Welcome to the darshan of Shree Haasanaamba – the smiling Mother Goddess

[Guest guest]

|| Jai Sadguru Dutta ||

PREAMBLE

Hassan is a prominent district of the Karnataka State, India. This district

consists of the Western Ghats and hence falls in the “Malnad” category

[Kannada: male naadu à Malnad = the land of hills]. The city of Hassan is 185

km from Bangalore and the journey takes about 4 hours through National Highway

no. 4.

Shree Haasanaamba is the presiding deity of Hassan city. There is a temple

shrine with an ant-hill (snake mound) representing Hasanamba. The temple of

Hasanamba will be opened only once in a year for about a week, during the

Ashwayuja month (October). A big 'Jatra'( fair) will be held on this occasion.

This time, the temple will be open for darshan between 16 -27 October.

 

BACKGROUND

It is widely believed that once when the “saptha maathrkaa”s (7 mothers) namely:

braahmi, maahEshwari, kaumaari, vaiShNavi, vaaraahi, indraaNi and chaamundaa

were passing through this place (in the sky), they were fascinated by the

place’s beauty and sanctity and hence decided to stay here permanently.

vaiShNavi, kaumaari and maahEshwari started living in the ant – hill. vaaraahi,

indraaNi and chaamundaa occupied the 3 wells in the pond situated at the centre

of the city (now aptly called as “devigere”). Braahmi devi made “kenchammana

hosakote” (a village near Hassan city) her abode.

In the Puranas, Hassan is mentioned as “sinhaasanapuri”. After the devis settled

here, it came to be known as “Haasan” because, the devis live here “smilingly”

[sanskrth “hasan” – to smile] and protect people like Mothers.

It is said that Krishnappa Nayak, a local chieftain, got constructed the temple

during the 12th century. Nothing much is know prior to this date. When I

enquired with the chief priest, he showed me some old paraphernalia and copper

plates with inscriptions that contained a story as to how this place came to

light:

Devi’s wrath on Mallik kafur

According to the above mentioned documents, Mallik Kafur, who was on a war

campaign against the southern kingdoms, had stopped for rest along with his

huge army, in and around the place where the present temple stands. The place

was a thick forest then and the soldiers started preparing non-veg food by

setting up fire near the ant-hill in which the goddesses lived. Angered by the

littering of their place, the devis cursed the soldiers and one-by-one started

falling dead. A shaken Mallik Kafur called the local Braahman priests and

enquired the reason. They told him that it is devi’s wrath and nothing could be

done. Mallik Kafur pleaded innocence and begged for mercy with the Goddess. The

devi appeared in his dream and told him that she would forgive his men’s act if

he built a temple for her and made appropriate arrangement for her puja. Mallik

Kafur gave his word and hence his men were spared. He kept up his word by

constructing the temple with the help of the

locals. It is said that the devi herself ordered that the temple shall be opened

for darshan only once in a year, during the Ashwayuj month.

Devi’s miracles

Inside the temple, one can see a big ant-hill with 3 female faces clearly formed

over it. Still more interesting and awesome fact is that a big round “red

chandan” mass is formed in the foreheads of the 3 devis. On the day of closing

the temple, this mass is fully scraped and distributed among the devotees. When

the temple doors are opened the next year, this mass will be full formed just as

before.

Another interesting fact is that the “nandaa deepam” [lamp lighted with

clarified butter] keeps burning all along the year, even when the temple doors

are closed. Still more interesting fact is that the “anna naivedya” [coocked

rice offering] that is kept in front of the devi while closing the temple

remains hot and fresh when the temple doors are opened up the next year. Only a

few privileged like the temple authorities, the District Comissioner and the

first few devotees can witness this on the first day, when the temple doors are

opened.

The Mother Goddesses are very popular in this region and people adore them with

love and devotion. Thousands have got fulfilled their wishes due to their

devotion to the Mothers. Incidents of men getting punished by the Mothers for

their misconduct are also plenty.

yaa dEvee sarva bhoothEshu maathr roopENa sansThithaa |

namasthasyeai namasthasyeai namasthasyeai namO namah ||

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