Kurudumale

Kurudumale, a place in the Kolar district of Karnataka state, India, is famous for the Ganesha temple built by a Vijayanagara kings. This place was believed to be the place where Devas would descend from the heavens for recreation on earth. The ganesha temple is considered to be very powerful. Many people start new jobs or new work only after taking the blessing of Lord Ganesha.

There is another temple dedicated to Shiva called the Someshwara temple which is also situated in Kurudumale. The interesting thing about this temple is that it is built of a rock without any foundations. Another interesting thing is the artitectural style of the temple; this temple is considered to be older than the Ganesha temple and was built during the Cholas period. Half of the temple has different style of carving, believed to have been done by the legendary artist Jakanachari and the other half is believed to have been carved by his son Dankanachari. The part of the temple supposedly built by Dankana's has statues and carvings which are more intricate and sophisticated.Ganesha temple in Kurudumale, situated on the same road as that of Someshwara temple, but here a huge Ganesha idol is being worshipped from ages unknown. It is said that the Ganesha statue was being worshipped in a open field, until Krishnadevaraya built a temple around it. Its too huge to imagine(14ft in all), bigger than the Dodda Ganesha of Basavanagudi.

You can read more about Kurudumale here.Ganesha is unarguably the most loved God amongst all the Gods. Shaivas, Vyshnavas, Shakthas and anyone would love to worship Ganesha. In fact, it is a mandatory that we take blessings from Ganesha before starting anything afresh. He is considered to be Vighneshwara, one who surmounts the obstacles in one’s path.

A concept of some one removing the suffering from one’s life, no wonder this God is so widely worshipped. He has a strange shape also to add to his popularity among the children. He has an elephant’s head, a big belly, a snake around his belly and happily traveling on a mouse!!

Because of our love to Ganesha, we give him all sorts of new fashionable looks like KBC Ganesha, cricketer Ganesha, Titanic Ganesha, Veerappan Ganesha… My God!! He loves to be like us all. We know he doesn’t mind our childish giggles; He always blesses us with protection, prosperity and success.

Ganesha is also a unifier..! I mean he bonds the people with an everlasting friendship. For this reason, Balagangadhar Tilak selected Ganesha chaturty to unify the disturbed Indians that proved to be a boon for the national struggle for freedom. Ganesha has helped us in times of troubles and emergency.

How about celebrating the festival by visiting a Ganesha temple? Excited with the plan? Come, I’ll take you to a lesser-known Ganesha temple this time… Yes you guessed it right, just like my previous posts, I’m taking you to a forgotten place with a huge heritage, located in Kolar district.