Dharmaraya Swamy Temple: A Look At This 800-year-old Karnataka Shrine's History And Significance

Dharmaraya Swamy Temple is one of the most prominent and ancient temples in Bengaluru. According to News 18 Karnataka, Vannia Kula Kshatriya of the Chalukya dynasty built this temple 800 years ago. Vannia Kula Kshatriya is a feudal caste found across South India. Currently, this community is known for working in agriculture, tilling the land and cultivating vegetables and flowers. The temple is famous for the Bengaluru Karaga Festival, which is celebrated every year in March and April. The procession of the Bengaluru Karaga Festival starts from the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. The temple has architectural features of the Western Ganga Dynasty, Pallava Dynasty and Vijayanagara Empire buildings.

Who built the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple and installed idols here?

There is no definite information regarding these questions. This temple is said to have been constructed during the time of the Western Ganga Dynasty. It is said that the rulers of this dynasty installed the Shakti Peethas; from that day, the worship of these Peethas started. The Shakti Peethas are holy places of worship dedicated to Sati or Shakti. Later, during the Cholas and Pallavas regime, the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple was restored step by step. In this temple, the deity’s (Lord Vishnu) idol has been placed in the temple in a position prescribed by the scriptures. Other idols have also been placed in specific positions.

Before the construction of the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, the chieftain Hiriya Kempe Gowda I had built a mud fort.

The Dharmaraya Swamy Temple was built in the Dravidian architectural style, with a tower and a monumental entrance. Adjacent to this is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha; opposite the temple is a city wall under a tree. A lamp post can also be seen just as you enter the temple. A little further, there is a large Homa Kunda (havan kund with a base made from iron for yagna).

Apart from the Lord Vishnu’s idol, Dharmaraya (Yudhisthira), Krishna, Arjuna, Draupadi, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva are among the deities worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum. All the idols are decorated with flowers and every day thousands of people come to have their darshan.