Chamundi
Temple:
The Chamundi Temple on the Chamundi hills is the most famous of the
temples in Mysore, as Goddess Chamundi is the presiding deity of Mysore.
The Chamundi Temple was a small shrine of Kali and has grown into a
big temple over the last few centuries owing to the importance given
and expansions made by the Mysore Maharajas. In old times, human and
animal sacrifices were common at this temple, but were stopped during
the 18th century.
The
temple is a fine quadrangular structure. The Gopura or tower at the
entrance is a beautiful structure in Dravidian style with a small figure
of Ganesha on the doorway. The silver-plated doorway has the images
of the Goddess in different forms. As one enters through the tower's
main gate, on the right side is a small figure of Ganesha, the remover
of all obstacles. After climbing a few steps, there is the temple flagstaff,
the footprints of the Goddess and a small figure of Nandi, facing the
sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum is the stone image of the
Goddess, decorated every day according to religious traditions and worshipped
by a number of priests. The Mysore rulers have made several valuable
gifts to their family deity. In the cell in front of the sanctum sanctorum,
there is a beautiful 6 feet statue of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. He is
standing with folded hands in his religious dress, with his three wives,
their names engraved on the pedestals. Krishnaraja Wodeyar repaired
this shrine in 1827 and built the huge tower on it. He also presented
it with a huge wooden chariot, Simha Vahana, used now also during the
car festival or Rathotsava. Atop the sanctum sanctorum is a small tower
and is called Vimana, which can be seen from outside, from behind the
temple. During the 10 days of Dasara festival, special worship are conducted
in the temple premises, besides holding chanting of Vedas and music
performances. After the Dasara celebrations, on the auspicious Ashwayuja
Pournime, a Rathotsava (car festival) takes place during the Jathra
atop the hill, followed by the Theppotsava (floating festival) in the
night. Both the celebrations attract big crowds.
Mahabaleswara Temple:
This oldest temple atop the Chamundi Hills was of greater significance
than the Chamundi Temple. It lost its prominence as the Mysore Maharajas
gave more importance to Goddess Chamundeswari. In fact, the hill was
known as Mahabaladri or Mahabala Thirtha, after the God Mahabaleswara,
in earlier days. The name Chamundi Hills is only of a recent origin.
This temple, standing to the south of the Chamundeswari Temple, attracting
only a small number of devotees, was endowed by the famous Hoysala King,
Vishnuvardhana in 1123 A.D. But, records of the Ganga period, whose
kings ruled from 4th to 10th century with Talakad in Mysore district
as capital for some time, have been found here to show that the Mahabaleswara
Temple existed during their period also. The oldest record so far discovered
on the hill goes back to 950 A.D. Probably, the Hoysalas expanded the
temple by adding the Ardha Mantapa and Nava Ranga, which have lathe-turned
pillars, like in Hoysala temples. Inside the temple are beautiful images
of Sapta Matrikas, Nataraja, Parvathi and Bhairava, all of Hoysala workmanship.
The image of Vishnu is of Ganga times. In the niches behind are seen
the images of Dakshina Murthy and Mahishamardhini, the latter in Ganga
style. In the hall, on the back corridor, there are a few images like
Indra and Bhikshatana Shiva, indicating Chola workmanship. The Brahma
image is of the Ganga times. The front Mantapa was built during the
17th century.
