Hindu religion, which practice worshiping the Durga Devi. This Devi is also know in various names and has significant history of its type. This Chamundeshwari temple is believed to be a power full place of worship. Once visiting here can get rid away of all evils in you. Mostly the women members come here with lot of customs and tradition of keeping herself neat and clean, avoiding non vegetarian food and offering daily pooja before visiting to this temple. Women's wear particularly the red or yellow cloths during this Vreth period. The Devi is seated position looks very great and commanding. She is seen in a yogic position. This sculpture is colorfully dressed and ornate and looks like a live goddess with lamp lights.

Chamundeshwari Temple Mythology & History

This temple also has a mythic story behind it. There lived a big demon named Mahishasura. He was killed here by the Parvathi Devi by taking an avatar of beautiful women and came here to destroy this demon. He was killed in a though battle here. It is also mentioned in many of the Puranas of the Hindu Vedic texts. Hence the hill is named after this Devi Chamundi and to honor her temple was built in the ancient times. This place is also mentioned as the shakthi petha, when Lord Shiva took the corpse of Sati Devi and wondered in a great sorrow. It is believed that few hair from the corpse fell here. The Shiva temple built here was an incarnation of this epic story. Hence this is one of the Shakthi peeth either a power full place of Durga Devi. Visiting this place with pure mind and practicing Hindu customs will bring prosperity to one's life. For women's it is believed to be a place of mental and physical health.

Chamundeshwari Temple Architectural Significance

This temple is built in a quadrangular shape adopting the Dravidian architecture of the south India. The temple is built of granite stones. A unique stone art works can be found here of the Vijayanagar period. A 1000 number of rock cut and stone block steps lead to the hill top form its base foot hills. Nearing its 800th step a small Shiva temple is built here. There is also a huge Nandhi statue built here, which are 15 feet in height and 24 feet in length. It is a monolith stone carving of a young cow in a seated position. It is finely carved with ornate garland and bells attached on the cow in stone art work. Near the entrance one can find the big Asura statue. It can be seen with thick sward ad a snake on its hands. This temple's entrance welcomes you with a pillared Gopuram (Tower) this is a mark of Dravidian architecture. This is having many miniature works on this tower. The main deity is uniquely carved sculpture. This Devi has 10 hand holding various asthra and shasthras in her hand. Built in 12th Century by the Vijaynagar Royals, the interesting and unique Dravidian style of architecture, enhance the beauty of the temple and provides many other reasons for devotees to visit the temple to offer prayers.