One of the largest temples in the Old Mysuru region, including Bengaluru, is the Srikanteshwaraswamy (Nanjundeshwara) temple in Nanjangud (officially known as Nanjanagudu). This temple is on the banks of the Kapila River, also known as the Kabini. This river is a tributary of the river Cauvery. The temple’s main attraction is Dodda Jathre, which will be held on March 19 this year.
Significance Of The Dodda Jathre In Nanjangud
Five chariots are the major attraction of this car festival. These chariots are pulled by locals using a specially prepared rope. The devotees wait from the wee hours to pull the chariot. Pulling the chariot is one of the offerings made to Lord Shrikantheshwara here.
As part of the car festival, the district administration has also arranged a small exhibition in association with other government agencies.
Special police forces are deputed to maintain the law and order situation during the car festival.
Dodda Jatre Highlights
The Srikanteshwaraswamy temple is worshipped by millions of devotees across the globe. Every year over 5 lakh devotees attend this Dodda Jathre. The highlight of this car festival is Pancha Maha Rathotsava. This means the idol of Lord Nanjundeshwara and other deities are taken in a procession in five big rathas (chariots).
- In this Dodda Jathre, 5 chariots are pulled by the devotees in the main street of the old town.
- Devotees pull 5 chariots on this day & some also perform Jagarana on this night, as on the night of Mahashivrathri.
- The 5 chariots are dedicated to Sri Srikanteshwara, Parvathi, Ganesh, Subramanya, and Chandikeshwara
- As part of the Dodda Jathre on the River Kapila, there will be an impressive floating Theppotsava for Lord Shiva for a day.
Dodda Jatre Preparations
The Mysuru district administration has made elaborate arrangements to conduct the Dodda Jathre. The district administration held a meeting with all the stakeholders two months ago. The preparations include:
- Special transport arrangements from Mysuru and Bengaluru. The KSRTC will operate special buses to benefit devotees from Bengaluru and Mysuru. These buses will be non stop express
- Cleaning activities in and around the Kapila bath area
- Special arrangements for the dress changing, especially for the women devotees who take a dip in the holy river Kapila
- Free mass feeding for the devotees
- Cultural programmes
- CCTVs and home guards on the bathing ghat
- Drinking water facility and dustbins across the city
An Overview Of Nanjangud
One of the important historical and mythological temples in Mysuru is the Nanjanagudu Srikanteshwara Swamy Temple. This temple is located 25 kilometres from Mysuru city and around 16 kilometres from the Mysuru airport.
Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple In Nanjanagudu
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of Nanjunda. In Kannada, Nanjunda means a person who consumed poison. This myth is related to the Samudra Mathana from the Hindu mythology.
At the time of churning of the ocean by the gods and the demons using the snake god Vasuki, before the nectar, poison came out. At that time, Shiva rescued all by consuming the poison, making him Nanjunda or Visha Kanta. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Shrikanta/ Vishakanta / Nanjunda in the temple. The belief is that the deity cures all kinds of diseases.
According to devotees, the temple deity and the river Kapila’s soil and water also cure many ailments. The deity is worshipped as the bhavaroga vaidya, meaning one who cures all diseases.
Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple Timings
Morning
- Usha kala Abhishekam – 6:30 AM
- Pratha kala Abhishekam – 9:00 AM
- Sangama kala Abhishekam – 11:00 AM
- Madhyana kala Abhishekam – 12:00 PM
Evening
- Pradoshkala Abhishekam – 6:30 PM
- Ekanta kala Abhishekam – 8:00 PM
Temple will be open from Morning 6 AM to Evening 8:30 PM on Special Days, Sundays, and Mondays.
Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple – Legends
According to scholars, the Hindu Puranas refer to this temple town as Garalapuri. According to mythology, Nanjangudu is considered a holy place sanctified by Gautama and Parasurama.
Parashurama, who is worshipped across South India, after killing his mother Renuka, visits Nanjanagud. He takes a holy dip at the Kapila river and later offers prayers for the Srikanteshwara to get rid of the sin of killing his mother. There is a temple dedicated to Parashurama in the town.
In Kannada folklore, a lot of ballads are written about the temple and its presiding deity, Nanjunda. According to the folk ballads, Nanjunda was in love with Chamundi of Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.
Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple – Architecture
The Srikanteshwara temple is considered one of the biggest temples in the state. According to the temple authorities, the temple height is 385 feet by 160 feet. The temple occupied a total area of 50,000 square feet. The other major attractions of this temple, which are part of the temple architecture, include the Mahadvara (main entrance). It has seven stories. It is decorated with seven gold-plated Kalasas. The Kalasas are three meters in height.
The temple’s outer walls are 12 feet in height. A Prakara, a spacious courtyard, welcomes the visitors, and one can see more than 122 sculptures related to the various manifestations of Lord Shiva, Subramanya, Dikpalas, and Saptamatrikas, among others.
One can find many gorgeous bronze icons that cry for attention, and prominent among them are Tandaveshvara, Chandrashekaramurthi, Narayana with Bhudevi, Chandikeshvara, Parvati, and others. The inner part of the wall also has 32 forms of Ganapathi mentioned in the Mudgala Purana.
The temple boasts a thousand-year-old history of various kings, each competing to expand this abode of Lord Shiva. During the 11th and 12th century, the Chola Kings had set in motion the construction and later the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara kings made significant additions to the temple..
The temple construction, as we see it today, was completed during the reign of the Mysore rulers, and the temple reached its enormous proportions due to the devotion of Krishna Raja Wadiyar.
Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple – A Place Of Communal Harmony
According to history, Tipu Sultan revered the deity Hakim Nanjunda and offered an emerald Linga and a necklace to help cure his beloved elephant of an eye infection.
Other Temples In And Around Nanjanagudu
Other major temples on the banks of the river Kapila in Nanjanagudu are
- Parashurama Kshetra
- Gauthama temple
- Ganapathi temple
- Dattatreya temple
- Sri Lakshmikanthaswamy temple: 9 kilometres from Nanjanagudu at Kallale village.
- Sri Veenugopala Swamy Temple: 15 kilometres from Nanjanagudu at Yemmaragala village.
- Sri Prassanna Nanjundeshwara Swamy Temple: 5 kilometres from Nanjanagudu at Chikkayyana village.
- Sri Himmavad Gopalaswamy temple- 55 kilometres from Nanjanagudu in Gundlupet.
- Suttur Mutt- 16 kilometres at Suttur village.
- Sri Bellligerirangana Swamy temple on BR Hills, which is 67 kilometres from the Nanjanagudu temple.
Nanjanagudu is also world famous for its Raghavendra Swami Mutt and Virasaiva Mutts.