Sri Ghattaragi Bhagyamma/ Bhagyavanthi Temple Gulbargha

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!

Sri Ghattaragi Bhagyamma/ Bhagyavanthi Temple Gulbargha

Vijayanagara Dynasty was established in 1336 by Hakka & Bukka under the able guidance of Vidyaranya Guru. Vijayanagara is referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese. It lasted until 1646 although its power declined after a major military defeat in 1565 by the Deccan sultanates. The following temple story has to do everything with Vijayanagara Dynasty’s abrupt end.   Bhuvaneshwari is the family deity of Vijayanagar Dynasty Kings. Rama Raya the last ruler ignored the family deity’s warning and allied with Deccan Sultanates. Vijayanagara Dynasty was built to protect Karnataka from Islamic invasion. Hakka & Bukka brother duo reverted to Hinduism after their brief conversion to Islam. Goddess warned Rama Raya several times on the repercussions of the alliance with the Sultanates and the King paid no heed. She even showed up in his dreams and said she will leave if he does not drop the alliance with the invaders, Rama Raya still did not care.  Dejected by the mistreat, goddess leaves the kingdom. When she left, all the fortunes went with her. Rama Raya was killed by the Sultanates in he battle of Talikot and vijayanagar doomed forever.

After leaving the kingdom, goddess swam through Thungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Finally she came to Bheema river and stayed underneath the river. She penanced underneath the waters for several years. Jamanna was a shepherd and was grazing cattle when he heard voices resonating underneath the water. The shepherd was a stanch Devi devotee and started praying on the banks. The goddess pleased by his devotion appeared to him and narrated the story. He regularly prayed to the Devi. He went to the village and informed this to the village chieftains. Many believed but there were skeptics who doubted the story. So they all gathered at the river banks. A huge snake showed up to them first followed by a glass pillar.  A voice from the pillar resonated asking the villagers to take her with them. Everyone was very happy and delighted to take the goddess (now in the pillar form) with them to the village. But no one was ready to bring it to the shore. The shepherd took the responsibility and brought it to the shore. They took the glass pillar with them all of a sudden a snake accompanied along. The villagers were very scared. The snake vanished but the pillar turned to a black stone pillar. The chieftains welcomed and women offered vermilion, turmeric, flowers and burnt the incense sticks and prayed to the pillar. Pillar was first kept at the Jamanna's door steps. She appeared in Channamma Gowd’s dreams and expressed her wish to stay in their house and vanished. Chennamma was the mother of the village chieftain. Next day, she narrated her dreams to her son and the son was more than happy to fulfill goddess desire. The pillar was installed as per goddess wish. From then on the village and the village chieftains worshiped & they prospered.

The villagers brought the pillar and built a temple around it. The pillar brought a lot of fortune to the people hence she was named Bhagyavanthy (Fortune Giver). She proved to be Kamadenu and Kalparuksha to the villagers. So, in short she is the  family deity of Vijayanagar Kings who flourished when they worshipped her and perished when ignored her. Today the temple is visited by many from all over the country and outside country. This is a place full of miracles and all your sincere prayers are answered. Miracles happen when you believe!