Male Mahadeshwar hills are a famous pilgrimage and holy center of the state. It is situated in a hill range in Hanur taluk and is 3,200 feet above sea level. The Male Mahadeshwar Hill consists of seven hills namely Anemale, Jenumale, Kadumale, Kanumale, Ponnachimale, Pavalamale and Pacchemale.
It is about 211 km from Bangalore. distant and 134 km from Mysore, and 72 km from the nearest city of Kollegala.
Darshan timings are 06 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to 8.30 pm.
The Junje Gowdas of Chamarajanagar district built the Male Mahadeshwara temple. He was a local zamindar belonging to the Kuruba Gowda community and a devotee of Sri Mahadeshwara Swami.
The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Male Mahadeshwara Shiva is a pilgrimage center where Mahadeshwara lived and practiced medicine as Siddhapurusha, teaching non-violence to the people around the seven hills. Presently the surrounding area of the temple is 160 acres. In addition, there are lands for the temple in Talabetta, Oldur and Indiganath villages. Nestled amidst dense forest, this temple attracts not only pilgrims but also nature lovers.
Sri Mahadeshwara is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Historical evidence suggests that Saint Mahadeshwar lived in the 15th century. The Linga worshiped in Garbha Gudi is Swayambhu Linga. Sri Male Mahadeshwara Swami used to ride on a tiger (tiger vehicle) and perform many miracles around the hill to save the people and saints living there.
Saint Mahadeshwar established a monastery here through his miracles, enlightened and uplifted the hill tribes and made them his disciples. People from these families are the hereditary ‘priests’ of the Mahadeshwara temple. Male Mahadeshwar hills have become a tourist spot in Chamarajanagar district. Well developed with paved roads to hilltops. To reach Male Mahadeshwar Hill, the hilly road is very difficult and one has to go through the road like 18 hair pin bends.
The song and dance routine here is called Kamsale. Kamsale here has a tradition of worshiping Lord Shiva. They sing and dance in the form of Kansala out of devotion to Mahadeshwar. The dance is a part of the ‘deeksha’ or vow and is taught by spiritual leaders.
Mahadeshwar Hill is special for the fairs held during the festivals of ‘Diwali’ and ‘Shivaratri’ and ‘Yugadi’ and thousands of devotees gather to participate in it, which lasts for seven consecutive nights.
Sri Mahadeshwara is also known as Madappa, the God of the Poor “Chellidaru Malligeya” is a famous folk song that glorifies the devotion and worship of Lord Mahadeshwara.
The Male Mahadeshwar Hills form a geological bridge between the ghats of the hill range, along with the Biligirirang Hills at the tip of the Deccan Plateau. The Male Mahadeshwar Hills region is bounded by the Kaveri River and the Palar River, a tributary of the Kaveri. The confluence of these two rivers is in the Male Mahadeshwar forest.
