✅ What is Bull Temple:-
The Bull Temple — also known as
Dodda Basavana Gudi — is a historic Hindu temple in the Basavanagudi area of
Bengaluru.
It is dedicated to Nandi — the
sacred bull and vehicle of Shiva.
The temple houses a massive
monolithic statue of Nandi, carved from a single granite boulder. This statue
is one of the largest of its kind — about 4.5-5 m tall and 6–6.5 m long (or
roughly 15 ft height, ~20 ft length depending on measurement).
Over the years, due to devotees
applying oil and charcoal, the statue has turned dark (blackish).
๐️ History &
Legend:-
The temple was constructed in the
16th century by Kempe Gowda I — the founder of Bangalore — around 1537 AD.
According to local legend: the
region around Basavanagudi was rich in ground nut cultivation. A bull (Nandi)
used to roam and destroy the crops. Farmers — in despair — built the temple to
appease it. After consecration, the bull allegedly stopped damaging crops.
To commemorate this, farmers
began offering the first yield of ground nuts to Nandi — a tradition that
continues today as the annual fair/festival.
๐ฑThe History of Sri Bull Temple:-
The Big Bull Temple picturesquely
located in Bengaluru is the first of its kind in India which is why it attracts
thousands of pilgrims from India and abroad. It has fascinating story attached
to it.
About five hundred years back,
there was a hill now known as Bugle Rock, around were fields where groundnuts
grew in abundance. There was a host of villages around this spot like
Sunkenahalli, Guttahalli etc.,
Once there was a heavy downpour
and the fields yielded a bumper peanut crop. After the day-long toil in the
fields, the farmers were in deep slumber. On very full Moon light, the full
moon light, the Big and beautiful Bull ravaged forcefully through the fields
where the bumper harvest and enriched. Thereafter, He disappeared into the
night like a divine shadow.
Next Morning, the villagers were
naturally shocked and distressed at the sight of the sight of the ruin and
destruction which greeted them. Next full Moon Day they appointed a farmer to
guard the fields and discover the architect of the ravage. As usual, the big
Bull visited the fields. Its body was shining like gold and its eyes sparkled
like diamonds. The farmer witnessed this amazing spectacle and reported it to
the farmers. He excitedly described the unearthly Bull he had seen. One farmer
was so provoked that he hit Bull with a club. The Bull sat there and miraculously
transformed into a stone stone Bull.
Thenceforth Bull began to grow
day by day. The terrified farmer prayed to lord shiva who directed him to a
place a trident on the head of the Bull. The farmer did so, and the Bull's
growth stopped miraculously.
Since then, it has become a
custom for farmers to make an offering of the first crop to Lord Basavanna at
the festival. This is the origin of the Kadlekayi Prishe or the Groundnut Fair,
generally held in November (on the last Monday of Kathika Masa), in honour of
the sacred Bull.
Once Kempegowda, the founder of
Bengaluru came here in disguise. He saw people hurrying to temple and enquired
where they were hastening. They told him that they were going to offer worship
to Lord Nandi. Kempegowda also offered worship to Nandi. The same night Nandi
appeared to him in a dream and indicated a spot where there was a treasure.
Kempeowda built a Nandi Temple on
top of nearby hillock and dedicated it to the Big Bull (Dodda Basavanna). A
remarkable thing about this temple is that every day Abhishekam (Sacred bath)
is performed with milk, butter, ghee and coconut oil.
Special worship is performed and
naivedya (Sacred Food) is offered. The people were grateful and happy as the
land received sufficient rain.
The Vrishabhavathi:
It is said that this river,
Vrishabhavathi sparan from the right foot of Lord Basava. It Flows west ward to
the "Garbhagudi" (the sanctum sanctorum) of the Gavigangadhareshwara
Temple and joins the Arkavathi river near Kanakapura.
In south India there are 4
Nandi's Carved out of Single Stone, and this is the 2nd biggest Nandi statute.
This Nandi is-out-12 feet height and 20 feet in length.
The temple doesn’t only draw
devotees but also tourists — because of the grandeur of the monolithic bull and
the interesting mythological backstory.
Behind the Nandi statue, there’s
a Shivalingam — giving the temple direct association with Shiva worship.
Around the temple complex, you’ll
find other ancillary shrines/statues (Sun-God, Moon-God, etc.), and nearby
attractions, making it part of a larger cultural/spiritual zone.
๐Festival&Annual Fair: KadalekaiParishe(Groundnut Fair):-
Each year — usually in November
or December (Hindu month Karthika) — the temple and surrounding area host the
lively “Groundnut Fair”. Farmers bring their first groundnut harvest and offer
to Nandi.
On this occasion, the temple area
becomes very festive — with stalls selling ground nuts (boiled, fried,
honey-roasted, etc.), clay/stone toys, street food, and lots of local flavors.
It’s a good opportunity to
experience both religious tradition and local culture.
If you visit the Bull Temple, you
can also check out nearby places:
Bugle Rock Park — a large rock
garden / green space close by.
Dodda Ganapathi Temple — another
temple near Basavanagudi, often visited by the same travelers.
Walking around Basavanagudi neighborhood (Basavanagudi vibe) a blend of old-Bangalore charm, culture, local shops and eateries.
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