Male Mahadeshwara betta (MM.Hills)

About Male Mahadeshwara betta (MM hills)

A pilgrimage center, located in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka. The ancient and sacred temple of Mahadeshwara is very popular Shaiva pilgrim center and one of the powerful Shiva temples.

The height of the hill is about 3000 feet above sea level. This also one of the highest revenue earning temple in Karnataka. Mahadeshwara miracles are beautifully sung by the village folk in Janapada Style (Kamsalai).

It draws lakhs of pilgrims from the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Amidst dense forest, the temple attracts not only the pilgrims but also Nature lovers. 

History

This temple was founded by June Gowda, a rich kuruba Gowda (landlord). It is believed that Saint Mahadeshwara must have lived during the 15th century. About 600 years ago, he came here to perform penance and it is believed that he is still performing penance in the temple's garbha gudi in the form of a linga.

The linga, worshipped now in the garbha gudi, is a self-manifested (swayambhu) one. Sri Male Mahadeshwara Swamy was moving on a tiger known as Huli Vahana (Tiger as a vehicle) and performed a number of miracles around the Betta to save the people and saints living there.

About the Trip 

 I started off from Bengaluru, satellite station in a KSRTC bus, at 8.30 pm and reached MM hills at around 1.30 am. and got a room at the shiv-darshani lodge. The room costed 350Rs, rested till 7:00 am and then got myself readied and visited the temple. Got the darshan of God soon, as there was no much crowd. Around 9.00 pm I was out of the temple and also made it take darshan twice.

Also, the temple provides 3 times food(Anna Dhana) to the general public. Even I had the prasad, it tasted great (Tomato bath). After the great breakfast, I just searched if there were any places nearby, which I can visit. And I got to know Hogenakkal falls was 47 Kms from MM Hills, and the bus was at 10.30 Am.

 I vacated by room in shiv-darshini lodge and came down to the bus stop, waiting for the Hogenakkal falls bus. You can see my trip continuation to Hogenakkal falls in the next post. 

Story

It is believed that Mahadeshwara was born to a lady named Uttrajamma. He belonged to  Veera Shaiva lingayat by religion.
It is believed that the young Saint had come from Shri Shaila. He was spiritually guided by the pontiff of Sutter Matt and Kunthur Matt. He is said to have performed several miracles in his life, in these places. Afterwards, he went to the hills of Male Mahadeshwara. It is a dense forest area surrounded by seventy-seven peaks in seven circles. It was not a safe place for human habitation. It was about six centuries ago that the young saint went into the forest area, to save the saints who were performing penance and were taken captive by an evil king known as Shravana who possessed abundant black magic power. Apart from this, there were tribes living here and there in small groups who were devoid of any rays of human civilization. It is said that Sri Mahadeshwara destroyed the black magic power of Shravana and released the saints who were in his prison. The place where they were kept captive is also a holy place, called Thavasere and the place where Shravana lived is called Shravana Boli.

According to tradition, there are seven peaks
identified in the legend, which is as follows :

Anumale, Jenumale, Kanumale, Pachchemale, Pavalamale, Ponnachimale and Kongumale. These seven peaks together form the M.M.Betta. It is said that the saint Lord Mahadeshwara established a Mutt here for looking after the religious and cultural affairs of the people of this area. It is also said that, through his miracles, he enlightened and uplifted the hill tribes & made them his disciples. The people coming from these families have become hereditary 'Archaks' of the Mahadeshwara temple. The temple was under the control & management of Sri Salur Mutt established by the Lord Mahadeshwara himself until it was handed over to the Madras Government in the year 1953. After the formation of the state of Karnataka, the administration of the Temples is done by the trust committee, appointed by the Karnataka Government under the Muzrai Department.

The forests of M.M.Betta have been famous for wonderful regeneration and stock of sandalwood and bamboo. The forests are inhabited by a variety of animals, birds, and reptiles. They are found in large numbers too. Elephants are the most prominent species. The latest estimate puts the population of elephants is more than 2500 in the district, which includes Bandipur National Park too. Frequent sightings of guars (Indian bison), sambars, spotted deer, jackals, sloth bears, porcupine, etc., apart from rare sightings of tigers, leopards and wild dogs are possible in and around this area.

Accommodation 

Plenty of rooms are available here, you have visited an office(Information center) nearby to temple and have to book your rooms, Room cost range - 300, 350, 500 Non-A/C, 750 A/C.





How to reach - 250 km from Bangalore via Mysore road and kollegal, public transportation can be availed, Bus(KSRTC) start from satellite station on daily basis, two bus's each day (7.30 AM and 8.30PM). 
Also, you can go by own transport, roads are good and also you can save some time.

Near by places to visit - Hogenakkal falls (47 km), Salluru Matta(3km), matter dam(49 km), Biligiri Rangana betta(49 km).