Friday, 20th April’07. Day was going on it’s own pace. It was almost day end and I was working on my system and I realized an alert of new mail arrival on my computer screen. As I opened the mail I found it was a weekend mail wishing all a nice weak end from Subbu. It was a kind of funky mail showing everybody in rush for home. An idea to enjoy weekend suddenly stroked in to my mind after seeing this mail and I replied that mail to all asking for their plans for the weekend. I don’t know I did some mistake or people we not at all enthusiastic about the weekend as response to the mail was nil, except Ashok bhai’s mail saying he is ready for outing. No doubt it was more than enough for people like us to make a plan to hang out. A conf chat got start after this mail among Ashok bhai, me and Abhi, that turned to a conf call later on and ended up with our plan for the approaching weekend. We had a plan to visit one of the famous temples of Mysore, ‘The Chamundi Devi Temple” and “Nanjangud Temple”.
Next day according to our plan we met at the Petrol Pump near Panchvati circle. Arun was with me and Abhi was waiting for us there. Ashok bhai reached there just after our arrival. So, we all started around 7:10 AM for our first destination Chamundi Temple. This temple is more than 2000 yrs old. Chamundi Hill overlooks Mysore and is a popular tourist and pilgrimage centre, which is topped by the huge Chamundi temple. The stairway is guarded by the famous 5m high Nandi (Siva's bull) carved out of solid rock. This Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari or Durga. Chamundeswari is the fierce form of Shakti who vanquished the demon Mahishasura. Apart from this the view of the city from the top is really amazing and we can see entire city from the top of the hill.
One unknown fact about this temple is : Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar, who ruled from 1659 to 1673, is said to have built the steps in 1583 for the convenience of pilgrims. He is also attributed to have constructed 63 houses at the foot of the hills and called it Devarajapura and donated it to Brahmins taking care of the temples. Besides using the steps, the Maharajas also rode on horseback to the temple. However, there was a separate flight of equestrian steps for the purpose. Very few know about the equestrian pathway today. The road was built in 1916 .From there we went to visit Nandi Bull, I have already described about it with temple. After spending some time there we left for Nanjangud about 9:15 AM. It was about 25 Km from there. It is on the Ooty road from Mysore.
Nanjangud, a holy place, described as Garalapuri, is famous because of the huge Nanjundeswara or Srikanteswara temple. It is believed that sage Gauthama stayed here for some times and installed a Linga, the idol form of Shiva. Nanjangud is also known as 'Dakshina Kashi' or Varanasi of the South.
The notable temple and place of pilgrimage at Nanjangud is the Nanjundeswara temple, one of the huge temples of Karnataka. It has grown in the course of 1,000 years, beginning from the Ganga times till the 19th century. The spacious temple has minor shrines of Narayana with consorts, Chandikeswara, Parvathi, Natya Ganapathi and others. There are many cells with Lingas enshrined in them. There are 122 images in the vast prakara or enclosure. There is a vast pillared mantapa inside. The temple has many bronzes Uthsava (procession) idols and a good number of vahanas (carriages) used on different festivals.
A major event in the pilgrim town is the Rathotsava or the car festival of Nanjundeswara. Besides the 'big Jathra' (big car festival), a 'Chikka Jathra' (small car festival) is also organized every year during two auspicious days. Hundreds of pilgrims are attracted for the two Jathras (festivals). Besides cultural programmers and illumination of the temple, a colorful floating festival (The ppotsava) is also conducted during the celebrations.
A major event in the pilgrim town is the Rathotsava or the car festival of Nanjundeswara. Besides the 'big Jathra' (big car festival), a 'chikka Jathra' (small car festival) is also organized every year during two auspicious days. Hundreds of pilgrims are attracted for the two Jathras (festivals). Besides cultural programmers and illumination of the temple, a colorful floating festival (The ppotsava) is also conducted during the celebrations.
Another important centre in Nanjangud is the Raghavendra Math, situated on the road to the right of the Nanjundeswara temple. It was founded by the close of 15th century and great gurus or heads like Sudheendra Thirtha and RaghavendraThirtha headed this institution. It has a fine collection of Sanskrit manuscripts and copper plates.One strange thing that I noticed in that temple was that it was having a number of statues but maximum of them were in a group of three. Second impressing or strange thing was number of Shiv Lings. I never saw that much number of Shiv Lings before. Really it was amazing visitng there.Finally about 11:15 AM we left the temple and had out breakfast there. Food was good there in the restaurant. After food we started back for home and we reached home at 1 PM. Abhi went with Ashok Bhai to his home and me and Arun came back to our home. Really it was a fun to be there. We enjoyed the trip. I wish we will get lots of such small and good trips.
