The Vijayanagara Dynasty was established in 1336 by Hakka and Bukka under the able guidance of Vidyaranya Guru. The Portuguese referred to Vijayanagara as the Kingdom of Bisnaga. It lasted until 1646, although its power declined sharply after a major military defeat in 1565 at the hands of the Deccan Sultanates. The following temple story is closely connected with the abrupt end of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Bhuvaneshwari is the family deity of the Vijayanagara kings. Rama Raya, the last ruler, ignored the family deity’s warning and entered into an alliance with the Deccan Sultanates. The Vijayanagara Dynasty was originally built to protect Karnataka from Islamic invasions. The brothers Hakka and Bukka had themselves reverted to Hinduism after a brief conversion to Islam.
The Goddess warned Rama Raya several times about the consequences of allying with the Sultanates, but he paid no heed. She even appeared in his dreams and told him she would leave if he did not withdraw from the alliance with the invaders. Rama Raya still did not care. Dejected by this mistreatment, the Goddess left the kingdom. When she left, all the fortune of the empire left with her. Rama Raya was killed by the Sultanates in the Battle of Talikota, and Vijayanagara was doomed forever.
After leaving the kingdom, the Goddess swam through the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Finally, she reached the Bheema River and stayed beneath its waters, performing penance for several years. Jamanna, a shepherd, was grazing his cattle when he heard voices resonating from beneath the river. Being a staunch Devi devotee, he began praying on the riverbank. Pleased by his devotion, the Goddess appeared to him and narrated her story. He prayed to her regularly.
Jamanna then went to the village and informed the chieftains. Many believed him, but some were skeptical. All of them gathered at the riverbank. First, a huge snake appeared, followed by a glass pillar rising from the waters. A voice from the pillar asked the villagers to take her with them. They were delighted—but no one was willing to bring the pillar to the shore. The shepherd took responsibility and carried it out of the water. As they proceeded, a snake accompanied them, frightening the villagers. The snake vanished, and the glass pillar transformed into a black stone pillar.
The chieftains welcomed the Goddess, and the women offered vermilion, turmeric, flowers, and incense, praying to the pillar. It was first kept at Jamanna’s doorstep. The Goddess then appeared in the dreams of Channamma Gowd, mother of the village chieftain, expressing her desire to reside in their house. Channamma narrated her dream to her son the next day, and he was more than happy to fulfill the Goddess’s wish. The pillar was installed according to her instructions. From then on, the villagers and their leaders worshipped her and prospered.
They built a temple around the pillar. Because the pillar brought great fortune to the people, she was named Bhagyavanthy(Fortune-Giver). To the villagers, she became their Kamadhenu and Kalpavruksha. In short, she is the family deity of the Vijayanagara kings—those who flourished when they worshipped her and perished when they ignored her.
Today, the temple is visited by devotees from all over India and abroad. This is a place full of miracles, where sincere prayers are answered. Miracles happen when you believe!
