Chamundeshwari is called by the people of Karnataka as Nada Devi (ನಾಡ ದೇವಿ), which means state Goddess. It is situated at the elevation of around 3300 ft from the mean sea level.
It is believed that Goddess
Durga slayed the demon king
Mahishasura on the top of this hill which was ruled by him. The place was later known as Mahishooru (Place of Mahisha). The British changed it to Mysore and later Kannadized into Mysuru.
The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a
Shakti Peetha and one among the 18 Shakti Peethas. It is known as Krouncha Pitha as the region was known in Puranic times as Krouncha Puri.
It is said that the hair of
Sati fell here.[2]
Description
The original shrine is thought to have been built in the 12th century by the Rulers of the
Hoysala Dynasty while its tower was probably built by the Rulers of the
Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century. In 1659, a staircase of one thousand steps was built leading up to the 3000-foot summit of the hill.[3]
At the temple are several images of
Nandi (the bull mount of
Shiva). There is a huge
granite Nandi on the 700th step on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short distance away. Believed to be sculpted in the 2nd century CE, this Nandi is over 15 feet high and 24 feet long with exquisite bells around its neck.[citation needed]
Lakshmi Narayana Swami Temple
At night
Entrance gopura of the Chamundeswhari Temple
An 1872 image of the temple's granite sculpture of
Nandi bull.
The temple is famous for the celebrations of festivals like Ashada Shukravara (ಆಶಾಡಾ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ), Navaratri and Ammanavara Vardhanthi (ಅಮ್ಮನವರ ವರ್ಧಂತಿ). In the month of
Ashadha, Fridays are considered particularly auspicious. Lakhs of devotees throng the temple during this occasion. Another festival celebrated during this month is Chamundi Jayanti. This day is celebrated on the anniversary of the consecration of the
Utsava Moorti of the goddess by the Maharaja of Mysore. On this occasion, the goddess's idol is taken around the temple in a golden palanquin.[citation needed]
The most important festival that is celebrated here is
Navaratri.
Mysuru Dasara is celebrated as the state festival of Karnataka, called Nada habba (ನಾಡಾ ಹಬ್ಬಾ) in Kannada. During Navaratri, the idol is decorated in 9 different ways to depict the nine different aspects of the goddess known as
Navadurgas. On the 7th day of Navaratri that is dedicated to the goddess
Kalaratri, valuable jewels donated by Maharajas are brought from the District Treasury of Mysuru and are given to the temple to decorate the idol.[4]
Another temple is situated at the foothill which is in Utthanahalli called as
Jwalamalini Sri
Tripura Sundari Temple. This goddess is considered the sister of Chamundeshwari who helped her at the battlefield to slay the demon
Raktabīja.[5]