WEAVER'S WORLD / MYSORE / PLACES TO VISIT -2

WEAVER'S WORLD / MYSORE / PLACES TO VISIT -2

The garden is nice and is next to the dam wall. The flowers and trees are spread all over neatly, and it is a nice place to have leisure time with family and friends. The garden is split into two parts, left and right side section. In order to go to right section, you need to walk through a small bridge. The musical fountain is situated on the right side and it is played in the evening. It is plush green everywhere.

Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is one of the best art galleries in India containing priceless treasures a spectacular collection of artifacts and paintings, which were once part of palace. It has more than 2000 invaluable paintings depicting different styles of painting from Mysore, Shanthinikethan, Mughal period and of Western countries. It is a treasure trove of paintings here that are of an exceptional type and collection of great western artists P.P. Ruben, Aless Caddy, Nikolai Roerich, Titan, and Jiladin Ville. There are wonderful miniature paintings by Gunoy and painting works of several others. Most of the art work is still intact from the 1700 and earlier and it is based on 3 floors. Some old musical instruments are on the top floor. This place is also known as Jagmohan palace, houses one of the best art collections, the paintings from Ravi Varma being the main attraction.

Chamarajendra Wadeyar father of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadeyar III was born in current Chamrajnagar in March 1774 which was then known as 'Janana Mantapa'. Since this place was the birthplace of the King's father, it was named as Chamarajanagar. During 1826 he built the temple called Sri Chamarajeshwara Swamy accompanied by another temple for Kempananjaamba i.e. in his parents’ name. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other for His consort Chamundeswari. It is one of the ancient temples in princely state of Mysore showcasing the rich cultural heritage.

The idol of Lord Shiva is Shivalinga that is consecrated in sanctum sanctorum, was made and brought from Sringeri. The temple has a vast enclosure and a huge wall surrounds the main temple, with golden pinnacles and other shrines, resembling the atmosphere in Lord Nanjundeswara temple in Nanjanguda.

From a distance one can see the five-storey Rajagopuram (royal temple tower) of 70’ height adorned by five shining brass kalasha. The beautiful carvings of Lord Ganesha (on left) and Goddess Chamundeswari (on right) would attract our attention at the main entrance. At the doorway, the sculpted Nandi (vehicle of Lord Shiva) made of concrete, is placed. There are two mantapas, known as Mukha-Mantapa (an open pillared hall) and Nandi Mantapa alongside sanctum of temple.

There is a row of idols starting from its entrance like Sundara Murthy and many such devotee Sahasralingas (1,000 Lingas). The colourfully painted episodes of Girija Kalyana, Samudra Manthan (churning of ocean) and other images of mythological scenes are spectacular. The nine planets (Navagrahas) standing in their position as attributed to them in scriptures, in front of Temple are marvelous. Special poojas are performed to them on Amavasya (new moon days).

Lord Chandikeshwara is well known for his drowsiness, yet cautious in marking the attendance of devotees who attended the shrine. For that important and inevitable aspect every devotee must stand by the side of the little shrine of Chandikeshwara and clap to make him awake and mark the attendance. Otherwise such devotee will not be entitled to receive any Bhagya (benefits) under the schemes. Here Chandikeshwara shrine is outside the sanctum.