Shri Banashankari Temple – A Sacred Landmark in Bengaluru
Location & Historical Significance:
Shri Banashankari Temple is situated on S. Kariappa Road in Bengaluru city. It is one of the well-known temples in Karnataka and holds a prominent place among the spiritual landmarks of the state. The temple dates back to the 20th century and has a history of 106 years. It was originally built and consecrated in 1915.
Main Deity and Symbolism:
The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Banashankari Devi, a powerful and revered form of the Divine Mother (Shakti). The idol here is a man-made (installed) murti, as opposed to a self-manifested one (Swayambhu). Symbolically, Banashankari is considered a fierce form of Goddess Parvati, often depicted riding a lion, embodying courage, protection, and the destruction of evil.
The goddess is called Banashankari because she was originally worshipped in the forests (bana) of Badami, linking her name to both the place and the sacred wild where the divine manifests in raw form.
Sub-shrine – Hanuman Temple:
Within the temple complex is the Shree Varaprasada Anjaneya swamy Temple, where the idol of Hanuman (Anjaneya) is believed to have emerged naturally on a rock (a swayambhu murti). This adds a deep spiritual aura to the site, as such natural manifestations are considered powerful and self-willed appearances of the deity.
Naming of the Area:
The surrounding locality itself is named Banashankari, drawing its identity from this temple – a testament to its cultural and spiritual impact on the city.
Temple Administration & Renovation:
The temple was brought under government administration in 1984, and the Religious Endowment Department of the Government of Karnataka undertook a renovation and restoration project in 2010, with the goal of preserving and promoting the temple’s religious significance.
Though there are no inscriptions or epigraphs found near the temple that detail its ancient past, the stone carvings on the pillars and walls suggest an artistic and mythological connection to Lord Shiva’s divine entourage (Parivara Devatas), strengthening its symbolic ties to the Shaiva-Shakta traditions.
Sacred Well:
Within the temple premises is a sacred well that has never dried up for hundreds of years. The water from this well is used in the ritualistic bathing (abhisheka) of the deity, signifying purity, continuity, and divine grace.
Origin Story – Divine Dream and Devotion
The original shrine of Banashankari Devi is located in Badami, Karnataka. Shri Basappa Shettar, a member of the Ganiga Shettar community, considered Banashankari Devi as his family deity (Kula Devate). Due to ill health, he was unable to make his annual pilgrimage to Badami one year. During this time, the Goddess appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to bring her idol from Badami and establish her worship in his hometown.
Following this divine vision, Basappa Shettar went to Badami, received the idol from the temple priests there, and began worship at the current site in Bengaluru. Subsequently, on May 21, 1915, Basappa Shettar, his sons – including Somanna Shetty – and others formally constructed the temple and installed the deity in her new abode. The idol represents the Shakti Swarupini (embodiment of power) mounted on a lion (Simha Vahini), emphasizing her fierce and protective nature.
Rituals, Beliefs, and Symbolism
Special Worship Times – Rahukala Pooja:
This temple is particularly renowned for the Rahukala Pooja (worship during Rahu Kalam, an inauspicious time astrologically), which is believed to ward off negative planetary influences and doshas (flaws) in one's horoscope. Symbolically, worshiping during Rahukala invokes the goddess's power to neutralize evil and darkness.
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Key Days for Worship: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays are considered especially auspicious.
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Unique Ritual: Devotees light lamps inside lemon rinds (a symbolic act where the bitterness of lemon is transformed into divine light), seeking blessings for:
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Marriage (Kankana Bhāgya)
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Children (Santāna Bhāgya)
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Fulfillment of wishes and desires (Iṣṭārtha Siddhi)
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Annual Festivities:
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Banada Hunnime Jatre (Festival): Held on the full moon (Poornima) day of the Banada month, marked by large gatherings and celebrations.
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Goddess’s Birthday: Celebrated on the Bhadrapada Shuddha Poornima, where special events and spiritual activities take place.
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Navaratri Festival: During Navaratri, the temple becomes a hub of devotion with special decorations, homas (fire rituals), and worship, signifying the victory of the goddess over evil and the embodiment of feminine power (Shakti).
Spiritual Symbolism and Faith:
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Banashankari Devi is not just a deity, but a protector, especially revered by women, families, and devotees seeking relief from personal and astrological hardships.
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Her lion mount symbolizes strength, fearlessness, and royal authority, while the very act of her
Her worship is a fusion of Shakta (goddess-focused), Shaiva, and folk traditions.