RUTHWIZ: The Hasanamba temple in Hassan district of Karnataka

Though there are hundreds of temples that are historically and religiously significant to many people in the Hassan district of Karnataka, the Hasanamba temple dedicated to Shakti is particularly significant and unique in many ways.

The town Hasan was named after the presiding deity at the Hasanamba Temple. She is called Hasanamba as she is perceived to be ever smiling, bestowing all riches on her devotees. Built in the 12th century, the temple is open to the public for a week, once a year during the lunar month of Ashwayuja, during Diwali in October. The temple only opens on the following Thursday of the full moon day in the month of Ashwija (usually late Oct - early Nov). The temple closes on the day of Balipadyami when the rest of Karnataka is celebrating Deepavali. So devotees flock here to seek the Goddess’ blessings during this week. This is the best time to visit the temple.

Legendary : Once when the seven Maatrukes (Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vyshnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi) came floating to the South of India, they were taken aback by the beauty of Hassan and decided to make it their home forever. Maheshwari, Kaumari, and Vyshnavi took residence in the three anthills inside the temple; Brahmi in Kenchamma's Hosakote; while Indrani, Varahi and Chamundi chose the three wells in Devigere Honda.

Hasanamba Temple – Religious Significance

The temple is unusual in that it is open to the devotees only for a week every year. The rest of the time the Goddess is left with a lit lamp, flowers, water and two bags of rice as offering until the next year. The nandaa deepa, (a ghee-lit lamp) burns all year round, for the entire duration when the temple doors are shut, with the ghee never depleting. And the anna naivedya (the rice offering) offered to the devi at the time of closing the temple is warm and unspoiled when the doors are opened again, a year later.

Every year the opening of the temple is celebrated with festivals and fairs.

Hasanamba temple – Mythology

The devotees believe that the benevolent Goddess smiles down upon them and showers her blessings. In many Indian languages, ‘hasya’ means humor. It is believed that the Goddess smiles down on the devotees who worship her.

While she is worshipped for being benevolent, she is also harsh to those who choose to harm her devotees. There is a belief that Amma Hasanamba turned a mother in law, who tortured Devi’s devotee the (daughter in law), in to a stone in front of her. It is believed it the stone moves an inch every year and when it reaches the lotus feet of hasanamba the period of kaliyuga will end.

Once 4 robbers attempted to rob jewels of Hasanamba and Devi turned them in to stones. And these four stones can be still seen in Kallappa Gudi.

There is another story of a lady, who visited the temple on the closing day of the temple and fell asleep in the temple. She wake up in the morning to find herself closed in the temple. She prey to goddess to take her out of the temple. Goddess, turn her into a frog and ask her to go out of a small hole at the back of the temple and turn back to human. Goddess ask her not to let anybody know about the miracle, and she would turn into a stone if she did so. Family members insist her to tell where she spent the whole night. With no other option, she tell about the way she was taken out by the goddess. Non of the family members believe her and ask her to leave the house. The lady come and sit in the temple and turn into a stone. Its said that the stone moves a paddy length every year and once the stone reaches the goddess, the earth comes to an end. The premisses has a well, its said that a ring dropped in this well reaches Devigere(a pond few meters away from the temple) a year after.

How to Get to Hasanamba Temple

The Hasanamba temple is located in the heart of Hassan city and can easily be reached by road from Hassan in an auto rickshaw. It is just a couple of hours away from Bangalore by road and is convenient as a weekend getaway with plenty of accommodation options available in and around Hassan.

Hasanamba Temple – Facts

There is an unusual image depicting Ravana from the epic Ramayana with nine heads instead of ten, playing the veena. The reason for this image in the inner sanctum sanctorum is unknown but is very interesting nevertheless.

Just after devotees enter the temple they can see a beautiful view of Siddeshwara Swamy which is unusual as it not depicted in the Linga roopa. It appears as Lord Shiva Giving.

SIDDESHWARA SWAMY :