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{{Short description|Temple in the state of Karnataka in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Chamundeshwari Temple
| image = Chamundeshwari Temple Mysore.jpg
| alt =
| caption = The [[Gopuram|gopura]]
| map_type = Karnataka
| map_caption = Location in Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|12.272474|76.670611|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =

| country = [[Republic of India]]
| state = [[Karnataka]]
| district = [[Mysore]]
| locale = [[Chamundi Hill]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Chamunda|Chamundeshwari]]
| festivals= Navaratri
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| date_built =
| creator =
| website = [http://chamundeshwaritemple.in/ Chamundeshwari Temple]
}}

The '''Chamundeshwari Temple''' is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temple located on the top of [[Chamundi Hills]] about 13&nbsp;km from the palace city of [[Mysore|Mysuru]] in the state of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chamundeshwari Temple|url=https://www.karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/chamundeshwari-temple-mysuru/|url-status=live|website=www.karnatakatourism.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814135720/https://www.karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/chamundeshwari-temple-mysuru/ |archive-date=14 August 2020 }}</ref> The temple was named after [[Chamunda|Chamundeshwari]] or, the fierce form of [[Shakti]], a [[tutelary deity]] held in reverence for centuries by the [[Maharaja of Mysore|Maharaja of Mysuru]].

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&nbsp;ft from the mean sea level. It is believed that Goddess [[Durga]] slew 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) and '''Mysuru''' in a general Kannada phonetic pronunciation. Later, the British anglicized it to '''Mysore'''.

==Religious importance==
The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a [[Shakta pithas|Shakta pitha]] and one among the 18 Shakta pithas. 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 (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] fell here.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-15|title=Shri Chamundi Temple|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/Mysore/Shri-Chamundi-Temple/ps26906389.cms|url-status=live|website=www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806013525/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/mysore/shri-chamundi-temple/ps26906389.cms |archive-date=6 August 2018 }}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Nandi, the bull-Chamundi hills.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Monolithic image of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] in the temple premises]]
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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.templenet.com/Karnataka/chamundi.html
|title=Chamundeswari Hill Temple - Mysore
|access-date=2006-09-12
}}</ref> The sanctum houses the image of Chamundeswari sported with 'Ashtabhuja' or eight hands.
At the temple are several images of [[Nandi (bull)|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. The image was installed by Mysore Maharaja Dooda Devaraja Wodeyar during 1664. The Chamundi hills also houses Sri Mahabaleswara temple and also Sri Narayanaswamy temple.<ref name=temple>{{cite book|title=Sri Chamundeswari temple|publisher=Chamundeswari temple administration|year=2019|page=3}}</ref>

==Festivals==
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 [[Uthsavar|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.{{fact|date=September 2021}}

The most important festival that is celebrated here is [[Navaratri]]. [[Mysore Dasara|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.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-08|title=Mysore Dasara|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/mysore-dasara|access-date=2021-09-02}}</ref>

Another temple is situated at the foothill which is in Utthanahalli called as [[Jwala Ji|Jwalamalini]] Sri [[Tripura Sundari]] Temple. This goddess is considered the sister of Chamundeshwari who helped her at the battlefield to slay the demon [[Raktabīja]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mysuru (Mysore): Jwalamukhi Tripura Sundari Devi Temple|work=[[Tripadvisor]]|url=https://www.tripadvisor.in/Travel-g304553-c153570/Mysuru-Mysore:India:Jwalamukhi.Tripura.Sundari.Devi.Temple.html|access-date=2021-09-02}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|Chamundeshwari Temple}}
* [https://chamundeshwaritemple.in Official website]
{{Mysore topics}}
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mysore]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Mysore district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Mysore]]
[[Category:Devi temples in Karnataka]]

Chamundeshwari Temple - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:50, 22 March 2026