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The
word 'Chamundi Betta' at its very mention projects on our mental screen, a
little but lovely hillock lying at about 2 km south-east of the fort of Mysore,
city, the rest-while 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 a sacred shrine stop has a
glorious past. 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 temple etched its glorious image on the
pages of legends and history, as many mighty princes emptied their
treasuries to sanctify its eminence, dignify, its glory, magnify its topography
and beautify its surface with several sculptural embellishments.
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