About

Male Mahadeshwara Hills, is an ancient and sacred place for Hindus is located around 140 km from Mysore. It is situated in the eastern parts of Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagar district. It is a very popular & holy ancient temple, surrounded by 77 hills in the Eastern Ghats. The height of the hill is about 3000 feet from the sea level. The area of the temple surroundings is 155.57 acres. The History of the Shrine Shri Male Mahadeshwara Swamy Temple has been an extremely holly religious Institution and is famous from the time immemorial. As per Niranjana Rathnakara invisible Ganesha himself as Shri Male Mahadeshwara.

As mentioned in Janapada Mahakavya Shri Male Mahadeshwara is the sone of the couple of Shri Chandrashekara Murthy and Smt. Uttarajamma and has descended to earth and has for the first time seen near Shri Shailadha Mallikarjuna Linga, nearly 600 years ago; has come through Sutturu, Kunduru, then to the centre of Seven Hills; this place being felt to be comfortable desired to stay in the place of temple; an incarnation of Lord Eswara and kept tiger as his Vehicle. Traveled through the hills and the surrounding area, spent his childhood, youth and aged life in between the hills and on the basis of his yogi powers have displayed his various miracles.

HISTORY & LEGEND

The place, Sri Male Mahadeshwara Hills has become a Universally famous pilgrim center. Millions of Devotes, visit this temple every year for getting the blessings of Sri Lord Mahadeshwara Swamy, the presiding deity of this place. According to legends, the young saint came from Srishaila to this part of the state. In his boyhood, he has spiritually guided by then pontiff of Suthur Mutt & Kunthur Mutt. He is said to have performed several miracles in his life, in these places. Afterward, he went to the hillside. It is a dense forest area surrounded by Seventy Seven hills to seven circles. It was not a safe place for human habitation. It was about 6 centuries ago the young saint went to the forest area, to save the saints who were performing penance and taken to bondage by a person known as Shravana who processed abundant black magic power. Apart from this, there were tribes living here and there in small groups who were devoid of any rays of human civilization. It is said that this Lord Sri Mahadeshwara destroyed the black magic power of Sravana and got released the saints who were in his prison. The place where they were kept in prison is also a holy place, called "Thavasare" & the place where Shravana lived is called "Sravana Boli". There are several places of historical interest in this area to which the devotees often pay their visits. The miracle activities of Sri Lord Mahadeshwara Swamy have been sung by the devotees even to this day. The voluminous literature of folk songs in the Kannada language is published by research scholars. It is said that there are folk songs in the Tamil language also, but the necessary effort is not made to collect & publish them. More devotees are coming from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & other states also. This area was included in Madras State (now called Chennai) prior to 1956, ie., before the re-organization of States of India. Subsequently, it has become part of the Karnataka State.

It is said that the saint Lord Mahadeshwara established a Mutt here for looking after the religious-cultural affairs of the people of this area. It is also said that he has transformed the attitude of the hill tribes & made them his disciples. The people coming from these families have become hereditary Archaks of this temple. The temple was under the control & management of Sri Salur Mutt established by Sri Lord Mahadeshwara till it was handed over to the Madras Government in the year 1953. After the formation of Karnataka, the Administration of the Temples is done by the trust committee, appointed by the Karnataka Government under the Muzrai Department. About 50 years ago there were no road facilities to this place. people used to reach the place by walking. At present, there are road connections from Karnataka & Tamil Nadu States. More than 100 buses are flying on this route every day.

Festivals

More devotees will gather in the festival of Mahanavami (Dasara), Deepavali, Karthika, Shivarathri, Yugadhi & Sravana. there will be Jathras in the above said periods. The Government of Karnataka & Tamil Nadu provides special bus facilities at the times of the Jathras.

Raja Gopura:

The deity is facing west and the door of the Sanctorum is also facing west, when the prakaram was constructed, the entrance of the temple was given to the south & north. In the south there is Gopuram & in the north entrance, there is a big Bull God (Basava). According to Vasthu Shilpa, the main entrance must be from the western side. After knowing this the construction of Raja Gopuram was done on the western side which cost about 65 lakhs.

pilgrims can book the accommodation in  Male Mahadeshwara Hills using their official website 

Abhisheka General Days

Morning

• 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM
• 10:30 AM to Afternoon 12:30

Evening

• 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Jathra & Special Days

Morning 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM [2 Abhisheka Poojas]

Evening 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM [1 Abhisheka Pooja]

Maharudrabhisheka Seva

Morning 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM (Only Thursday except for special days)

Car Festivals

• Deepavali Car Festival - Karthika Month Shuklapaksha Dashami Day.
• Mahashivarathri Car Festival – Palguna Masa Shukla Paksha Padyami day.
• Yugadi Maharathothsava – Chaitra Masa Shukla Paksha Padyami Day.

Theppothsava

• Navarathri Theppothsava – Ashvayuja Masa Shukla Paksha Dashami Day.
• Deepavali Theppothsava – Karthika Masa Balipadyami day
• Karthika Theppothsava – Last Monday of Karthika Masa day.

UTSAVAS

Every day after the completion of Abhisheka Pooja Hulivahana, Basava Vahana, Rudrakshi Mantapa with title and outside of the temple only one-timeHulivahana Procession Seva Basava Vahana,

• Rudrakshi Mantapa Seva procession Procession is performing: Every day Morning 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Golden Car Procession: Every day 7:00 PM
• Halruve Procession: Every year Deepavali Amavasya
  

How to get there

Road: Male Mahadeshwara Hills is well connected by roads various tourist and private buses ply from Mysore to Male Mahadeshwara Hills frequently.

Timings