Kumara Swamy Devasthana, Bangalore

Kumara Swamy Devasthana, is a Hindu temple located in Hanumanthanagar, in the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, southern India. It is dedicated to Lord Kumara Swamy, also known as Lord Subrahmanya or Murugan.

Lord Subrahmanya

There is a saying in Tamil "There is no God greater than Lord Subrahmanya". Lord Subrahmanya is also known as Skanda, Swaminatha, Guru Guha or Kumara, and was born from the third eye, the ajna chakra, between the two eyes of Lord Shiva. He is said to be Lord Shiva himself, in his highest expression. He is the Parabrahman, the Supreme God, Verily that One Truth, the Lord Parameswara himself, who expresses himself as the Vedic Advaitic Shanmatha ( Six Facets ) Gods { Lord Shiva, Lord Maha Vishnu, Goddess Shri Raja Rajeshwari, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Surya Narayana } . It is also believed that Lord Shiva, who is verily the Supreme Paramatman, who would remain alone at the end of the Maha Pralaya, having the entire creation, including all Gods, merged within himself, would finally depict his highest and most refined expression as Lord Subrahmanya, before he reverts to his own form as we know him - Lord Shiva Parameshwara. It is for this reason that prayers to Lord Subrahmanya stress upon highest degree of purity, aided by many ritualistic procedures, before performing his worship. Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped for success in war, for employment, marriage, begetting of children, and, for the experiential knowledge of the Ultimate Truth, the Advaitic Supreme God-Head, Lord Parameshwara Shiva, the Paramatman, the Parabrahman.

The temple

The temple is located on top of a gentle hill, known as Mount Joy, with walkways and stairs leading to the summit. The temple at the top of the hill is dedicated to Lord Kumara Swamy. Special prayers are performed during "Subbaraya (Subramanya) Shasti". Adjoining the Lord Kumara Swamy, are the Sacred Shiva Linga, Lord Ganesha in his seated posture and Goddess Parvathi. Also have been consecrated, the Navagrahas, in a separate shrine adjoining this shrine, within the same hall. The Gopuram at the Entrance preceding a huge open hall, preceding the hall enshrining the Main Shrine, as we can see it, is sculpted with the Lord's image of his role as a Guru to the Lord Shiva himself. This is exactly the same as Swamimalai in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. Swamimalai is one of the six pilgrimage centres (Aru Padai Kshetram ) dedicated to the Lord Subrahmanya and it is at Swamimalai that the Lord Kumara Swamy became the Guru to his own father, the Lord Shiva himself.

Here in Bangalore, At Kumara Swamy temple, most of the priests are of Telugu origin. Originally the sanctum sanctorum had a pancha-loha IDOL ( the granite idol seen and worshipped now is of much later origin ). This original pancha-loha idol is now seen enshrined separately in the Hall preceding the hall enshrining the sanctum sanctorum.

Pancha-Mukhi Ganesha temple

At the foot of the hill is Pancha-Mukhi Ganesha temple. This modern temple has an idol of Lord Ganesha with five heads, hence the name Pancha-MukHi Ganesha. His Vaahana there is different and away from the usual mooshika vahanaa. There, his vaahana is the Simha (lion). The recurring dominant presence of the negative and false ego that corrupts the mind is depicted by the lion and the Lord Ganesha, in this form of his, is worshipped to win over such a mind with such an ego. Since no trick, courage, or bravery whatsoever method of such minds and the associated negative and false ego that corrupts the mind, succeeds in its war against the Lord Ganesha, this form of his (also synonymous with the name Vakratunda Mahaganapathi), is worshipped for all-round victory and a calm and composed state of balance (soul, mind and body) and existence perfectly in a perfect and complete rhythm, in totality and entirety, with the law of nature.

Special poojas (prayers) are performed on Sankastha Chaturdasi, and the temple is crowded on this day.

The worship of Lord Ganesha is done according to the ancient Gaanapathyaa method. This temple is one of the few temples in Bangalore to follow this method of worship. On the opposite side of the temple, the sanctum for Navaraghas are located and adjoining them is the Lord Anjaneya, blessing the devotees with his presence and grace.

Other features

Mid-Way between the foot-hill and the apex, is the shrine dedicated to the Lord Aadhi Sesha ( The Royal King of all Snakes and Snake-Gods ) serving the Lord Narayana Parama Purusha Lord Maha Vishnu, Shriman Narayana as his holy rest-bed.

Next to the Lord Kumara Swamy temple there is another small granite hill. Atop this, there is a large water tank built by BWSSB. It supplies potable water to the adjoining areas. On a clear day, wide views of Bangalore are available from the top of the hill.