21st August 2018.
This visit to Stti Betta Hill Kala Bhairava was a part of
Bangalore and Kolar Heritage's visit to the Chozha period temples. The Sitti
Betta hill was one of the considerable
important hills during the Chozha and Hoysala periods in Nolamba territory. The twin
temples Sri Patishwara and Kala Bhairava temples are on the top of the hill.
Sri Patishwara temple was constructed utilizing the natural cave. The mandapas
are supported by the Nolamba ornate pillars. In the Kala Bhairava temple sannadhi
for Virabhadra and Mahishasuramardini. The twin temple faces east with a balipeedam
and a Dwajasthambam. A Tamil inscription, mentioning "Rajaraja" stone is standing in front of the temple.
The Linga is called "Sripatiswara", since Vishnu is also called Sripati and
in Kannada Sihatti or Sihati, which is corrupted as Sitti. In the inscription, Kala Bhairava is mentioned as Tribhuvana Vidanga-Kshetrapala Pillaiyar. Ashtadik balakas panel is on the Kala Bhairava Sannidhi navrang mandapam.
There are about 40 inscriptions and most of them belong to Tamil
Gangas and the balance belongs to the early Vijayanagar period. Behind
Mahisasuramardini’s back side projecting rock is the 1024 AD Rajendra Chozha
period inscription. Kulothunga Chozha –I, 1071 AD inscriptions are found on the
back wall of Kala Bhairava Temple. The
oldest inscription belongs to Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. One of the 14th-century inscriptions speaks about offering the finger to the god Kala Bhairava.
The legend of offering forefinger goes like this. The legend
is associated with the story of the demon Bhasmasura. Demon Bhasmasura received a boon from Lord Shiva that whoever he
touches should reduced to ash. After getting the boon the demon wants to
test on Lord Shiva who gave the boon. Fearing Bhasmasura, Shiva hid in this
hill cave, When the demon asked a Morasu Wokkalu tribe farmer ( These people are from Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu, to come in carts and settle here. They were later called Wodeyars and the founder of Bengaluru city was founded by KempeGowda belongs to the Morasu Wokkalu Community ), he pointed to this hill with his
forefinger. In the meantime Lord Vishnu took the mohini avatar and killed
the demon, making him touch his own head in the process of dance. The demon
Bhasmasura was reduced to ashes on the hill. Hence this hill was called Bhasmasura betta.
From then
onwards the Morasu Wokalu tribes used to offer their forefinger. If the
family does not have a male, a female member offers 2 fingers. This practice was
continued till, the 1876s, and the practice was banned by the Government. ( This was recorded by Sri Narasimhachariar of ASI, after a visit to this Sitti hill in 1906 CE ) Now
instead of offering a forefinger, the finger will be wounded with a flower and the same
will be cut and offered to God. In addition to this finger, the devotees have to
offer money and rice, which will be divided into certain proportions between, Archaks,
Shanbag, Patel, Goldsmith, and Barber. A 14th-century inscription clearly mentions the
division of proportions of the rice offered, among goldsmiths and others.
It was told that during rain, water will be absorbed by the hill Bhasmasura opposite Sitti Betta.
It was told that during rain, water will be absorbed by the hill Bhasmasura opposite Sitti Betta.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be opened between 06.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
Mallur 24 Km, Orati Agrahara 9 KM, and Yeliyur 28 KM
LOCATION: GPS Co-ordination
Sripatishwara
Kala bhairava
Mahishasura Mardini- Chozha inscriptions on the back rock
Nolamba Pillars
Ashtadikpalakas
Ashtadikpalakas
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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