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Sri Chamundeshwari Temple – Mysuru

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills of Mysuru is among very old and ancient temples of Karnataka.

Chamundi hills, one of the popular iconic tourist and spiritual centers of Karnataka, is home to Sri Chamundeshwari Devi, another incarnation of goddess Durga and there is a temple dedicated to the goddess. Located at about 23 km from Mysuru city, Sri Chamundeshwari temple is the family deity (Kuladevathe) of Mysore Wodeyars’ dynasty. During the Navaratri festivities in the Ashwayuja masa, lakhs of people visit the temple every day.  With many visitors and devotees visiting every day, one can expect to have the darshan of the goddess in an hour or two.

History of Chamundeshwari Temple

According to mythology and history, Mysuru was originally known as Mahishapura. A demon king called Mahisha was ruling this region. As per ‘Durga Saptashati’, Mahishasura had secured special boons from Lord Brahma and indulged in troubling and tormenting the people, gods and goddesses. To put an end to his troubles, Parvathi manifested herself as Sri Chamundeshwari and killed Mahishasura on the Kalaratri day, which is now known as Durgashtami. This event of Mahishasura’s death is celebrated every year during Navarathri.  Sri Chamundeshwari is also the family deity of the Mysore Wodeyar dynasty and during the world famous Navarathri or Dusshera celebrations, the idol of Sri Chamundeshwari is carried on the golden howdah on a well decorated elephants (Jamboo Savari) around the city.

The Kingdom of Mysore, which was a part of the grand Vijayanagar Empire, was founded around the late 14^th century AD.  Mysore has been mostly ruled by the Wodeyar family since the 17^th Century.  Mysuru as it is known today has always been one of the important arts and cultural centers of India. Mysuru is also known as the city of palaces and offers tourists a whole range of tourist attractions in the city.

Chamundeshwari temple was a small shrine, where they offered animal sacrifices. In the mid 17^th Century, when Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar was the ruler of Mysore, the foundations for the expansion of the temple was laid.  He also built the 1000 stone steps to ascend the hill, undertook the sculpture of the monolithic Nandi Statue, which at over 16 feet in height and over 25 feet in length still stands as one of the largest Nandi statue in India.  It was during Krishnaraja Wodeyar IIIs rule that the massive gopuram, the entrance to the temple was built.  The Chamundeshwari temple is revered as one among the eighteen shakti peetas in India.  The temple is administered by Muzrai Department of Government of Karnataka.

Chamundi Hills Temple Timings

It is open for visitors from morning 7:30AM till 2:00PM and again from 3:30PM till 9:00PM.   Apart from Dharmadarshana, entry for Nityadarshana is allowed against a prescribed fee here. Ladu prasadam is given to devotees as the blessings of the goddess.

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Celebrations

The major festivals celebrated at Sri Chamundeshwari temple are the Navaratri during Dusshera, the Aashada Shukrava (Friday) and the Sri Chamundeshwari Vardanthi also known as Ammanavara Vardhanthi (or birthday) during which the golden idol of the goddess (Utsava Moorthy) is taken on a procession in a golden palanquin. On Ashtami, Navami and Chaturdashi days of Chandramana Ashwayuja month in Sharadrutu, Sri Chandi Homa is performed in the temple. Durgashtami is celebrated as Kalaratri or dark night.

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Seva booking:

Pureprayer has officially partnered with Government of Karnataka, The Hindu Religious Endowment Department (Muzrai) and have developed a mobile app and web portal to provide information on all Muzrai temples and have also enabled a select set of sevas or puja offerings that one can book online through Pureprayer App or Website.  Devotees are advised to book in advance if they plan to visit the temple in-person.  Devotees can also book these sevas online or offer donations to the temples even if they do not plan to visit.  All seva or puja remittances go directly to the temples account and a online seva/puja receipt is generated.  The information on the booking is conveyed to the temple authorities, and the puja Sankalpa will be done in the name of the devotee.  For more detailed sevas or pujas, the devotees can also visit the Muzrai department website.

