April 22, 2023
Mysore in Karnataka. Thirteen kilometers away from the city is Chamundi Hill. On the top of that hill is the temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari. This temple is a well-known holy place not only in South India, but also in the whole of India, among the strong devotees of the whole world. Because, this Peeth is one of the 15 Satipeeths. Devotees believe that Goddess Sati's hair fell on this pithsthan in Puranika when Lord Vishnu saw it and it turned into rock after falling on the ground.
Originally there was a small paddy field under this satipeeth tree. Thanti came into the limelight about 900 or 1000 years ago. The hill named after Devi was then named after Lord Shiva. This hill was then called as 'Mahabaldri'. Devotees believed that Mahadev himself always resides on this hill. During the period of the famous Ganga-Kings of South India more than a thousand years ago, the beautiful and incredibly beautiful temple of 'Mahableswara' Mahadev was built here. This is the oldest temple on this hill. When the Haisala dynasty of Mysore established its power in the twelfth century AD, the divine climate of the hills changed somewhat. They were not strictly Shaivites like the earlier dynasties, their devotion to the Goddess Shakti was greater. Therefore, during their reign, the greatness of Thanbasini Devi of the hills was spread widely. By their hands, the construction of the beautiful temple began on the ancient site of the goddess. The idol of the goddess was established. The previous name of the hill has also changed. The 'Mahabaldri' hill was named 'Chamundi Hill' after the goddess. Not only that, it was during this dynasty that the goddess gradually became the exclusive Kuldevi of the royal family of Mysore, becoming the Aradhya Devi of the entire kingdom. However, not only Haishala, but many kings and dynasties throughout history have contributed to the establishment of the goddess and the construction of the Devi tirtha on the hill.
From the name of the goddess, it can be understood that this goddess is actually Durga Durga. Common people addressed her as 'Nada Devi' in the local language, but the kings of Mysore used to address her as 'Maa Chamundi'. Sometimes, however, he also addressed as "Mahishasuramardini". Because, this goddess established peace in the world by slaying the very tyrannical deva-human-hating demons like Chanda, Munda, Mahishasura, and saved her children from misery. The popular legend attached to the Peethasthan also recalls this aspect of the goddess. According to the legend, it was on this hill that Goddess Mahishasura was killed in mythology. The memory of the slaughter was later embodied by erecting a large statue of Mahishasura near the temple of the goddess. The face of Mahishasura in the statue is not so horrified, it is as if his monster-being has died not by the grace of the goddess. So here he stands ready to welcome the devotees of the goddess with a snake in one hand and a sword in the other, ready to act as the protector of the goddess.
In 'Skanda Purana' there is a mention of a holy shrine called 'Trimutakshetra'; The shrine is surrounded by eight hills. This sacred place is said to be the abode of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Here we are talking about one of the eight hills, 'Chamunda Hill'. The natural beauty of this hill is very beautiful since ancient times. The temple of the goddess is still surrounded by forest. There are many beautiful ancient trees in that forest. Thousands of unknown species of birds live there. How many non-violent wild animals live. The mountain slope has a beautiful form, even looking down from the mountain slope, one can witness the wonderful scenery. Seen from here, the entire city of Mysore under the hills looks like a beautiful picture mounted on an easel.
The temple of the goddess is situated at a height of three thousand four hundred and eighty nine feet above the sea level. The temple of Tai Devi can be seen from far away while coming to the temple from Mysore city. Earlier, one had to cross more than a thousand steps from the foot of the hill to reach the temple of the goddess, but now the paved road reaches the temple. While climbing the hill, a large stone-cut Nandi idol is seen midway. It is the largest and tallest Nandi idol in the entire country. The statue is fifteen-sixteen feet high, twenty-five feet wide. Beautiful craftsmanship of Kanthimaala-bells on the neck-back. The extraordinary artistry of the Dravidian sculptors of that time in the construction of the entire statue is worth seeing. The statue is made of white stone. But devotees regularly offer oil to Nandi as per the tradition over the years, the idol appears blackened due to the effect of the long dedicated oil. There is also a small Shiva temple near Nandi.
As mentioned earlier, the construction of the Devi temple was suggested in the twelfth century during the Haishala dynasty. Temple construction progressed a bit further during the reign of the Vijayanagara kings in the seventeenth century. A thousand steps leading to the temple were built. After six hundred years of history, Krishnaraja Adeyar III, king of the Adeyar dynasty of Mysore, rebuilt the temple, which was worn out by time. It was he who built the largest 'gopuram' i.e. entrance-portal of the seven-storied temple in 1827 AD. He built a lion-shaped chariot for the goddess. Even now the goddess rides in that chariot during special festivals and processions of the goddess.
The temple area is quadrangular. Surrounded by high walls like a fort. All are built in the Dravidian style of architecture. Navarangagriha, antaral mandapam can be reached from the gopuram of the temple. The main entrance to the temple is the gopuram. It is a wonderful sculpture. It has Jharjati decorations as well as various accessories of mythological stories. Each floor of the seven floors is surrounded by a deity
0 comments:
Post a Comment