Shree Banashankari Devi Temple

Overview

Banashankari Amma Temple is one of the popular temples of the city Bangalore. The temple is considered highly revered and is known for the beliefs surrounding the temple. In the year 1915, a devotee of Goddess Banashankari named Somanna Shetty, brought a deity of this Goddess from Badami’s Banashankari Amma Temple and consecrated here.

About the Temple

The shrine serves as an important centre for spirituality and devotion in a fast paced city like Bangalore. Since Sri Basappa shetty found it difficult to frequently visit the original Banashankari temple in Badami, the goddess is said to have appeared in the dream of the temple. She has supposedly said that only when she was installed and worshiped in the city Bangalore, will the city shine as the capital of Karnataka, someday.

The Rahukala poojas are the main highlight of this temple. This ritual was started by the late Sri Suryanarayana Shasthri who served as this temple’s priest for about 52 years before retiring. Devotees strongly believe that their prayers be answered on lighting the nimbe hannina arathi (arthi on lemon) before the goddess during rahukala (on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays) for 16 weeks consecutively. Hence the number of devotees visiting this holy shrine keeps increasing day by day. The government of Karnataka took the temple under its control in the year 1984.

Legend and Stories

There is an interesting tale associated with the special Rahukaala pooja that is performed at this temple. Once upon a time, three Pativratas are believed to have visited the temple and had asked the temple’s priest to perform Puja during the Rahukala. Though the temple priest refused initially refused to do so, he later accepted as the ladies strongly insisted him. On finishing the Rahukala Pooja, the priest came out to offer the Prasadam to the ladies. But to his surprise, the ladies had vanished. This incident made the people believe that, the three ladies who visited the temple were none other than the Goddesses themselves, who revealed their desire to be worshipped during the Rahukala. Hence worshipping this deity during Rahukala is meant to bring happiness and prosperity in one’s life.

There is a unique way of offering prayers at the temple. Devotees make lamps out of lemons, by cutting them into half and removing their pulp from inside. Oil is then poured inside the lemon and a wick is immersed in it. The lamp is then lighted, especially on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, since these days are considered auspicious for the worship of this deity. A number of devotees worship this Goddess and offer prayers here on these days, in order to seek her divine blessings.

Festivals

Three major festivals are celebrated every year in this temple. This includes the birth anniversary of Goddess Banashankari that falls in the month of September, The ten day Dussehra festival and this temple’s anniversary that falls in the month of December or January.

How To Reach Shree Banashankari Devi Temple

Road

The nearest bus stop is Banashankari.

Railways

The nearest railhead is the Bengaluru railway station.

Airport

The closest airport is the Bengaluru International airport.

Temple Address

Shree Banashankari Devi Temple,
56, Pipeline Main Rd, Weavers Colony,
Bhrundavan Nagar, Banashankari,
Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560050.