Chamundeshwari Temple

Legend

Tradition holds that the buffalo demon Mahishasura ruled this hill, and that Durga as Chamundi slew him on its summit. The land became Mahishooru, the place of Mahisha, and in time Mysuru. The goddess is also remembered as the slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda, from whom her name comes. The hill is counted as a Shakta pitha, the Krouncha Pitha, where the hair of Sati is believed to have fallen. The Skanda Purana speaks of a sacred Trimuta Kshetra of eight hills; this hill was once called Mahabaladri after the Mahabaleshwara Shiva temple, the oldest shrine on it.

Why this temple matters

Chamundeshwari is the Nada Devi, the state goddess of Karnataka, and has been the tutelary deity of the Wodeyar kings since 1399. The original shrine is attributed to the Hoysalas in the 12th century; the temple was renovated under Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1827. In 1659 Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar built the stairway of about a thousand steps to the summit, and in 1664 installed the monolithic Nandi, 4.9 metres tall and 7.6 metres long, at the 700th step. The hill rises to about 3,489 feet above sea level, 13 km from the palace city.

What devotees pray for here

Festivals

• Mysuru Dasara, Navaratri (September–October): the Nada Habba; the goddess is decorated as the nine Navadurgas, royal jewels are brought from the treasury on the seventh day, and on Vijayadashami her idol rides the 750-kg golden howdah in the Jamboo Savari
• Ashada Shukravara (July–August): the Fridays of Ashadha, when lakhs of devotees climb the hill
• Chamundi Jayanti and Ammanavara Vardhanthi (Ashadha, July–August): anniversary of the consecration of the utsava murti, carried round the temple in a golden palanquin
• Rathotsava (Ashwayuja Poornima, October): the chariot festival, followed by Teppotsava, the float festival
• Vasantotsava (Chaitra, March–April): the spring festival

Poojas & rituals

• Abhisheka at 6 to 7:30 AM and 6 to 7:30 PM, and 5 to 6:30 AM on Fridays, bookable with prasadam
• Chandika Homa, bookable online through the temple authority
• Saree draping seva for the goddess, booked a month in advance
• Sankalpa seva with special darshan, abhisheka and prasada in the devotee's name
• Dasoha: sponsoring the free meal served to devotees daily
• Climbing the 1,000-plus steps past the Nandi as a vow, and laddu prasadam beside the temple

How to reach

The temple is about 13 km from Mysuru city on top of Chamundi Hill. KSRTC buses leave the Mysuru city bus stand every 20 to 30 minutes, and there are motorable roads from the Mysuru side and the Nanjangud side, plus the stone stairway of about a thousand steps. Mysuru is reached by rail and road from Bengaluru.

Timings

Darshan and poojas from 7:30 AM to 2 PM, 3:30 to 6 PM and 7:30 to 9 PM. Abhisheka is at 6 to 7:30 AM and 6 to 7:30 PM, and from 5 to 6:30 AM on Fridays. Free Dasoha meals are served 7:30 to 10 AM, 12 to 3:30 PM and 7:30 to 9 PM.

Rules & dress code

The hill is a no-plastic zone; carry bags and plastic waste are not allowed. Online seva bookings must be shown as a printed copy at the temple, and homa, abhisheka and utsava sevas should be intimated two days ahead. Prasadam for abhisheka tickets is given 7:30 to 10:30 AM and 7:30 to 9 PM. A saree offered must come with its original bill.

Frequently asked questions

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