ENARADA, Hassan, November 13, 2015
By Guruprasad
Hasanamba temple scripted a new history this year as more than a lakh devotees visited the temple when it opened its doors from November 5 and 13.
The number doubled compared to last year around 50,000 devotees had paid a visit.
The annual darshan drew many VVIPs from the country as well as abroad. Some of the prominent people included Governor VR Vala (he became the first Governor of the state to visit this temple), former Union Minister Kapil Sibal and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Sibal was so awestruck with the temple as he said that henceforth Hasanamba will be part of his annual pilgrimage.
Hasanamba is one of the very few temples in the country where one can witness miracles even today. The Hasanamba temple in Hassan opens its door only once a year. Though the temple doors are closed for 356 days in a year, the flower decoration to the deity and the lamp lit inside the sanctorum looks intact and fresh!
As per the Hindu calendar, the darshan is thrown open between Ashwija Maasa Poornima and closed on the next day of Balipadyami.
Hasanamba temple was built during the 12th century under the Krishnappa Nayaka and is famous for its rich grandeur. The devotees see the Goddess in a snake hole where they see the rich and ever imposing Goddess blessing her devotees. So, now one wonders as to why there is no ‘Nityadarshana’ (daily darshan) of the deity which is the common practice elsewhere. The temple authorities claim that Hasanamba to be an incarnation of Vaishno Devi and is “so powerful” that everyday Darshan is not possible and hence the annual opening.
As today was the last day of the Darshan, the officials led by the Deputy commissioner paid a visit to the temple. Just before the closing ceremony, the deity was taken on a procession before the jewels were removed and safely kept outside. The deity was once again decorated with flowers and lamp was lit in the sanctum sanctorum and all of these could be seen only next year.
So, if you have missed the darshan this time, then you have no option but to wait for the next annual Darshan scheduled for October 20 to November 1, 2016.
View of Hasanamba Temple. Photo by www.enarada.com
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