Information of Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka

Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple is 800 years old beautiful Hindu temple located in the heart of the Bangalore City. This temple was the landmark in the medieval times for Bagalaru. This was the richest temple before independent India. Many dynasties have granted jewels and lands to this temple. The Karagostvam is the annual festival conducted here and as per latest record more than 5 lakhs pilgrims visited for this festival. This is also famously known as the Bangalore Karaga. Many tourist and pilgrims come here on this festival season to witness and take part in Karaga. It is located near OTC Road, Thilagarpet, Bangalore City of Karnataka State in India.

Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Religious Significance

The main deity of this temple is Goddess Droupathi Devi. It does have other deities of Vishnu and Kali Devis. Daily poojas is done here. It is the most visited temple of Banglorites on all major Hindu festival occasions. The Karaga is the main festival held in the full moon day of March month every year. This is an 11 day festival celebrated with great devotion and joy. Especially ladies used to keep vratha before coming to this temple festival. The Karaga is mostly done by women members with great devotions. Karaga is a balanced form of traditional dance by placing a medium pot shaped vessal filled with holy water and closed with a coconut on its and this is beautifully decorated with mango leaves on the mouth of the vessel. Women devotees used to round this temple by placing the Karaga on their head and balancing it naturally. They never touch this Karaga until the rituals are completed in this temple. Devi of this temple is beautifully dressed in silk sarees and found with lot of temple jewels and diamond on the deity.

Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Mythology & History

A total of 5 such temples are found here in the same temple pattern. It is believed that in the 16th century AD, when Bagalauru was found by the Kempe Gowda, he built similar four temples as marking of borders for his province and the central temple as its main. The other four temples are same in structure and the central temples is the bigger one. This temple was built here as a guard of this village.

Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Architectural Significance

This temple has the Dravidian style on its major structures. It also has the other sects of architecture, which were built in phase to phase by many Kingdoms who ruled this area. The principle construction material used here are the granite stones. The main entrance of this temple is very unique masterpiece of stone craftsmanship. It has three Gopuras (Towers) in the Pallava temple style. These have lovely motifs and miniature works. The entrance is found with a pillared mandapa (Porch). The Ganga architectural pattern is seen in the Grabhagraha (central Deity place) which has traditional carving works of the Hindu structure. The Vijayanagara architecture is found in its mukamandapas. There are many frieze found here on the top of its structures. These have sculptor's f many god and goddess of Hindu origin. Its frieze sculptors are in multicolor paintings and looking heavenly. All of its stone works have beautiful carving activities. Its ceilings are of stone roofs and have many floral designs on it. The deities found inside this temple are carved out on stones and there are also few metal idols found here. These may be the gifted by Kings of this province. There is a temple chariot made of teak wood kept here. This is the main procession chariot of this temple. There are many stone art found here which are really breath taking to look.