The Vijayakali Pavada Basappa Temple is situated in Hulkere Koppalu, a small hamlet near Kurubara Bettahalli, close to the town of Pandavapura in Mandya district, Karnataka.
The main deity of the temple is Lord Basappa, a form of Lord Shiva venerated with deep devotion by locals. He is accompanied by the fierce and powerful goddess Vijayakali Devi, an embodiment of Shakti and victory.
Locals believe the temple is more than 200 years old. Several generations have worshiped it in the nearby villages. The goddess is worshipped for her protective and healing powers. Together, they represent divine justice, strength, and compassion. The deity is believed to respond quickly to sincere prayers, especially those related to health and personal concerns.
The architecture of the temple is simple and traditional, built in a folk style that focuses on devotion rather than grandeur. The sanctum houses the idols of Basappa and Vijayakali Devi, along with a sacred Sri Chakra. The surroundings have open spaces for devotees to perform rituals like turmeric-water abhishekam. Colorful decorations, lamps, and flowers are used during pooja. The temple structure appears to be made of brick and stone, painted vibrantly to reflect the local culture.
Long ago, the small village near Pandavapura—called Hulikeré Koppalu or Kurubara Bettahalli—was suffering from many problems. People in the village faced strange illnesses, family quarrels, crop failures, and some even said that evil spirits were troubling their homes. The villagers were deeply disturbed and began praying to God for a solution.
One night, a humble and spiritually inclined man from the village had a powerful dream. In the dream, a divine lady dressed in red with glowing eyes appeared. She introduced herself as Vijayakali Devi, a form of Shakti (Divine Mother). She told the man that she had been residing silently in the land for centuries, waiting for the right time to reveal her energy. She instructed him to go to a particular spot on a hill near the village and dig there to uncover a sacred object.
The next morning, the man rushed to the spot along with a few villagers. When they began digging at the place mentioned in the dream, they discovered a powerful Sri Chakra, a sacred geometric symbol representing the energy of the Divine Mother. The moment it was uncovered, there was a strong vibration in the area, and some people fell into a trance. The villagers felt that a divine energy had been awakened.
Soon after this discovery, a small shrine was built at that very place, and people began worshipping the Sri Chakra and praying to Vijayakali Devi. In the same location, another Shiva energy form was also felt, and over time the place came to be known as the shrine of Pavada Basappa—a name used for Lord Shiva in the local tradition.
The goddess became known as “Vijayakali”, meaning “The Powerful One Who Brings Victory.” Devotees started calling the temple the “Pavada Basappa Devasthana”, meaning “The Miraculous Basappa Temple,” because of the unexplainable events happening there.
Over time, it became a tradition to offer turmeric water (Arishina Neeru) and light ghee lamps as a form of worship. People believe that Vijayakali Devi and Pavada Basappa respond quickly to prayers, especially when made with full faith and devotion. Many who faced black magic, evil eye (drishti dosha), marriage blocks, health problems, and financial struggles were relieved after visiting the temple.
Bhimana Amavasya, falling in the month of Ashada (July–August), is a deeply spiritual day at Vijayakali Pavada Basappa Temple. Devotees from nearby villages gather in large numbers to offer turmeric, light ghee lamps, and perform special poojas seeking divine protection and blessings from Lord Shiva and Goddess Vijayakali.
For women, this day is especially sacred—married women pray for their husband’s health and long life, while unmarried girls seek blessings for a good life partner. The temple is filled with devotion, energy, and spiritual vibrations throughout the day.
