Shri Uddana Veerabhadraswami Temple is located in Hale Nijagal, a small village near Nelamangala, around 58 km from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The temple is situated on a rocky hillock and can be accessed by climbing approximately 100 stone steps.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, a fierce and powerful form of Lord Shiva. Here, he is worshipped in his majestic form as Uddana Veerabhadra, meaning “uplifted” or “elevated” Veerabhadra. The idol of Lord Veerabhadra is monolithic—carved directly from the hill rock—and stands nearly 3 meters tall. Alongside the main idol, a Shiva Linga is housed inside a small natural cave, adding to the divine energy of the place. A stone Nandi is placed facing the deity, as is customary in Shiva temples.
The region around Hale Nijagal has a rich history connected to the Vijayanagara Empire, and later to Hyder Ali and the Marathas. The nearby Nijagal Fort was a strategic military post and also housed ancient temples. Over time, as the fort became less accessible, the idol of Lord Veerabhadra was believed to have emerged naturally from the hill at Hale Nijagal, and the villagers began worshipping him here. The current shrine is believed to be more than a hundred years old, though the idol itself is considered ancient and sacred.
According to local legend, after the destruction of Daksha’s yagna and the events that followed, Lord Veerabhadra appeared at various sacred locations to bless devotees and guard holy spaces. One such sacred manifestation is believed to have occurred at Hale Nijagal.
The idol of Veerabhadra here is said to have emerged from the hill rock on its own, not carved by humans. The word “Uddana” means “rising” or “elevated”, signifying that Lord Veerabhadra rose from the earth to sanctify this spot. The presence of the Shiva Linga inside the cave further confirms that this place was always divinely chosen for Lord Shiva’s worship. The monolithic idol and cave shrine are seen as symbols of Lord Shiva’s protective and fierce energy, watching over the land.
‘Lord Veerabhadra’ is a fierce and powerful incarnation of Lord Shiva, created out of divine rage when Shiva learned of the self-immolation of his consort “Sati” during her father, *Daksha’s yagna. Enraged by Daksha’s insult and Sati’s death, Shiva plucked a lock of his matted hair and threw it to the ground, from which arose Veerabhadra. He stormed the yagna, destroyed the sacrificial altar, and beheaded Daksha.
Veerabhadra represents” righteous anger, justice, and divine protection. Though terrifying in form, he is a guardian and a protector of the virtuous. His worship is prevalent in South India, particularly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where he is venerated for giving courage, protection, and the strength to overcome evil. He is usually depicted as a towering warrior with multiple arms holding weapons and is often associated with Bhairava and Shiva’s ganas. Devotees worship him during festivals like “Veerabhadra Jayanthi’ and ‘Maha Shivaratri’, seeking his blessings for bravery and divine justice.
