Temple Description

A few kilometers beyond the “island” town of Srirangapatna sits a hill called Karighatta. It is located in the Indian state of Karnataka, right before Srirangapatna, off the Bangalore-Mysore Highway.

Meaning and Origin

In Kannada, the term Karighatta means “Elephant Hill”. There is a Hindu temple on the hill dedicated to “Karigirivasa,” a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The names “Lord Srinivasa” and “Bairagi Venkataramana” are also used to allude to this god. This idol’s nickname, “Bairagi,” comes from the fact that the deity resembles a mendicant (bairagi) when “alankara,” or floral ornamentation, is applied to it.

Large wooden doors at the temple’s main entrance lead to a spacious quadrangle that houses the black stone main shrine of Vaikunta Srinivasa, which is flanked by idols of Bhoga Srinivasa and Yoga Srinivasa (who is not with a consort). On the western side is the Goddess Padmavathi temple. There is a statue of Garudasthamba and Garuda facing the main temple. Additionally, there is a Kalyana Mantapa, or marriage hall, where marriages and other ceremonies are performed.[1] The installation ceremony of the god, known as Prathishthapana, is attributed to the great sage Bhrigu.

There are 450 stone steps that lead up the slope. Vehicle transportation is conducted on a paved, twisting route. The temple is situated on a level hilltop that can be reached via stone stairs. The hilltop offers an amazing sweeping view of Mysore and Srirangapatna. From the summit of the hill, one can observe the stunning surroundings and the meeting point of the Kaveri and Lokapavani rivers. The famed Nimishamba (the incarnation of Parvathi, the goddess bride of Lord Shiva) temple located on the other bank of the Lokapavani river. From the summit of Karighatta hill, there is a clear view of this temple as well. The name comes from the concept that Parvathi will solve all of her followers’ issues in a minute, or “nimisha” in Sanskrit.