Dodda Basavana Gudi (Nandi Temple) - Karnataka

Address

Dodda Basavana Gudi (Nandi Temple) – Karnataka

Bull Temple Rd, Basavanagudi,

Bangalore, Karnataka 560019

Moolavar

Nandi

Introduction

Dodda Basavana Gudi (Nandhi Temple) is situated in Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, area of South Bangalore, part of the largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. The bull referred to is a sacred demi-god, known as Nandi; Nandi is a close devotee and attendant of Shiva. Dodda Basavana Gudi is said to be one of the biggest temple to Nandi in the world. The stone monolith idol of Nandi is continually covered with new layers of butter, benne in the local language of Kannada. There is an idol of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha close by.

Puranic Significance

The area in which the Bull temple is constructed was very fertile for growing rice, peanuts and groundnuts. The rich cultivation of these products was the source of living for the many farmers who had fields here. However, during harvesting season, a mighty bull would rampage through the fields and consume the produce of groundnuts. The farmers were terrified of the bull but also tired of the constant damage it was causing.

One evening, all the farmers gathered together to fight the bull when it arrived. A farmer, in his adrenaline rush, hit the bull on the head with a stick. Instead of running or panicking, the bull sat down still and turned into a statue! However, the statue started growing day by day. Intimidated by this, the villagers prayed to Lord Shiva to help them with his. Lord Shiva placed a metal plate on the head of the bull, and since then, the statue stopped growing. Nandi is considered a companion and guardian of Lord Shiva. But it is important to know how he acquired this stature.

A very virtuous sage Shilada, who was a doting devotee of Lord Shiva, was troubled because he couldn’t conceive a child. Finally, Shilada decided to immerse himself in the prayers of Lord Shiva till the Lord grants him his wish for a child. Pleased by the sage’s grit and devotion, Lord Shiva granted him his wish to father a child. The next day, sage Shilada found his beautiful baby boy in the middle of a groundnut field. He named him Nandi and raised his son to be a doted devotee of Lord Shiva. Nandi was always taught to place his faith in the great Lord Shiva. Once, a few sages visited Shilada’s abode and noticed Nandi. The sages regrettably informed Shilada of their vision that Nandi did not have a long time to live. Shilada was utterly disappointed and fell into a pit of depression. At this, young Nandi comforted his father by reminding him that all problems can be solved by placing their faith in Lord Shiva. Nandi decided to devote his days and nights in the prayer of the lord. Lord Shiva, pleasurably surprised by the young boy’s devotion, appeared before his eyes and Nandi was left spellbound. He lost himself in the light of Lord Shiva. In that moment, Nandi realized that he wanted to spend every waking moment of his life by Lord Shiva. When he requested Shiva to grant him this boon, Lord Shiva told him that he had just lost the bull he travelled on, and that Nandi could be his bull. From that moment forward, Nandi was blessed with the face of a bull and the promise of an eternity by the side of Lord Shiva.

Special Features

Nandi Temple is exclusively for the worship of the sacred bull, known as Nandi, Lord Shiva‘s vahana. The word “nandi” means “joyful” in Sanskrit. The temple was built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda under the Vijayanagara empire in the Vijayanagara architectural style, he also founded the city of Bengaluru. The temple is named after the large granite Nandi monolith placed on a plinth in the temple shrine (garbhagriha) which has become blackened from years of being rubbed with charcoal and oil. The temple is a small one, consisting only of the shrine fronted by a porch in the Vijayanagara style. The current tower (vimana) over the shrine was constructed in the early 20th century and is adorned with Saivite figures and motifs. It is said to house one of the largest Nandi murthis in the world. The height of the murthi is approximately 15 ft (4.6 m) and it is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) long.

Festivals

Every year on the last Monday and Tuesday of the month of Karthika Maasa a groundnut fair is held in the temple premises and groundnut is offered to the deity.