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{{Infobox temple
| name = Betrayaswamy Temple
| image = Betarayaswamy temple.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|30|58|N|77|47|55|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]]
| location = [[Denkanikottai]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Betrayaswamy ([[Vishnu]])
Soundaryavalli ([[Lakshmi]])
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Hoysala architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}{{Short description|Hindu temple in Krishnagiri}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}

'''Betrayaswamy temple''' (also called '''Denkanikottai Temple''') in [[Denkanikottai]] town in [[Krishnagiri district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. The temple is Classified one among the '''108 [[Abhimana Kshethram]]''' of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavate]] tradition. It is located 30 km from [[Hosur]] and 60 km from [[Bangalore]] and 318 km from [[Chennai]], 77 km from [[Dharmapuri]]. In this temple Constructed in the [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala style of architecture]], the temple is dedicated to Vishnu who is worshipped as Devaperumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Soundaryavalli in this temple.

As per Hindu legend, [[Venkateshwara|Venkateswara]] believed to have appeared for the sage [[Kanva]] to save him from the [[yaksha]] Devandagadagan. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower. The [[Wodeyars of Mysore]] commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 16th century.

The temple follows the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] tradition of worship. Two daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the fifteen-day annual Chittirai Kalyana Utsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (April - May) and nine-day Brahmotsavam being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
The place finds mention in ''[[Skanda Purana]]'', which has eight chapters detailing the legend of the temple. As per Hindu legend, Devandagadagan, a [[yaksha]] and the relative of the famous king [[Kubera]], once got a boon from [[Brahma]] that he would get endless powers. He was very proud of his powers and started troubling the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], the celestial deities, and the sages who were doing penance in the region. He was once punished by sage [[Atri]], who cursed him to roam in the forest and said that he would be relieved of his curse once Vishnu strikes him with a [[Kaumodaki|mace]]. Ages passed by and Kanvagada was troubling the sages in the forest.<ref name=K/><ref name="dinamalar"/> Once sage [[Kanva]] was finding it difficult to spot a place to do his penance, when sage Atri advised him to go to a place on the banks of [[Cauvery]] close to Narayanagiri. Kanva started doing his penance and the yaksha started troubling the sage. A divine voice informed the sage to seek the help of Venkateswara. The sage did so and Venkateswara came to the place from his abode at [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]]. He transformed as a hunter with a bow called [[Sharanga (Hindu mythology)|Sharanga]] and his mace called Denkani. An intense battle followed between the hunter and Devandagadaga, eventually the hunter slaying the yaksha with Denkani. In memory of the event, the place came to be known as Denkanipuram, which eventually became Denkanikottai. The sage and the yaksha were blessed with the auspicious [[Darshan (Indian religions)|vision]] of Venkateswara, who made the place his abode.<ref name=M>{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=89–95|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref>

==History==
Ballaraya was a ruler of the Paligar family, who held sway over the region and the temple. The region came to the hands of Haisala Jagadevaraya, a feudatory of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]]. It is believed that the fortress in the region was built during his regime. In 1652, Itapel Rao, a Maratha feudatory annexed the region, which changed hands to Chandrasekara Rao in 1653. The [[Wodeyars of Mysore]] held sway over the region till 1768,<ref>{{cite news|title=This quaint town in Tamil Nadu beckons|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/This-quaint-town-in-Tamil-Nadu-beckons/2013/06/20/article1643430.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015906/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/This-quaint-town-in-Tamil-Nadu-beckons/2013/06/20/article1643430.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 November 2015|publisher=The New Indian Express|date=20 June 2013|accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref> when the [[British Raj|British]] under Casby held control of the region. When there were threats from Muslim rulers in the region, the image of the presiding deity was hidden by a devotee named Venkatapahty Rayar in the forest. The [[Vaishya]] community in the region is believed to have contributed to the major halls and shrines of the temple.<ref name=M/>

==Architecture==
Betrayaswamy temple is constructed in the [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala style of architecture]]. The temple occupies an area of {{convert|1|acre|ha|abbr=on}} and is surrounded by a granite walls. The rectangular enclosure measure {{convert|244|ft|m|abbr=on}} by {{convert|204|ft|m|abbr=on}}, while the temple tank measures {{convert|220|ft|m|abbr=on}} by {{convert|235|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The five tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower, has five [[kalasam]] at the top. The sanctum houses the image of Betrayaswamy in standing posture similar to the image of Venkateswara in [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]].<ref name=M/><ref name=K/> The images of [[Lakshmi|Sridevi]] and [[Bhūmi|Bhudevi]] are located on either of his sides. The Ardha mandapa is guarded by two [[dvarapala]]s on either sides. The shrine of Soundaravalli is located closed to the eastern gateway. There Mahamandapa houses the images of sage Kanva, [[Vedanta Desika|Vedanta Desikar]], [[Manavala Mamunigal]], the [[Azhwars|Alvars]], and [[Ramanuja]]. There are separate shrines for Venugopala housing [[Satyabhama]] and [[Rukmini]], and [[Rama]] housing [[Sita]], [[Lakshmana]], and [[Hanuman]]. There are a number of smaller shrines and halls in the precincts of the temple. There are three temple tanks associated with the temple namely Chakra Tirtha, Sundari Tirtha and Sanatkumara Tirtha.<ref name=K>{{cite book|title=Spiritual India Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djI5mL2qeocC&dq=Betrayaswami&pg=PT459|page=459|publisher=Jaico Publishing House|year=2009|isbn=9788184950243|last=Knapp|first=Stephen}}</ref>

==Festival==
The temple is one of the prominent landmarks of Denkanikottai and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the region.<ref>{{cite news|title=Quick Getaway: Nashik, Etawah and Hosur|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-07-25/news/40795261_1_wine-labels-etawah-region|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034359/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-07-25/news/40795261_1_wine-labels-etawah-region|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 November 2015|publisher=Economic Times|date=25 July 2013|accessdate=15 November 2015}}</ref> The temple follows the traditions of the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] sect of the Vaishnavite tradition and follows the ''[[Pancharatra|Pancharatra agama]]''. The temple priests are from a hereditary family referred as Kittambi. They are believed to be from [[Thiruvellarai]] in [[Tiruchirapalli district]]. The temple rituals are performed two times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m. and ''Aravanai Pooja'' at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Betrayaswamy and Soundaryavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, of which the fifteen-day annual Chittirai Kalyana Utsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (April - May) and nine-day Brahmotsavam being the most prominent. During the Brahmotsavam, the temple car is drawn around the streets of temple with the festival images housed in it. The temple car was damaged in a fire in 1906 and was restored in 1909.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Betrayaswamy temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=790|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> The idols of [[Vinayagar Chaturthi]] for [[visarga]] (immersion) in the region are immersed in the temple tank.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eco-friendly idols for Vinayaga Chathurthi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ecofriendly-idols-for-vinayaga-chathurthi/article1898295.ece|work=The Hindu|date=25 August 2007|accessdate=15 November 2015|location=Krishnagiri}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Krishnagiri district]]
[[Category:Abhimana temples of Vishnu ]]
[[Category:Venkateswara temples]]

Betrayaswamy temple - Revision history

JAFMargie385530 at 13:24, 14 April 2025