Banashankari Temple, Badami

After enjoying the splendid Caves of Badami, we return back to Cholachagudd near Badami to visit the Banashankari Temple.

Haridra-Teertha – The Kalyani of the Banashankari Temple

We park our car in the parking around the Kalyani of the temple – Haridra Teertha. This 360 feet water tank has stone mandapas on its three sides and a pradakshina path surrounds it. However, the tank is completely dry and there is no water in it.

Three-storeyed Lamp Tower, Banashankari Temple, Badami

As we move from the parking towards the temple, we cross a remarkable three-storeyed Lamp Tower. It has arched openings at each level, and there is a unique octagonal tapering deepa-stambha over its roof.

Deepa-Stambhas in Banashankari temple, Badami

We approach the Banashankari temple from the east passing through a lofty arched gateway. In the temple complex, three tall tampering octagonal Deepa-Stambhas with curved stone brackets for oil lamps catches our attention. These three Deepa-Stambhas make this temple unique for me.  As per an inscription, the construction of these Stambhas is ascribed to the warrior Ketimayya.

Temple Architecture of Banashankari Temple, Badami

A temple existed at this location from the seventh Century AD as per the epigraphical evidences. The original temple had Rashtrakuta features. The present temple was refurbished in 1750 by the Maratha chieftain, Parshuram Agale. Originally, it had Dravidian architecture, but it was rebuilt in Vijayanagra architectural style.

This temple has plain high walls on all its sides. It has a Mukha-mandapa, Ardha-mandapa and the sanctum topped with brightly painted multi-stage tower. There is a small bulbous dome that crowns the tower on a frieze of petals.

Presiding Deity of the Banashankari Temple, Badami

The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Vanasankari, or the Shakambhari Devi. The Goddess is identified both with Laxmi and Durga. She is a form of Shakti and thus ascribes to Shakta cult. The sanctum has an eight-arm black stone idol of the Devi. She is riding her trademark lioness and Durgamasura is lying on her feet. In Her eight arms she holds the war-bell, sword, shield, Vedic writing and scriptures, kapal, damaru and the trident.

Some people believe that the current deity is a seventeenth century replacement. Earlier the folk deity Badubbe was worshipped here from whom Badami got its name.

Mythology associated with Banashankari Devi

According to Devi Mahatmya, a malevolent demon Durgamasura once made sages forget the Vedas. The lack of religious and virtuous activities plunged the earth in drought and scarcity for a period of hundred years. All the plants died and there was nothing to eat.

At this time, the sages finally remembered Devi Lakshmi and chanted Her hymns. Understanding the need and realizing the pathetic condition of the citizens, a four-handed goddess appeared bearing a lotus, arrows, a great bow, and vegetables, fruits, flower, and roots.

According to Devi Bhagavata Purana, when Devi saw the conditions of the citizen, she cried incessantly and Her tears created streams and rivers. The Goddess provided fruits, vegetable and food to the people and helped them survive. She later killed the demon Durgamasura. The people started to worship the Devi as the Goddess Vanasankari, or the Shakambhari Devi.

The form of Vanashankari is described in greater details in Durga Saptashati. According to it, Vanasankari is blue in color. Her eyes are like lotus flower. She has numerous arms – one arm carries a lotus with bees circling it. The other hands carry bow, arrows, flowers, roots, and vegetables. Her vehicle is a lion.

Banashankari jatre

This temple is one of the Shaktipeeths. And, is the most popular temple dedicated to Goddess Vanasankari. This temple is believed to be constructed at the very place the Goddess appeared. Vanasankari has a large circle of devotees. The area around the temple has coconut, plantain & betel leaf plant and trees. The temple celebrates its annual festival called Banashankari jatre, in the months of January or February. During Jatre the deity is decorated with fifty different kind of vegetables and is paraded around the city in a chariot.

Well, with this temple I am able to visit four sects of Sanatan-Dharam in Badami – Vaishanva Caves, Shaiva Caves, Jaina caves and a temple of Shakta cult. It is exactly the way the ancient dynasties of the region wanted its citizens to do, follow the path you feel would take you to Moksha, but respect and pay reverence to other faiths as well 🙂
Timings of the Temple – 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

References

Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal by George Michelle.

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