chamundeswari devi

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Standing as the crown jewel of Mysore, Chamundi Hills is

the abode of all powerful Goddess, Chamundi or Chamundeswari. A

motorable road, besides a flight of 1,000 steps, take the

visitors to its top, where stands the beautiful tall Gopuram of the

temple, one of the best examples of the Dravidian school of

architecture. The hill rises to a height of 3,489 feet. Half-way

to it, near the steps and the road, there is a beautiful 16-foot

monolith statue of Nandi, carved in granite, black because of

regular anointing with oil and other sacred waters. The

beautiful carved statue was a gift by the Maharaja, Dodda

Devaraja Wodeyar, in 1659. Nearby the Chamundi Temple is the

Lalithadri Palace, used by the former Mysore Maharajas, whenever

they visited the Hills, for worshipping the Goddess, their home

deity, in the temple. By the side of the famous Chamundi Temple,

there is another temple, the temple of Mahabaleswara. In fact,

Mahabaleswara, Ishwara in the form of Linga, is the oldest

temple on the hill. The hill was earlier called Mahabaladri,

after Mahabaleswara. This temple was a gift by the Vijayanagar King

Vishnuvardhana in 1128 A.D. As one approaches the road towards

the temple, there is a huge statue of monster Mahishasura. There

is a small township on the hill. State Government buses (KSRTC)

ply regularly to the temple from Mysore City.

 

 

RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE

 

Chamundeswari, popular as Chamundi for Mysoreans, is intimately

associated with the people of this beautiful city since ages. A form

of Kali, Chamundeswari is also the home deity of the Mysore rulers.

They have venerated her with great devotion since the beginning of

their dynasty in 14th century. Chamundeswari is seated on a lion and

with a tridon in her right hand she is piercing the body of monster

Mahishasura, the buffalo- headed demon, who was causing hardship to

the people in the area of Mysore long long ago, say the Puranas, or

holy works. Its head severed by the Goddess with a sword, the

buffalo is lying near the demon's body. Unable to bear his torture,

all Gods together prayed to Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Shiva,

to destroy the powerful demon. They offered her all their powers and

weapons. Taking birth as Chamundeswari, Parvathi killed the demon,

with the mighty powers of all Gods in her. The heroic deeds of Devi

is explained in 'Devi Bhagvatha', a sacred work. According to Hindu

tradition, the feminine form is the most powerful. She is 'Shakti'.

She is mother supreme and primordial force. She is held in high

esteem than all other Gods, including her own husband Shiva. All

her admirers worship her with great devotion and in a pious manner.

There are several works praising the Goddess. These are read or

recited on auspicious occasions. The Goddess bestows happiness and

peace on all those who worship her with ardent devotion. She will

guide them to attain the supreme state of consciousness. Hundreds

of devotees from all over India and abroad visit the Chamundi

Temple and worship her, particularly on the sacred Tuesdays and

Fridays, and seek her divine blessings

YOURS YOGICALLY,

Dattu