Did you know that the Chokkanathaswamy temple in Domlur, Bengaluru city is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Chokkanatha Swamy and is known to possess specific spots with 'pranic energy' meaning "cosmic energy" where meditation could result in energy vibrations?
The Chokkanathaswamy temple in Bengaluru city in the suburb of Domlur which is also called Tombalur or Desimanikkapattanam in 12th century inscriptions, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Chokkanatha Swamy or Choka Perumal in Tamil, an archa Vigraha (idol) made of Saligrama shila (fossil stone extracted from the Gandaki River in Nepal), along with vigrahas of His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi deifieid in the garba griha (sanctum sanctorum).
The Chokkanathaswamy temple (Chokkanatha meaning beautiful in Telugu) is considered as one of the oldest temples in Bengaluru with several inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil, on its walls, dated to 11th to 13th centuries (recorded in epigraphic texts of Karnataka). It is also claimed that the temple was built during the Chola period who ruled over this region around 1024 AD after defeating the Ganga dynsty, though there are no specifc remanats of that period in the temple except for a sculpture with inscriptions in Tamil. There is also an inscription of the Hoyala period dated to 1300 AD of Ramananda Deva contributing funds for festivals at this temple. However, inscriptions also records the tributes, taxes and tolls made to the temple by Devaraya II of Vijayanagar Empire, offered to the deity Sokkapperumal; Kannada inscription mentions A Tamil inscription dated 1270 refers to 2 door posts donated by Alagiyar. One more inscription in Tamil details donations by Talaikkattu and his wife, of lands from Jalapalli village and Vinnamangalam tank to the deity. A 1290 AD inscription talks about donation of ten pens from the revenue of Tommalur by Poysala vira Ramananda. Over the centuries, the temple has been renovated several times to the present state.
Local legend records that a great unnamed sage invoked Vishnu’s blessings through powerful penance and installed the Mulavigraha (Principal deity) on an elevated land so that the temple could harness and transmit cosmic energy in all eight directions; in fact, the first rays of Sun fall on the deity (Moola Divya Vigraha), Para Vasudeva, of this temple, specially during the Uttarayana (February to first week of March) and Dakshinayana (end of August to first week of September) transit time of the Sun, every year. Thus, specific energy points which are said to transmit cosmic energy have been spotted in the temple where deep meditation could cause "pranic vibrations" (Cosmic energy) . Ten (10) such spots have been marked in the open yard of the temple with white squares where a person of belief could stand inside the square, facing the shrine and pray for at least 2 minutes to experience and benefit from the cosmic energy at these points.
The Temple, built in Dravidian architectural style, east facing, is from the time of the Chola period with additions, mofidfications and major renovations carried out druing the last about 1,000 years. It retains the original Chola period antiquity in its architectural features in the Garba Griha (sanctum sanctorum), the antarala and ardhamantapa. In front of these structures there is the Navaranaga hall built by the Vijayanagara rulers. The temple seen at an elevated level from the road, has a single prakara and is fronted by a tall dwajastmaba made of stone, and on either side of the front entrance of the temple therev are two smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Lord Anjaneya. At the entrance to the main shrine there is wooden panel, guarded by two dwarpalakas. Outer wooden panels of the temple have beautiful carvings. The main garba griha has 2 well preserved pillars with finely crafted sculptures and statues depicting Lord Vishnu’s dashavataras (10 avatars or incarnations). The pillars in the ardha mantapa also depict Kolata (dance performed with colourful sticks) and the fight between Vali and Sugriva of the Ramayana epic story. One of the pillars in the ardhamantapa depicts a carving with directions to an underground celler, where the temple' ornaments and other valuables were once kept for safety. There is also a Garuda Mantapa with image of Garuda Vahana of the god Vishnu facing the garba griha. The temple has undergone major renovations to the facade and the navaranga during 1975-1983 retaining the original compact of interior structures, so much so that it has no resemablance to the entrance as it existed during August 1947 at the time of India' s Independance.
Another notable feature in the temple complex is of the Anjaneya (Hanuman) shrine. It is claimed that the eyes of the reverential bowing head of Anjaneya idol is at the same level as the feet of Chokkanatha Swamy in the Garba Griha..
Temple ritual daily worship at specified hours is conducuted four times a day accroding to the Sri Vaishnava agama shashtra dictums.
Chokkanathaswamy Temple at Domlur is at a distance of 9.8 km from Majestic city centre.
Narasipur Char
