The Ancient Roots of Neelavara
Neelavara is considered one of the most ancient centers in the region. According to local legends, the name Neelavara came from the area being surrounded by water. The mythological story tells that to defeat the demon Mahisha, all the gods gathered their powers into one deity, who incarnated as Durga. This form defeated Mahisha and stood triumphant, holding a conch, chakra, and trident in her hands. Later, the deity's idol was established at the site of Neelavara, and, according to some traditions, the statue was thrown into the Sita River by enemies but was later recovered by the sage Galava, who restored it to its original place.
The murti of Goddess Mahishamardini worshipped in the temple is a fierce one. She has four hands. She is depicted as slit opening the throat of Mahishasura with a sphere in one of her hands. She also stamps on the demon with her right leg.
The Mahishamardini Temple: An Ancient Structure
The Mahishamardini Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Mahishamardini, who is not only the family deity for thousands of devotees but also has had a profound and lasting impact on the religious lives of many. The antiquity of the temple is evidenced by inscriptions and sculptural details found here. The central idol of Mahishamardini is depicted with four arms. In her right hand, she holds a discus (Chakra), and in her left hand, a conch. Another left hand grasps the demon Mahishasura, while she impales his neck with a trident held in her right hand. The goddess is shown stepping on Mahishasura with her right foot. Dr. P. Guru Raj Bhatt, an expert in temple archaeology, believes that this sculpture dates back to the 10th century.
Alupa Dynasty and the Rise of Neelavara Temple
The Alupa dynasty ruled this area for an extended period. During their reign, especially when Udyavara became their administrative center, the Neelavara temple received much attention. A significant inscription dated February 24, 1258, by the Alupa King Veerapandya, is considered one of the oldest references to this sacred site. This inscription describes how the king directed the village assembly of Neeravara to allocate the income from the village towards the temple's upkeep, specifying that 100 gadyana (coins) were to go to the palace, 30 to the officials, and the remaining 30 for other expenses.
An inscription from Alupa Queen Balladevi, dating back to September 12, 1277, further details donations to the temple. During the rule of the Hoysala dynasty, there were marital alliances between the Alupas and the Hoysalas, and by 1333, the Hoysala ruler, Hoysala Mummadi Ballala, started his rule in Coastal Karnataka. The first Hoysala inscription found in Neelavara is from this period, recording a donation made by the village assembly for the maintenance of the Durga Bhagavati Temple.
Hoysala Influence and Further Donations
A subsequent inscription from Hoysala King Deva Raya (circa 1344) also mentions the donation to the temple by the Alupa King Kulasekhara. During the Vijayanagara Empire, Neelavara continued to thrive as an important religious and cultural center. One inscription from 1387, from King Harihara I, speaks of efforts made for the renovation of the temple and donations for rituals. Furthermore, a mention of Prince Bukkaraya's administrative training at Neelavara is recorded in these inscriptions.
The Vijayanagara kings, notably Krishnadevaraya in 1528, also played a significant role in the upkeep of the temple. During his reign, the local administration faced excessive taxation, and an inscription from this time speaks of donations made to resolve this issue, specifying that a certain amount of revenue collected from the village be used to fund special worship during the Navratri festival.