MOTHER CHAMUNDESWARI OF MYSORE

UNIQUENESS

The word 'Chamundi Betta' at its very mention projects on our mental screen, a little but lovely hillock lying at about 2 KM south-cast of the fort of Mysore city, the erstwhile capital of the former princely state of Mysore - now called Karnataka. It is the most conspicuous land mark, quite visible for miles around Mysore, one of the flourishing capitals called Mahishasurapura, ruled by Mahishasura, a formidable demon in the dim past. This rocky hillock raising to a height of 3489 feet above the sea level with precipitous sides and a sacred shrine atop has a glorious past, and its outstanding contribution to the prosperity of the city and the surrounding region is embedded in several legends and countless hymns and songs. The imposing height of its tower and enormous dimensions dominate the landscape around and lend an ethereal charm to the city of Mysore - a corrupt form of Mahishasurapura.

This pretty hill etched its glorious image on the pages of legends and history, as many mighty princes emptied their treasuries to sanctity its eminence, dignify its glory, magnify its topography and beautify its surface with several sculptural embellishments. As it enjoyed royal patronage in the form of gigantic structures and palatial buildings, its glamour has never worn off, nor status diminished with the passage of centuries. 

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