Ghati Subramanya Swamy Temple – Karnataka

Address

S.S. Ghati, Doddaballapur Taluk,

Karnataka 561203

Moolavar

Subramanya Swamy

Amman

Valli and Devasena

Introduction

Ghati Subramanya Swamy Temple is located in S.S.Ghati Post, Doddaballapur Taluk, Bengaluru District. Lord Subramanya Swamy and Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy are the main deities in this temple. It is believed that the idol was self-manifested. Here Lord Subramanya Swamy faces east and Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy faces west. Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy can be viewed through a mirror that is kept behind Ghati Subramanya Swamy. Subramanya Swamy is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi. Lord Ganesh is his brother and his consorts are Valli and Devasena. Subramanya Swamy is also lord of Snakes.

Puranic Significance

The temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old; the construction of the Ghati Subramanya temple is attributed to Ghorpade, who belonged to the Sandur dynasty. It is believed that the deity appeared in the dreams of the king, revealing the whereabouts of the idols. The king, with the help of the locals, discovered the self-manifested idol of the deity and then commissioned a temple to be built around them.

It is believed that on this spot, the deity Lord Subramanya was performing penance in the form of a snake. Lord Subramanya prayed to Lord Narasimha to provide the Naga’s family from Lord Vishnu’s vehicle, the Garuda, known for his dislike towards serpents. Lord Subramanya’s form is that of a seven-hooded snake and it is believed that this is the region where he vanquished Ghatikasura, the demon.

Beliefs

It is the belief of devotees that childless couples making vows shall be blessed with children by the lord. A related ritual is that of installing idols of snakes. One can see thousands of such idols near the temple.

Special Features

The high pyramid-shaped gateway tower of the temple is one of the most distinctive features, a perfect example of Dravidian architecture. It is adorned with sculptures of various deities and events of mythology. It is believed that the idols have always been present here, and according to the legend, the idols of Karthikeya and Narasimha emerged from the ground and the temple was built around it. There is an anthill which is opposite the temple and devotees pour milk on it as part of one of the rituals.

One of the distinguishing aspects of this temple is that one can find two deities here – Lord Subramanya and Lord Narasimha. The idols are found in the sanctum of the temple. The idol of Lord Subramanya, in his serpentine form, faces the east while the idol of Lord Narasimha sits at the back of the former and faces the west. Devotees can view the idol of Lord Narasimha through a strategically placed mirror, allowing both deities to be worshipped at the same time. The idol of Lord Subramanya or Karthikeya is made from a single stone.

Festivals

The Ghati Subramanya temple is one of the most major spots for snake worship in Southern India. Brahmarathotsava is one of the important days at the temple, celebrated with special rituals. Another major festival at the Ghati Subramanya temple is Narasimha Jayanti.