Ancient temples in heritage city deck up for Mahashivaratri today

All Shiva temples in the heritage city have been spruced up to celebrate Mahashivaratri today.

The festival holds special importance for Hindus as devotees fast all day long, perform rituals, worship Shivalinga at home or visit nearby temples to appease Lord Shiva.

Most festivals see a price hike in flowers and this year is no different. Flowers have become dearer and ‘Bilvapatra’, believed to be the most sacred offering for worshipping Lord Shiva, is in great demand. Devaraja market and other market places are abuzz with activity as shoppers throng the area for last minute purchases.

On Shivaratri while many go for a fruit and milk diet for the whole day, ardent devotees observe a 24-hour-fast.

This year, Prajapitha Brahmakumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya has recreated a 40-ft tall Amarnath cave and has set up Dwadasha Jyothirlingas at Maharaja’s College Grounds in the city on account of its golden jubilee celebrations. It is sure to be a crowd puller on Mahashivaratri day. Basvaraja Rajarishi will deliver a discourse on ‘Shivaratri Adhyathmika’ and ‘Jeevana Darshana’ today at 6.30 pm. In the evening cultural programmes will also be held.

Shiva temples

The 101 Shiva temples in the city are also conducting special pujas and rituals as part of the festival including Laksha Bilvarchane, bhajans and distribution of prasad.

Amrutheshwara temple on Dewan’s Road has a history dating back to thousands of years. Members of the royal family of Wadiyar kings of the Yadu dynasty would perform pujas at the temple for the well-being of the state and the people. Members of the erstwhile royal family still continue the practice.

Golden mask

The Trinayaneshwara temple, near Jayamarthanda gate of Mysuru Palace, is visited
by hundreds of people every day.

The idol here will be decorated with a golden mask weighing 11 kg on Mahashivaratri day and pujas will be performed all through the night. The temple got its name of Trinayaneshwara temple as the idol has three eyes.

The Nageshwara Bhogeshwaraswami temple in Bogadi, which has a history of 1,600 years, Vijaya Vishweshara Kameshwara and Kameshwari temple in Agrahara, Sri Prasanna Vishweshwara temple in Chamarajapuram, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashrama on Ooty Road, Chandramouleshwara temple in Vani Vilas Mohalla, Mukkanneshwaraswami temple on Ashoka Road are a few other temples in the city where Shivaratri will be celebrated in a grand manner.