Note: Details are from the following sites:
Next day according to our plan we met at the Petrol Pump near Panchvati circle. Arun was with me and Abhi was waiting for us there. Ashok bhai reached there just after our arrival. So, we all started around 7:10 AM for our first destination Chamundi Temple. This temple is more than 2000 yrs old. Chamundi Hill overlooks Mysore and is a popular tourist and pilgrimage centre, which is topped by the huge Chamundi temple. The stairway is guarded by the famous 5m high Nandi (Siva's bull) carved out of solid rock. This Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari or Durga. Chamundeswari is the fierce form of Shakti who vanquished the demon Mahishasura. Apart from this the view of the city from the top is really amazing and we can see entire city from the top of the hill.
One unknown fact about this temple is : Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar, who ruled from 1659 to 1673, is said to have built the steps in 1583 for the convenience of pilgrims. He is also attributed to have constructed 63 houses at the foot of the hills and called it Devarajapura and donated it to Brahmins taking care of the temples. Besides using the steps, the Maharajas also rode on horseback to the temple. However, there was a separate flight of equestrian steps for the purpose. Very few know about the equestrian pathway today. The road was built in 1916 .From there we went to visit Nandi Bull, I have already described about it with temple. After spending some time there we left for Nanjangud about 9:15 AM. It was about 25 Km from there. It is on the Ooty road from Mysore.
Nanjangud, a holy place, described as Garalapuri, is famous because of the huge Nanjundeswara or Srikanteswara temple. It is believed that sage Gauthama stayed here for some times and installed a Linga, the idol form of Shiva. Nanjangud is also known as 'Dakshina Kashi' or Varanasi of the South.
The notable temple and place of pilgrimage at Nanjangud is the Nanjundeswara temple, one of the huge temples of Karnataka. It has grown in the course of 1,000 years, beginning from the Ganga times till the 19th century. The spacious temple has minor shrines of Narayana with consorts, Chandikeswara, Parvathi, Natya Ganapathi and others. There are many cells with Lingas enshrined in them. There are 122 images in the vast prakara or enclosure. There is a vast pillared mantapa inside. The temple has many bronzes Uthsava (procession) idols and a good number of vahanas (carriages) used on different festivals.
A major event in the pilgrim town is the Rathotsava or the car festival of Nanjundeswara. Besides the 'big Jathra' (big car festival), a 'Chikka Jathra' (small car festival) is also organized every year during two auspicious days. Hundreds of pilgrims are attracted for the two Jathras (festivals). Besides cultural programmers and illumination of the temple, a colorful floating festival (The ppotsava) is also conducted during the celebrations.
A major event in the pilgrim town is the Rathotsava or the car festival of Nanjundeswara. Besides the 'big Jathra' (big car festival), a 'chikka Jathra' (small car festival) is also organized every year during two auspicious days. Hundreds of pilgrims are attracted for the two Jathras (festivals). Besides cultural programmers and illumination of the temple, a colorful floating festival (The ppotsava) is also conducted during the celebrations.
Another important centre in Nanjangud is the Raghavendra Math, situated on the road to the right of the Nanjundeswara temple. It was founded by the close of 15th century and great gurus or heads like Sudheendra Thirtha and RaghavendraThirtha headed this institution. It has a fine collection of Sanskrit manuscripts and copper plates.One strange thing that I noticed in that temple was that it was having a number of statues but maximum of them were in a group of three. Second impressing or strange thing was number of Shiv Lings. I never saw that much number of Shiv Lings before. Really it was amazing visitng there.Finally about 11:15 AM we left the temple and had out breakfast there. Food was good there in the restaurant. After food we started back for home and we reached home at 1 PM. Abhi went with Ashok Bhai to his home and me and Arun came back to our home. Really it was a fun to be there. We enjoyed the trip. I wish we will get lots of such small and good trips.
Note: Details are from the following sites:
1 comment:
Arun said...
Have only one word to say "Excellent".
April 24, 2007 10:55 PM
Ramu said...
Very very informative, will be very useful for the people intersted in the travel and life .... i like it for hidden information ......
April 24, 2007 11:11 PM
Chetan said...
The narration is very good barring a repeatition of a paragrah. It is a good informative blog about Chamundi Hills and Nanjangud which can inspire others to visit them.
April 25, 2007 12:31 AM
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