Chamarajeshwara Chariot Festival, Chamarajanagar

Chamarajanagar is a town in the southern end of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is named after Chamaraja Wodeyar IX (1774–1796), king of Mysore, who was born in the town.

Chamarajanagara was earlier called as ‘Hari Kutaara’ and later got the name Chamarajanagara because of God Chamarajeshwara Swami. 

 "Chamarajashwara" a historical and ancient temple that has been a great devotional boon to the people of Chamarajanagar and surrounding villages over the years, truly deserves its place in tourism map of Karnataka.  "Bhilvastakam" a Sanskrit chant praises Lord Shiva at Chamarajeshwara temple located in area of in the heart of Chamarajanagar town. 

HISTORY 

Maharaja Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar

 The place was known by previous name "Arikotara"(Ari means enemy, Kotara means a Axe) and later it was renamed as Chamarajanagar after the birth of Sri Jayachamrajendra Wodeyar of Mysore Dynasty in 1776. The Chamarajeshwara temple was built in A.D. 1826 by Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar in the memory of his father Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. The inscription - carved on a huge slab placed in front of the Janana Mantapa near Chamarajeshwara temple - gives information about the birth place of Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar. The temple acquired prominence and fame during the period of Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar of Mysore Dynasty. 

                  INSIDE THE TEMPLE

This temple has two mantapam’s – the Muukha-Mantapa (open pillered hall), the Nandi mantapam and Garbha Gudi (sanctum sanctorum). All the mantapams are carved with motifs of deities. At the entrance of the temple, the sitting Nandi Idol facing Lord Shiva is made of concrete, covered by an Iron Shield. A huge praakara (enclosoure wall) of the temple resembling a fort, covers the main temple comprising 64 idols and ancient deities. Inside the Sanctum of Lord Shiva temple, one can see Lord Snapana Ganapathi at Navarang and 6 lingas in a separate Chamber. Devotes after having a darshan of all the Gods inside the temple, report to the devotee of Shiva - Chandikeshwara to authorize the grace of Shiva. The “Navagraha’s” installed in front of Shiva temple attracts more number of devotees during Amavase(the new moon day). 

The more than 70ft high, 5 storey Rajagopura with 5 glittering brass "Kalasha " facing east is a wonderful specimen of the south Indian style of Hoysala architecture. The temple has big stage on either side in front of the temple. The stage witnesses the Cultural Utsav during the special occasions.

On either side of the main entrance of the temple, one can see the carvings of Lord Ganesha at left and Goddess Chamundeshwari at right. Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar installed the Lord Chamarajeswara Linga in the memory of his father. Goddess Kempa-nanjambha in the memory of his mother resides to the left side of Lord Chamarajeshwara. But the historians and scholars assert that the temple was rebuilt by Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar.

         Manuals say that the idols installed in the temple were brought from Balamuri temple in Srirangapatnam. The most characteristic and particularly interesting objects within the temple, are the paintings and stucco coloured images of Mythological instances taken from Girija Kalyana, Samudra Manthan (churning of sea to get Amrutha) and Goddess Chamundeshwari and Kempananjambha shrine. It is said that the images are maintained according to Mysore style by professional Palace artists belonging to Somavamsha Dynasty. 

 The color used for paintings were prepared by the Blue, Red and Yellow stones with a mixture of diamond Gum after crushing the stones to find powder. The color in stucco figures will last long time and can be witnessed even today at many temples in Mysore region including Chamarajeshwara temple. While a majority of the paintings are in a sad state of affairs some still carry the tinge of delicacy and softness, discernible only to shrewd eyes. 

 The temple was wealthy during the period Wodeyar Dynasty. Mummadi Wodeyar who visited the temple along with his three wives, is said to have presented all the valuable jewelry ornaments to the Lord Shiva. Even to this day, all the ornaments are kept in treasury and decorated during Girija kalyana celebration. Mummadi Wodeyar has donated the revenue of 13 villages to the temple to meet the expenditure incurred by the temple. But the income from the villages had been stopped due to the implementation of land reforms Act. Now a days, the temple income is said to have risen to Rs. 4 Lakhs per year, donated solely by the devotees. 

         CELEBRATIONS

Customary rituals and special aradhanas, poojas are conducted during the time of Shivarathri and Girijakalyana. Over thousands of devotees from other parts of the states witness the famous Chamarajeshwaraswamy Rathayathra celebrated with grandeur during the month of Aashada (July month) on every year. 

The Chamarajeshwaraswamy Ratha yathra is famous in this region because of the unique chariot fest celebrated during the month of Aashada (July Month). The Ratha yathra also has a special reference to the newly married couples. It is a custom normally followed in this region that the newly married couples must necessarily throw a pair of Banana fruit to the rolling chariot. The Rathotsava is also witnessed by many couples who have undergone child marriage, which is still being practiced in rural areas of Chamarajanagar District. 

        

The Rathothsava celebration takes place with an inclusion of other four Ratha’s, prominent of which includes Kempananjamba Ammanavara Ratha. The main chamarajeshwara ratha has a history of over 167 years. It is said that the main ratha was built by Basavaraje Urs of Urs Dynasty who served as a “bhakshi” in palace of Mysore Wodeyar in 1835.