Mysore, antiquity part 1

What is history but a fable agreed upon?

as the cynical view of history, attributed to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1841 goes, Mysore has been under the influence of a countless ruling dynasties for time immemorial that, it is very difficult to trace the origin of Mysore. Every new ruler brought changes and history to Mysore.

Mysore finds mentions in Puranic literature as the seat of Yadu people who migrated after the destruction of Dwaraka, the abode of Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu. Vishnu is one of the Hindu triumvirates which includes Brahma, the originator, Vishnu the progenitor and Shiva the destroyer.  

Krishna bids Parvathi, consort of Shiva, to look after his kinsmen of Yadava clan. Parvathi brings Yadavas to the region around Mysore and Melukote, another temple town very close to Mysore.

According to other Puranic stories, Mysore, the city-state gets its name from Mahishasura, a demon who lived in the region and his eventual killing by Goddess Parvathi in an epic battle. Parvathi is called Mahishamardhini and Chamundeshwari too.

A famous temple on a hill in Mysore called Chamundi hill has a temple dedicated to Chamundeshwari, Parvathi in her honor of slaying the Demon Mahishasura or Chamunda. 

A beautiful sculpture of Mahishamardhini in Hoysala style at Belur

Another Mahishamardhini sculpture in Hoysala style

Durga or Mahishamardhini is the principal deity for 

Navaratri and Durga Puja. A priest offering Puja at Calcutta

Durga or Mahishasuramardini cave carving in Badami 

from 6th-century cave temple at Badami cave temple

Chamundeshwari temple dedicated to Chamundeshwari, Durga and Mahishasuramardini at Chamundi Hills, Mysore. 

It is believed the name Mysore has its origin in Mahisha

Another picture of Chamundi Temple from the side

A concrete idol of Mahisha at the entrance of Chamundi hills, 

not though very demonic is a much-loved spot for touristic selfies

It's believed that this very popular temple is more than 1,000 years old. Probably was built as a simple shrine and would have been renovated and rebuilt a number of times by a few different rulers from a different era. Maharajas of Mysore, the Wodeyars, came to power in 1399 AD and the Chamundi temple in the current form was built by the Wodeyars.  Three dynasties, Hoysala, Vijayanagar and Mysore rulers have contributed the Chamundi temple most. The original shrine was probably built in the 12th century by the Hoysala rulers, with the towers being built by the Vijayanagar rulers of the 17th century. Further, a flight of one thousand steps was built in 1659 that leads up to the 3000-foot summit of the Chamundi Hill.

More Mysore antiquity in our next article.