Trifter

It was an unscheduled trip from Bangalore to Mysore one morning along with my wife to see her sister who taught in a school. I had carried my camera with me to click some pictures, just in case we found some time to see some interesting place, if the time permitted. There were three choices for us: go to Srirangapatna where Tipu fought with the British and was killed, and visit the famous Sri Ranganatha Swami temple there; go to Ranganathittu to visit the famous bird sanctuary, or visit the Chamundi hills to spend some time with Mother or Goddess Chamundeshwari who is worshipped by millions of Hindus. Though all these places were nearby, we somehow decided to visit Sri Chamundeshwari temple for the simple reason that it took least time for the visit and that it would enable me and my wife to hurry back to Bangalore by evening.

Mother Chamundeshwari fought and killed the demon Mahishasura (from which Mysore city got its name) in the bygone Age and protected her devotees from his evil deeds. In Soundarya Lahari (meaning Wave of Happiness), Adi Shankara (788 CE – 820 CE), the propounder of Advaita system of philosophy, has eulogized her virtues in such a way that the slokas he had composed during his period have become a sure guide to the readers to acquire all kinds of material prosperity and well-being, leave alone moksha or salvation. There are 100 slokas in Soundarya Lahari and each hymn is so potent that it is bound to shower a particular boon on its readers, if they read it the prescribed number of times with total dedication. The greatness or power of Devior Mother Chamundeshwari is described by Adi Shankara like no one else before him.

 Gopuram or the pyramidal tower of Sri Chamundeshwari temple facing east.

Chamundi Hills is located 13 kilometres away from Mysore city, at a height of 3,489 feet from mean sea level. One of the hoardings on the way to Chamundi hills reads: ‘This is one of the eight highest hills of South India”. There are frequent city buses plying from Mysore city bus stand to the hills and back.

As you travel through the winding route to the hills, you come across a mesmerizing landscape, the valley below dotted with fields and dwelling houses. At the top of the hill, you could also get a bird’s eye view of the sprawling city with its major landmarks.

                                                            A view of the temple architecture from the northern direction.

As the annual Dasara festival was a week away, the temple was getting a face-lift from the authorities concerned. Chamundi Devi is the tutelary deity of Mysore Maharaja’s family and has been worshipped by successive Maharajas all along, as well as by the citizens of Mysore. During Dasara, the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried by an elephant on a golden howdah, through the main streets. Dasara is, indeed, the major festival of Karnataka that attracts millions of tourists from all parts of the world.

One gets a panoramic view of the city and beyond, from the top of Chamundi hills. After having darshan of Goddess Chamundeshwari, we spent an hour enjoying the quiet environs and the divine peace. It was a sheer pleasure looking at the distant horizon all around, over which clouds moved and took different shapes. The evening breeze was pleasant and refreshing. However, as it was getting dark, we soon got into a waiting city bus and reached Mysore, and resumed our journey back to Bangalore.

A breath-taking view of nature from the Chamundi Hills.

                                                    A view of the Mysore city from the Chamundi hills.

Fact file

Distance from Bangalore Satellite Bus stand to Mysore by road: 139 kms.

Mode of transport: Bus or train

Distance from Mysore to Chamundi Hills: 13 kms.