50 feet Road Sri Kumaraswamy temple is located in Bengaluru
South, Karnataka, and is dedicated to various gods from Hindu pantheon. The
shrine is today noted for its towering Rajagopuram.
Sri Kumaraswamy Temple History
It is believed that the renowned Nadaprabhu of Bengaluru, Sri Kempegowda, established a Shivalinga on the hillock of Gondaranya in the southern part of Bengaluru nearly 400 years ago.
In 1901, Justice T. Narahariraya constructed the front hall (mantapa) and a gopuram. The hill was thus referred to as Narahariraya’s hill.
In 1924, Mahamahopadhyaya Vidyanidhi Siddhanti Sri S. Shivashankara Shastri, a court scholar of Mysore's Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, installed a Saligrama stone idol of Sri Panchamukha Ganapati (a lion-mounted, five-faced, curved-trunked form), along with a six-sided copper plaque depicting Uma Maheshwara, Ganga, Gayatri, and Nava Shakti, marking the start of the ritualistic processions (Kavadis).
In 1954, Sri Siddhanti Subramanya Shastri, son of Sri Shivashankara Shastri, consecrated an idol of Sri Kumaraswamy, crafted from Navalohas (a mix of nine metals). In 1975, a devout woman named Smt. Padmamma built a complete temple at the sanctum of Sri Udbhava Adishesha. In 1991, the Vimana Gopura (temple tower above sanctum) was constructed. Later, in 2006, the Rajagopuram, standing 108 feet tall, was constructed for the Sri Kumaraswamy Temple with contributions from devotees and the department, followed by a Kumbhabhishekam (ritual consecration ceremony).
Subsequently, due to deterioration, the temple was completely renovated by the department and the management committee on 18-06-2009.
Sri Kumaraswamy Temple History Festivals - Rituals
The temple hosts various important annual religious events such as Thaipusam, Aadi Krithigai, Tiruppadi Utsava, Skanda Shasti, Karthika Deepotsavam, Shivratri, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navratri, Monthly Sankashtahara Chaturthi, and Shashti Pujas, which are considered auspicious and fulfilling for devotees.