Mysore Chamundi Hill Temple - Chamundi Puja,Goddess Chamundi

Navarathri Background Navaratri or the nine nights and Vijaya Dasami are part of the famous ten-day Dasara festivities, which is celebrated on a grand scale in Mysore. Special poojas for Goddess Durga are conducted in houses, temples and religious institutions every day. The festival falls during the Hindu calendar month of Ashvayuja Sudhha, generally in the months of September-October. On each day, Goddess Devi is worshipped in her different forms. After the completion of nine nights of worship, the 10th day is celebrated as ‘Vijaya Dasami’, the day of victory. After special poojas, a procession is taken out symbolising victory of good over evil. All the ten days of Dasara are held very sacred. They are very auspicious for undertaking new jobs and ventures and for conducting auspicious ceremonies and functions.
Dasara is being celebrated from ages. It can be traced in the two great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Sri Rama, an incarnation of God Vishnu, celebrated it by taking out his hidden weapons after worshipping the Devi. The five Pandava princes of the epic Mahabharata took out their hidden weapons and worshipped it before going for the famous Mahabharata war. This is marked as the Ayudha Pooja Day. There are clear evidences of the grand celebrations organised during the famous Vijayanagar kings of the 14th century. As evidence to this stands the historic landmark of ‘Mahanavami Dibba’ at the famous UNESCO-listed heritage centre, Hampi, in Bellary district of Karnataka. The Mysore Maharajas, kings of the Yadu Dynasty, have continued this tradition. They have been celebrating the Dasara in a great devotional and religious manner, with prayers and worship. Even today, the present Prince, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, celebrates the feast for 10 days in the same old tradition, like his ancestors and as prescribed in the sacred works. In addition, the Government of Karnataka is celebrating the festival as ‘Nadahabba’ on a grand scale and has added further significance to it.

RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE Chamundeswari, popular as Chamundi for Mysoreans, is intimately associated with the people of this beautiful city since ages. A form of Kali, Chamundeswari is also the home deity of the Mysore rulers. They have venerated her with great devotion since the beginning of their dynasty in 14th century. Chamundeswari is seated on a lion and with a tridon in her right hand she is piercing the body of monster Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon, who was causing hardship to the people in the area of Mysore long long ago, say the Puranas, or holy works. Its head severed by the Goddess with a sword, the buffalo is lying near the demon's body. Unable to bear his torture, all Gods together prayed to Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Shiva, to destroy the powerful demon. They offered her all their powers and weapons. Taking birth as Chamundeswari, Parvathi killed the demon, with the mighty powers of all Gods in her. The heroic deeds of Devi is explained in 'Devi Bhagvatha', a sacred work. According to Hindu tradition, the feminine form is the most powerful. She is 'Shakti'. She is mother supreme and primordial force. She is held in high esteem than all other Gods, including her own husband Shiva. All her admirers worship her with great devotion and in a pious manner. There are several works praising the Goddess. These are read or recited on auspicious occasions. The Goddess bestows happiness and peace on all those who worship her with ardent devotion. She will guide them to attain the supreme state of consciousness. Hundreds of devotees from all over India and abroad visit the Chamundi Temple and worship her, particularly on the sacred Tuesdays and Fridays, and seek her divine blessings.

Navaratri Worship The nine-day festival of Navaratri and the tenth day of ‘Vijaya Dasami’ is an exclusive period for worshipping the Divine Mother. It is the most sacred period for obtaining the divine grace and blessings. Special prayers and poojas are conducted in homes and temples. Devotees in large number visit the Devi Temples. The Chamundi Temple atop the Chamundi Hills assumes great religious importance during the period. Hundreds of people from across the country come to Mysore to have the Divine Darshan of the Goddess during these auspicious days. They attend the special worships conducted in the temple with devotion and dedication. Mysore’s Dasara celebrations begin first atop the Chamundi Hills with the worshipping of the goddess. After worshipping the Goddess first on the opening day, the the rest of the Dasara celebrations begin. The Karnataka Government too is following the same tradition. The worship conducted in the Chamundi Temple is highly religious and true to Vedic traditions. ‘Abhisekha’ and poojas are conducted twice daily in accordance with the ‘Agama Sastra’ rituals. The ‘Agamika Archakas’ or temple priests conduct the regular daily worship and special ceremonies according to Sastras. The nine-day rituals are conducted according to Vedic rites and as prescribed in the ‘Devi Bhagavata’. The nine days of Navaratri are divided into three sub-periods of three days each. Each sub-period is devoted to the propitiation of one aspect of the Devi. During the first sub-period, the Goddess is worshiped in the manifestation of Mahakali, for obtaining immunity from diseases, poverty and grief. During the second sub-period, she is worshipped as Mahalakshmi, for securing wealth, happiness and prosperity. The third sub-period is dedicated to the worship of Mahasarasvati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, to obtain purity of thought, intellectual eminence and spiritual bliss. The three manifestations of the Devi, representatively are known as Shiva Shakti (or Maheswari), Vaishnavi and Brahmi. The Saptami (7th) day is sacred to the Devi in her incarnation as Mahasarasvati. It is celebrated as the ‘Sarasvati Pooja’ day. Mahasarasvati is the great goddess of learning, representing all arts and sciences. Books, palm leaf manuscripts and writing materials are worshipped on that day. The 8th day is ‘Durgashtami’. This day is devoted to Durga worship. The ninth day is ‘Mahanavami day’. Implements and instruments, symbolic of the occupation or avocation of the devotee, are worshipped. Chandi Homa is also performed. Special offering of libations is made to the Goddess in her manifestation as Chandi. On the 10th day, the day of feast, a grand procession is taken out and the Sami, also known as Banni, tree is worshipped. The Agamas describe Devi as Durga taking nine different forms, which together are spoken of as ‘Nava Durgas’. It is in these nine forms that the Goddess is specially invoked and worshiped separately on each day with reverence. The worshipper seeks different favours on each day worshipping a separate form of the Devi. Dasara is a festival so universal in India it is observed by all classes of people. Apart from these religious ceremonies, recitation of Vedas, music and other cultural programmes are conducted at the temple during the Dasara.