Sri Gayathri Devi Temple

Chaitra Km 14 months ago

This temple was built at the south-eastern part of the Mysore Palace fort, corresponding with the Trineshwaraswamy temple present at the north-eastern part of the fort.
Such a divine place.

Krishna Sai Voliveru 47 months ago

Mysore Palace has many temples, dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses and are built intricately which are examples of the excellence architecture during the period. One of the temples is Gayathri Temple. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, built this temple in 1953. The King was great devotee of the Goddess Devi including Gayathri. The Gayathri temple is dedicated to goddess Parvathi. Inside the enclosure of the temple there are other shrines dedicated to Savitri, Gayathri and Lakshmi. The central pillared hall has statues of Lord Ganesha, Shiva and Maha Vishnu.

anantharaman k 35 months ago

SRI GAYATHRI DEVI TEMPLE
Mysore Palace, Karnataka, India.

About The Temple

History

From it's genesis in the year 1399 to the Independence of India in 1947, the Wodeyar Dynasty built the glorious kingdom of Mysore. The Wodeyars progressive-administration saw Mysore emerge as a prosperous state and one of the important centers of art and culture in India. The Wodeyars were not only accomplished exponents of the fine arts, they were enthusiastic patrons as well, and their legacies continue to influence music and art even today.
The last Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar was an ardent devotee of Sri Gayathri Devi. He named his eldest daughter (b.1946) after the Goddess. In 1951 he initiated the construction of Sri Gayathri Devi temple within the Mysore palace fort. The legendary sculptor Shilpa Siddanthi Sri Siddalingaswamy who had worked on many sculptures at the Palace, entrusted his protege Sri B.Basavanna to work on the temple sculptures. The resulting awe-inspiring architecture and sculptures are a testament to Sri B. Basavanna's amazing skill, Sri Siddalingaswamy's immense experience and Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar's devotion.

Depiction

Sri Gayathri Devi is depicted with five faces (Panchamukhi) representing the Pancha pranas -Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana. These pranas consist of the Pancha tatwas namely Prithvi, Jala, Vayu, Agni and Aakasha (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky). Sri Gayathri Devi protects these five life-forces (pranas) of those who chant the Gayathri Mantra. The three forms of Sri Gayathri Devi namely Sri Savithri, Sri Gayathri and Sri Saraswathi are depicted in the form of detailed sculptures at the temple.

Sri Gayathri Devi is the source of creation, existence and manifestation of the universe. She is known as Adi Shakthi. God Brahma is the creator of the universe and his creations are carefully protected by God Vishnu. God Shiva destroys all sins in this universe and thus the creations of Lord Brahma attain Mukthi. The Universe exists by virtue of the three Gods namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The singular force of Adi Shakthi is present in Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - as the powers of eternal creation, execution and evolution. She constitutes the word "OM".
Sri Gayathri Devi is known as the source of Vedas (Knowledge). She is the presiding deity of The Gayathri mantra which is the oldest and highly revered mantra from the Vedas. The Gayathri mantra inspires righteous wisdom. It means that the Almighty God may illuminate our intellect, which leads us on the righteous path.

Building the Temple

The temple was finalized to be built at the south-eastern part of the Mysore Palace fort, corresponding with the Trineshwaraswamy temple present at the north-eastern part of the fort. The three main idols were sculpted according to the sanskrit verse(mentioned next section) within a span of one year. The idols of Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi in Panchayathana order was consecrated according to the Agamic rituals. The temple was inaugurated by Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar on the day of Vijayanama Samvatsar Chaitra Bahula Bidige(1953). Immensely pleased with the artworks, Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar honored the sculptor Sri B.Basavanna with the first-grade medal, a golden chistle, silver hammer and a golden chain during the inauguration.

The Avatars

It is mentioned in the Puranas (ancient books about Gods and Goddesses) that Gayathri Devi appears in different forms during a day. The Sanskrit verse describing these different forms is as follows -

Devim Purvahna Sandhyayam Gayathrim Vahni Roopinim

Devim Madhyahna Sandhyayam Savithrim Rudra Roopinim

Saraswathim Tu Sayahne Sandhyayam Vishnu Roopinim

Goddess Savithri

Goddess Savithri is on the right side of goddess Gayathri Devi. She has four arms (two on each side). The right arms hold (top to bottom) the Trishula (trident) and Japamala (prayer beads), the left arms hold Agni (fire) and a Damaru (drum). The goddess is seated on Vrishabha Vahana (bull), since Sri Gayathri Devi appears in the form of Rudra in afternoon.

Goddess Gayathri