MAHARAJA VIKRAMADITYA AND SRI BANI MAHAKALI DEVASTHANA OF BARKOR

Research Finding by: Mr. Byrappa Chandra Research

Compilation: Mrs.Sowmya Nikhil

Location :

Simhasan Gudde, is named after Maharaja Vikramaditya’s throne which is believed to be buried in Sri Bani Maha Kali Devasthana in Barkor(Barakur). Barkor is located about 16 kilometres from Udipi, in the state of Karnataka. The area is located on the banks of river Seetha. ‘Gudde’ means mound or elevated place in Kannada

Historical Significance of Barkor:

Port city Barkor on the banks of Sita River was not only the capital of Alupas, it was sub-capital of Hoysala for some period and later it became a province of Vijayanagara Empire. Barkur was later ruled by Keladi Nayaks, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore and the British. Given the vicinity to Arabian Sea, this town was a busy commercial centre almost from 2nd Century B.C. Evidences of Megalithic and Mesolithic ages have been discovered here. It is believed that at onetime King Vikramaditya ruled here. The town boasts of a little over 100 stone and several copper plate inscriptions. They belong to the Alupa, the Hoysala, the Vijayanagara and the Keladi periods. Barkor used to be bigger in the olden days was known as a ‘temple town’. The locals believe it used to have 600-650 temples but now only has 40 temples and even these are not being properly maintained. There was a lot of damage done because of invasion of Muslim rulers.

This place is under protection of Archaeological department now. However, this place which once thrived was first destroyed by Tipu Sultan and valuables in the fort were stolen, later the people stole bricks of fort wall to build houses. It is said that the stone carved pillars and inscription stones can be found in and around Barkur homes as their construction material.

Research Findings:

1. The Village is more than 2200 years and was part of Maharaja’s Vikramaditya’s empire. It was later ruled by the Pandya’s, Vijayanagara kings and Keladi Nayakas.

2. Betal or (Vedhalam) is supposed to have narrated his stories here to Maharaja Vikramaditya.

3. There is a ‘Bani’ tree which is considered as Devi Mahakali and worshipped by the village people.

4. It is believed that Raja Vikramaditya built a Shiva temple here. The name of the temple is Sri Bani Mahakali Devasthana. The name is derived from the sacred Bani tree who is worshipped as Devi Mahakali here.

5. A spirit called ‘Kundodhara’ is supposed to have brought Vikramaditya’s throne and buried it under a platform inside the main sanctum (garba graham) of the temple. There is a Moorthy of Sri Raja Rajeshwari and a Shivalingam in the sanctum. In front of it is the platform on which Sri Chakram is drawn and worshipped by the Villagers. There is especially grand festivity during Vijaya Dashami, the last day of Navarathri. They do special Pooja for Raja Vikramaditya and his throne every year during this day. The Srichakram drawn has four dwarams or doors. The one in the eastern direction is dedicated to Betal. Sridhara Swamy later on is said to have built the Betala Stambh 100 meters from the temple. It is considered as a ‘Siddhi Sthalam’. People offer prayers here to get their wishes fulfilled.

6. Devaki Amma, head of the Simhasana Gudde Banni Mahakali Temple, has all the mythological details from memory, she spoke about a massive monolith (Betala Stambh) or pillar some 100 metres from the temple, where the Betal is said to have stood while telling his tales to King Vikramaditya.

7. Originally the finger ring and Sword of Vikramaditya was there, it was later sent to Taluk office but has been unfortunately lost. However, the throne’s cover still exists in the local Thaluk office.

8. The local villagers claim they have the ‘hasige’ or (divan/bed) on which Vikramaditya used to sit when he visited the villagers. They remove the cover once in two years and offer worship to it. It is believed that once this bed had many precious gems. They say that the ‘cotton’ in the hasige has remain unchanged from Vikramaditya’s time. Swasthi Vachana Pooja is done for the bed of Vikramaditya during which they chant praises of the great king Vikramaditya as they used to do in the olden days. The Pooja is done on Vijayadashami day every year.

9. The villagers share that once there was a fort and royal palace here.

10. You can see the ‘Bani’ tree, platform under which the throne is supposedly buried, Shivalingam and Devi Raja Rajeshwari in this video. Kannada Video Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnDcrcGQAQ. (The contents of the video was translated and included in findings). Please see (5:19) minutes in video to see the Bani tree, the platform on which Srichakram is drawn, Devi Rajarajeshwari’s Moorthy and Shivalingam.

Contact Address:

Sri Bani Mahakali Temple, FP8V+394, Barkurpete, Karnataka 576210

References:

1. Urban Legend – Barakuru, where Betal got off Vikram’s back! By Gururaj.A.Paniyadi (Sep 4th 2016) https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/040916/urban-legend-barakuru-where-betaal-got-offvikrams-back.html

2.https://www.tripoto.com/karnataka/trips/forgotten-history-and-temples-5e1ef53393cae

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnDcrcGQAQ.