Today is Banashankari / Banada Hunnime (Pournami)
The Banashankari Devi Temple is a very famous Hindu temple located at Cholachagudda near Badami in Bagalkot district, Karnataka. The temple is known as Banashankari or Vanashankari because it is situated in the sacred Tilakaaranya forest region. The presiding deity, Banashankari Devi, is also worshipped as Shakambhari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Devotees believe that Banashankari is the sixth incarnation of Goddess Durga.
The name Banashankari is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Vana’, meaning forest, and ‘Shankari’, meaning Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The goddess is also called Shakambhari, meaning “Vegetable Goddess,” as ‘Shaka’ refers to vegetables and plant-based food and ‘Ambari’ means one who nourishes, symbolising her as the mother who protects and sustains life on earth.
The Banashankari Devi Temple dates back to the 7th century and was originally built by the Chalukya kings, who worshipped the goddess as their family deity. Inscriptions mention that the idol of the goddess was installed by the Chalukya king Jagadekamalla I in 630 AD. In the later centuries, the temple underwent renovation during the Vijayanagara and Maratha periods, due to which the architecture seen today reflects a mix of these styles while still retaining its ancient sanctity.
The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Banashankari, also known as Shakambhari Devi. She is worshipped as a fierce yet compassionate mother goddess. Inside the sanctum, the goddess is depicted seated majestically on a lion. She has eight arms and is shown crushing a demon beneath her foot, symbolising the destruction of evil and the protection of righteousness. Devotees believe that she not only protects them from danger but also nourishes them like a caring mother.
The temple was initially constructed in the Dravidian architectural style by the Chalukyas. In the following centuries, it was rebuilt during the Vijayanagara and Maratha periods, giving it a blend of styles. The temple consists of a mukha mandapa or front hall, followed by an ardha mandapa or inner hall, leading to the sanctum sanctorum, which is crowned by a traditional vimana or tower.
In front of the temple lies a beautiful square temple tank, which was originally known as Harishchandra Tirtha and is now called Haridra Tirtha. The tank is surrounded on three sides by stone walkways and mandapas. Two tall deepa stambhas or lamp towers stand here, one near the tank and another at the temple entrance. The one near the tank is unique because it also served as a guard tower in earlier times. This sacred tank, along with the lamp towers, gives the temple a very picturesque and divine ambience.
According to the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana, a demon named Durgamasura once began troubling the people living in this region. Suffering under his cruelty, the people prayed to the divine mother for protection. In response to their prayers, Goddess Shakambhari emerged from the sacred fire of a Yagna performed by sages. She took a powerful divine form, fought the demon Durgamasura, and finally destroyed him, restoring peace and righteousness.
Another important belief associated with the goddess is that during a time of severe famine, she lovingly provided food, grains and vegetables to the people. Because she nourished humanity with vegetation and sustained life, she came to be worshipped as Shakambhari, the goddess who feeds and protects her children
The Banashankari Jatre is one of the most important and vibrant festivals celebrated at the temple. It is held every year starting from the full-moon day in the month of January. During this period, the temple town takes on a festive look and thousands of devotees gather to participate in the celebrations. A grand Rath Yatra is conducted in which the beautifully decorated idol of the goddess is taken in procession through the village streets in a chariot. A traditional cattle fair is also organised as part of the festivities, making it a blend of devotion, culture and rural tradition.
A very special part of the festival is the Palleda Habba or Vegetable Festival, where devotees prepare and offer 108 varieties of vegetable dishes to the goddess as a mark of gratitude for nourishing life on earth.
Another unique ritual is the Teppotsava or Boat Festival, during which parents place their newborn babies in small boats made of banana stems and float them gently in the temple tank, praying for the goddess’s blessings, protection and good health for their children. During the festival period, the entire temple and surrounding town are beautifully decorated with flowers, leaves and traditional decorations, creating an atmosphere filled with devotion and joy.
