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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