Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the popular places to visit in Mysore and one of the prominent temples in India, it is 13 kilometers far away from Mysore and located on the Chamundi hills at an altitude of 1000 feet from the sea level. Chamundeshwari Temple is bestowed and named after the Goddess Chamundeshwari, one form of Goddess Durga. This temple is considered one among the 18 Shakthi Peethas where Sati Devi’s hair had fallen.
Chamundeshwari temple stands as a witness of heritage, culture, devotion, and architectural greatness. It attracts huge visitors every year with its rich history and traditional architecture. This temple is filled with very vibrant architecture and statues which look very attractive. Let’s go deep into the enthralling epic of the Chamundeshwari Temple, finding its mythological roots, architectural brilliance, religious importance, and prevailing attraction.
History of Chamundeshwari Temple:
One of the most popular tales regarding the Chamundeshwari temple, Mysore says that there was once a buffalo demon known as Mahisasura. After many years of reparation and meditation, Mahisasura had been granted a bonus by God Brahma that he could not be killed by a man. With Brahma’s blessing, boundless ego and haughtiness, Mahisasura gained confidence and began torturing the humans and Gods.
At a moment Lord Shiva’s wife Parvathi Devi finds a loophole in the boon given by Brahma and is granted powers by all the Gods to make her tough enough to fight with Mahisasura, on a lion as her vehicle. With all these tremendous powers, the Goddess took on the form of Chamundeshwari and stepped into a fight with Mahisasura. The battle between them lasted 10 days. At last, Mahisasura was defeated by Chamundeshwari on a hill which is known as Chamundi Hill now. That is the place where the Chamundeshwari Temple is situated now.
Chamundeshwari temple gained a lot of importance after the Maharajas of Mysore, the Wodeyars who came into power in 1399 AD. The repute for major involvements goes to three dynasties known as Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and Mysore rulers. At first, the Chamundeshwari temple was a small shrine that was built in the 12th century by the Hoysala rulers. Later, the Vijayanagara ruler built it with the towers and pillars in the 17th century. After that, a hop of 1000 steps was built in 1659 that leads up to the 3000-foot height of the Chamundi hill.
Architecture of Chamundeshwari Temple:
The Chamundeshwari temple is a perfect fusion of scenic surroundings, religious emotions, and architectural attractions. This temple was built in the Dravidian architectural style and it has a quadrangular structure. The temple contains an attractive seven-tier tower called ‘Gopuram’ which has seven golden Kalashas on the top of it and an impressive entrance called ‘Dwara’ which is silver plated and contains images of the Goddess in various forms and a small image of Lord Ganesh. This temple also contains Navaranga Hall, Anthrala Mantapa, Pakara, and a small tower at the top of the sanctum called ‘Vimana’.
Apart from these a striking statue of Mahisasura holding a cobra in one hand and a sword in another hand can also be seen in this temple. A giant statue of Nandi which is a vehicle of Lord Shiva, is 5 meters tall and 7.6 meters in length situated on the 800th step on the hill in the direction of the sanctum. This statue of Nandi has been engraved out of a single black granite rock. Apart from all these, the statue of Chamundeshwari stands within the sanctum sanctorum which is in a seated position with 8 arms is the main thing which enhances the whole temple with its aura of victory. With all these features Chamundeshwari temple fills the divine architecture which mesmerizes all the visitors.
Festivals of Chamundeshwari Temple:
Some important festivals likeAmmanavara Vardhanthi, Navaratri, and Chamundi Jayanthi, Ashada Shukravara are celebrated in the festival. The Dasara in Mysore is globally very famous and it is celebrated as Nandu Habba which is the festival of Karnataka.
Chamundeshwari Devi is decorated and ornamented in the Navadurga Rupa over nine days and On the seventh day of Navarathti offered to Kalarathri Devi, the goddess is ornamented with jewels offered by the Mysore Maharajas.
Ashada Shukravas signifies the Fridays of the Ashada month which is very important in the southern states and in this Ashada Month Chamunda Jayanthi is also celebrated in respect of the installation of Utsavar Murthy by the Mysore Maharaja.
Timings of Chamundeshwari Temple:
The timings of the Chamundeshwari temples are as follows:
The timing for the Darshana and Pooja is 7:30 A.M to 2:00 P.M, 3:30 P.M to 6:00 P.M, and 7:30 P.M to 9:00 P.M on every day.
The timing for Abhisheka is 6:00 A.M to 7:30 A.M and 6:00 P.M to 7:30 P.M. While on Fridays there is a change in the timings i.e., 5:00 A.M to 6:30 A.M.
The Chamundeshwari temple also provides free meals called Dasoha for the devotees every day from 12:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Best Time to Visit Chamundeshwari Temple:
Visitors will come to Chamundeshwari Temple throughout the year but the best months to visit Chamundeshwari Temple are September and October because during these months Mysore city is filled with pleasant and soothing weather and the main festivals of Mysore i.e., Dussehra and Diwali are also celebrated in these months. So most of the visitors are interested in the months to the Chamundeshwari temple.
A Note for Visitors of Chamundeshwari Temple:
The Chamundeshwari Temple is confirmed as a ‘No-Plastic Zone’. So visitors are requested not to bring plastic carry bags and any other plastic waste. Dumping of plastic materials and wastes is highly banned in the surrounding hilly area.
Other Places to Visit near Chamundeshwari Temple:
Chamundeshwari Tempe is enclosed with many attractive sites nearby. One can explore Mahabaladri, Narayana Swamy temples, and the statues of Nandi and Mahisasura. Apart from these Lalita Palace which belongs to the Mysore Royal family is another tourist spot near the temple. The Mysore Maharaja used to make a sort of stay in this palace whenever he visited the hills. The hilltop of Chamundi Hill will make you mesmerize that it offers an attractive birds-eye view of Mysore city and faraway places. Lalithadri Palace is also a beautiful spot to visit which was built during the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV.
How to Reach Chamundeshwari Temple:
By Air: The Mysore airport is located 10 kilometers south of the city which serves the Mysore. One can fly here by domestic flights and pick up a bus or taxi to the temple. The closest international airport is in Bengaluru which is 185 kilometres away.
By Rail: Mysore Junction Station functions in the Mysore city which connects the city to all the major cities of India. One can board a train from your city to Mysore and pick up a taxi or a bus to the temple which is far away at a distance of 13 kilometers from the Mysore train station.
By Road: Mysore is very well connected to the state and national highways to all the cities in Karnataka and far away. Bengaluru is far away 155 kilometres from Mysore. To provide comfort to the visitors KSRTC bus facilities are available every 20 minutes from the Mysore city bus stand to Chamundeshwari Temple.
Conclusion:
Chamundeshwari Temple stands as a witness to the inheritance of faith, culture, and heritage of Mysore. From its mythical room and architectural brilliance to its holy rituals and scenic vistas, the temple continues to charm the hearts and minds of visitors. As a sign of devotion and worship, it serves as a reminder of the great presence that emits the fabric of life, inspiring all the visitors to pursue soulful peace and divine blessings.
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