Sri Chamundeshwari Devi – Popular Sevas:

• Nitya Kumkumarchane –  Nama Kumkumarchane is performed to Goddess Chamundeshwari chanting Sahasranama
• Devara Hundi Kanike – If you just want to offer donations to the temple
• Sri Chandi Homa is performed in the temple on Ashtami, Navami and Chaturdashi days of Chandramana Ashwayuja month in Sharadrutu,

Best Time to Visit Chamundi Hills & Chamundeshwari Temple

The weather in and around Chamundi Hills, Mysore is good throughout the year, but the most pleasant time to visit the temple is between September and November, as the weather is much cooler and there are a lot of festivities around this time.   On all Fridays, the temple will be open till 9 p.m. while on other days there will be an interval in the afternoon.

One can witness the world famous Jamboo Savari during the Dusshera in Navarathri, when Sri Chamundeshwari Devi idol is taken on a grand procession on decorated elephants around the city of Mysore.

How to Reach Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills

The city of Mysuru is about 150 kms from Bangalore connected by roads, train and also a small airport.  Chamundi hills and Sri Chamundeshwari temple is at a distance of 13 kilometers from Mysuru and is about 30 minutes drive from the city.

Attractions Near Chamundeshwari Temple

With the historic city of Mysore being the closest city to Chamundeshwari temple, there is no shortage of places to visit for tourists.

Lord Mahabaleshwara Temple – In the Chamundi Hills, there is another popular temple dedicated to Lord Mahabaleshwara, which is said to have been built much before the period of Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala dynasty. There is an inscription here mentioning the fact that Hoysala Vishnuvrdhana had given a Datti to this temple in 1128 A.D. The thousand steps for climbing the Chamunid hills was built in 1659 A.D. during the regime of Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar.
Mysore Palace – Mysore is known as the palace city with many palaces and the Amba Vilas Palace is the most famous of them all.  During the Navarathri Dusshera festival, the palace is lit up in a million lights and is a spectacle to behold.

Somnathpura Temple – The tiny village of Somnath on the banks of river Kavery is about 38 Kilometers from Chamundi Hills and is famed for the marvellous Prasanna Chennakeshava Swamy Temple. Somanathpura Temple is a world UNESCO heritage site and the Hoysala dynasty architecture is in full display in this temple.

Srikanteshwara Temple, Nanjangud – Sri Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud, about 28 kilometers from Chamundeshwari Temple, known as Dakshina Kashi, lies on the banks of River Kapila.  A dip in the holy Kapila is believed to be equal or more meritorious as a dip in the holy Ganga.

Brindavan Gardens – A visit to Chamundi Hills or Mysore is never complete without a visit to the famous Brindavan Gardens.  It’s just an hours drive (or 30 kilometers) from Chamundi hills.  Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Diwan of Mysore to King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, conceptualized Brindavan Gardens on the lines of Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir.  With is eye catching flowerbeds, fountains and terraces, it is best visited in the evening times.

Sri Ranganatha Temple, Srirangapatna – Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangapatna is an ancient temple at distance of 20Kms from Mysuru. The Main deity Lord Sri Ranganathaswamy is a huge idol depicted in a sleeping position on coiled, seven-hooded Adishesha and attended by Ranganayaki and Kaveri near his lotus-feet. The history of the temple is believed to be more than 11 centuries. This temple is more popularly called Adiranga kshetra among the Tri-Ranga kshetras.

