Mahimapura, An unknown paradise

An unknown paradise

Mahimapura - by Srinidhi Rhagavendra

Main highlight of the place:

This is the only place in India where Garuda the vehicle of Lord Vishnu is worshipped in idol form.

The main deity of the temple, Mahimaranganathaswamy is in the form of a mound of jaggery.

How to reach the place from Bangalore:

Distance from Bangalore: 46.6 kms

Direction: Towards Tumkur

Take the National Highway 4 (Bangalore - Pune Road) and drive for around 45 kms in the direction of Tumkur. One can find a large sign on the right side of the road, which reads "Mahimapura" and an arrow points towards the cross. Take left and proceed straight for around 1.5 kms. You will come across a small hillock with a steep flight of steps leading to the top. This is Mahimapura.

Legend Behind this place:

There is a legend associated with this place. It is believed that this is the place where Garuda performed penance to cleanse himself of the sin of eating the dead body of a demon. The lord after being pleased with Garuda's penance appeared before him in the form of a mound of jaggery, also known as "Nirakari Swaroopa."

In mythological times the sage Kashyapa's wife Aditi was presented with 2 eggs by the Sun god who says that two sons will be born out of the eggs. Aditi waits for many years for the eggs to hatch. Getting impatient she breaks one of the eggs and a child without arms and legs comes out of the egg, curses her and vanishes. She feels sad and worships the Sun god again. The Sun god appears and tells her to wait patiently and let the other egg hatch on its own. After some years Garuda comes out of the egg and immediately demands food from his mother, she directs him to Sage Kashyapa. Garuda who is impatient with hunger disturbs the penance of Sage Kashyapa and asks for food. The sage then gets angry and tells Garuda to go to a rocky place where the dead body of a "Rakshasi" (demoness) is lying, eat it and satisfy his hunger. This place is called the "Rakshasi Bande" and is situated very near to Mahimapura.

Garuda eats the dead body and realizes that what he has done is wrong and wants to perform penance to wash off his sins. He again goes and apologizes to Sage Kashyapa, who in turn directed him to Mahimapura and bid him to worship Lord Ranganatha who will wash off his sins. Garuda performs penance and after many years the Lord Vishnu (Ranganatha) appeared before him in the Nirakari form or as a mound of Jaggery.

The temple is built to worship the glory of Lord Ranganatha and the main deity is called "Mahima Ranganatha Swamy." This is the only place wherein Lord Garuda is worshipped. The temple is built in the Chola style and the pillars have beautiful carvings on them. But the maintenance has been pretty low and the pillars have been whitewashed due to which, the sculptures go unnoticed.