Chamundesvari Temple In Mysore (A Rare Book)

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Seventeen years ago this book was published. The book has gone out of stock. We understand that there is a large demand for this book from lay readers, pilgrims and social scientists.

When we collected data for this book about eight years before its first publication, Indian currency was in terms of rupees, annas and paise. The rate was sixteen annas or sixty-four paise for a rupee. Though this has been totally changed we have decided to retain the old rate of transaction in the book. As a matter of fact, the second edition of the book does not contain any change in style and content. Only a few corrections, addition of a few photographs and minor clarifications have been made here and there.

We are grateful to Dr. K. S. Singh, Director General for permitting the publication of the second editor. We also acknowledge the help rendered by the members of the Printing and Publication Section particularly Shri H. K. Barthwal and shri Pijush Kanti Mukherjee in production of this edition.

In a seminar organised by the Anthropological Survey of India at Calcutta on "Research Programmes on Anthropology and Allied Disciplines" in 1967, it was decided that several research projects should be taken up by the Survey on the "Study of Complex Religious Institutions” for a proper understanding of the changing social organisation of Indian Civilisation.

Shri B. B. Goswami and Shri S. G. Morab were assigned the task of studying in detail the organisation of temple functionaries and the traditions and rituals associated with the temple of Chamundesvari. In their study of the sacred complex of Chamundesvari temple the authors have gone beyond the temple proper and have surveyed also the thirty two sacred shrines and temples on the Chamundi hills in order to the elements of ‘little’ and ‘great’ traditions. Where as to the common people of Mysore, mostly the non-Brahmins, the deity is regarded as the presiding deity of Mysore city and its surrounding regions, the literati consider her as a female force of the Almighty as described in the Sanskrit texts of yore. The report indicates bow the cult of Chamundesvari complex has been supported by its association with various castes and by the over-riding patronage of the forma ruling family of Mysore.