ಮೈಸೂರು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿಬೆಟ್ಟವು ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸುಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಯಾತ್ರಾ ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರವಾಸೀ ತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಾಗಿದ್ದು ಜಗನ್ಮಾತೆ ಪಾರ್ವತೀದೇವಿಯ ಅವತಾರ ಸ್ವರೂಪಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಚಾಮುಂಡಾಂಬೆಯ ಸನ್ನಿಧಾನವಿರುವ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಸ್ಥಳವಾಗಿದೆ. ಶ್ರೀ ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿ ದೇವಾಲಯವಿರುವ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿ ಬೆಟ್ಟವು ಮೈಸೂರು ನಗರದಿಂದ ಸುಮಾರು 23 ಕಿ.ಮೀ. ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ವರ್ಷಂಪ್ರತಿ ಅಶ್ವಯುಜ ಮಾಸ ಶುಕ್ಲ ಪ್ರತಿಪದೆಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ನವರಾತ್ರಿ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪೂಜೆ-ಹೋಮಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಲಾಗುವುದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಜನರು ಚಾಮುಂಡಿಬೆಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಸಂದರ್ಶಿಸಲು ಆಗಮಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಚಾಂದ್ರಮಾನ ಶರದೃತು ಅಶ್ವಯುಜ ಶುಕ್ಲ ಅಷ್ಟಮಿ, ನವಮಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಚತುರ್ದಶಿ ದಿನಗಳಂದು ಶ್ರೀ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿ ದೇವಾಲಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾತಃಕಾಲ ಆರು ಗಂಟೆಗೇ ತೆರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಚಂಡಿಹೋಮವನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಶ್ರೀ ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿಯು ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಸರ ಕುಲದೇವತೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರದಂದು ದಿನಪೂರ್ತಿ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಕಾಶವಿದ್ದು, ಉಳಿದ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಬಿಡುವಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಷ್ಟಮಿ, ನವಮಿ, ಚತುರ್ದಶಿಗಳಂದು ಚಂಡಿಕಾ ಹೋಮ ಜರಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನವರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ದಿನ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪೂಜೆಗಳು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಮಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾಳರಾತ್ರಿಯೆಂದು ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಆಚರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಧರ್ಮದರ್ಶನವಲ್ಲದೆ ಶುಲ್ಕಸಹಿತ ನೇರ ಪ್ರವೇಶದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಿದೆ. ಲಾಡುವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಸಾದವಾಗಿ ನೀಡುವುದು ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ವಿಶೇಷ.

ಹಿಂದೆ ಮೈಸೂರು ಮಹಿಷಪುರವೆಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪುಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತೆಂದು ದುರ್ಗಾಸಪ್ತಶತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖವಿದೆ. ಕಾಲಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಈ ನಗರವು ಮೈಸೂರೆಂಬ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಿತು. ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನಿಂದ ವರ ಪಡೆದು ಮೆರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರನನ್ನು ಕಾಳರಾತ್ರಿಯಂದು ಸಂಹರಿಸಿದ ನಂತರ ದೇವಿಯು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದಳು ಎಂದು ಪುರಾಣಗಳು ಹೇಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಹಾಬಲೇಶ್ವರ ದೇಗುಲವು ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ದೊರೆ ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನನ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಪ್ರಾಚೀನವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಕ್ರಿ.ಶ. 1128ರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ದತ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದನೆಂದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರೆತಿರುವ ಶಾಸನವೊಂದರಿಂದ ತಿಳಿದುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ದೊಡ್ಡ ದೇವರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರರ (ಕ್ರಿ.ಶ. 1659) ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾವಿರ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲುಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಈಗಲೂ ಭಕ್ತರು ತಮ್ಮ ಅಭೀಷ್ಟಗಳ ನಿವೇದನೆಗಾಗಿ ಸಾವಿರ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು ಹತ್ತಿ ಬರುವ ಹರಕೆಯನ್ನು ತೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಭಕ್ತರು ಸರದಿ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು ಹೂವು, ಹಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದೇಗುಲದ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಾಯಣಸ್ವಾಮಿ ದೇಗುಲವಿದೆ. ಮಹಾಬಲೇಶ್ವರ ದೇಗುಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾದೇವನನ್ನು ಶಿವಲಿಂಗದಾಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಟಾಪಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರನ ಬೃಹತ್ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಹೆಗ್ಗುರುತಾಗಿದೆ. ದೊಡ್ಡ ದೇವರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರ್ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾದ ನಂದಿ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ವಿಶೇಷ ಆಕರ್ಷಣೆಯಾಗಿದೆ ಈ ವಿಗ್ರಹವು 25 ಅಡಿ ಉದ್ದ ಹಾಗು 16 ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಈ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನವು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮುಜರಾಯಿ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಆಡಳಿತಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ.