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SRI
GAYATHRI
DEVI
TEMPLE
Mysore
Palace,
Karnataka,
India.
About
The
Temple
History
From
it's
genesis
in
the
year
1399
to
the
Independence
of
India
in
1947,
the
Wodeyar
Dynasty
built
the
glorious
kingdom
of
Mysore.
The
Wodeyars
progressive-administration
saw
Mysore
emerge
as
a
prosperous
state
and
one
of
the
important
centers
of
art
and
culture
in
India.
The
Wodeyars
were
not
only
accomplished
exponents
of
the
fine
arts,
they
were
enthusiastic
patrons
as
well,
and
their
legacies
continue
to
influence
music
and
art
even
today.
The
last
Maharaja
of
Mysore,
Sri
Jayachamaraja
Wodeyar
was
an
ardent
devotee
of
Sri
Gayathri
Devi.
He
named
his
eldest
daughter
(b.1946)
after
the
Goddess.
In
1951
he
initiated
the
construction
of
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
temple
within
the
Mysore
palace
fort.
The
legendary
sculptor
Shilpa
Siddanthi
Sri
Siddalingaswamy
who
had
worked
on
many
sculptures
at
the
Palace,
entrusted
his
protege
Sri
B.Basavanna
to
work
on
the
temple
sculptures.
The
resulting
awe-inspiring
architecture
and
sculptures
are
a
testament
to
Sri
B.
Basavanna's
amazing
skill,
Sri
Siddalingaswamy's
immense
experience
and
Sri
Jayachamaraja
Wodeyar's
devotion.
Depiction
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
is
depicted
with
five
faces
(Panchamukhi)
representing
the
Pancha
pranas
-Prana,
Apana,
Vyana,
Udana
and
Samana.
These
pranas
consist
of
the
Pancha
tatwas
namely
Prithvi,
Jala,
Vayu,
Agni
and
Aakasha
(Earth,
Water,
Air,
Fire
and
Sky).
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
protects
these
five
life-forces
(pranas)
of
those
who
chant
the
Gayathri
Mantra.
The
three
forms
of
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
namely
Sri
Savithri,
Sri
Gayathri
and
Sri
Saraswathi
are
depicted
in
the
form
of
detailed
sculptures
at
the
temple.
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
is
the
source
of
creation,
existence
and
manifestation
of
the
universe.
She
is
known
as
Adi
Shakthi.
God
Brahma
is
the
creator
of
the
universe
and
his
creations
are
carefully
protected
by
God
Vishnu.
God
Shiva
destroys
all
sins
in
this
universe
and
thus
the
creations
of
Lord
Brahma
attain
Mukthi.
The
Universe
exists
by
virtue
of
the
three
Gods
namely
Brahma,
Vishnu
and
Shiva.
The
singular
force
of
Adi
Shakthi
is
present
in
Brahma,
Vishnu
and
Shiva
-
as
the
powers
of
eternal
creation,
execution
and
evolution.
She
constitutes
the
word
"OM".
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
is
known
as
the
source
of
Vedas
(Knowledge).
She
is
the
presiding
deity
of
The
Gayathri
mantra
which
is
the
oldest
and
highly
revered
mantra
from
the
Vedas.
The
Gayathri
mantra
inspires
righteous
wisdom.
It
means
that
the
Almighty
God
may
illuminate
our
intellect,
which
leads
us
on
the
righteous
path.
Building
the
Temple
The
temple
was
finalized
to
be
built
at
the
south-eastern
part
of
the
Mysore
Palace
fort,
corresponding
with
the
Trineshwaraswamy
temple
present
at
the
north-eastern
part
of
the
fort.
The
three
main
idols
were
sculpted
according
to
the
sanskrit
verse(mentioned
next
section)
within
a
span
of
one
year.
The
idols
of
Gayathri,
Savithri
and
Saraswathi
in
Panchayathana
order
was
consecrated
according
to
the
Agamic
rituals.
The
temple
was
inaugurated
by
Sri
Jayachamaraja
Wodeyar
on
the
day
of
Vijayanama
Samvatsar
Chaitra
Bahula
Bidige(1953).
Immensely
pleased
with
the
artworks,
Sri
Jayachamaraja
Wodeyar
honored
the
sculptor
Sri
B.Basavanna
with
the
first-grade
medal,
a
golden
chistle,
silver
hammer
and
a
golden
chain
during
the
inauguration.
The
Avatars
It
is
mentioned
in
the
Puranas
(ancient
books
about
Gods
and
Goddesses)
that
Gayathri
Devi
appears
in
different
forms
during
a
day.
The
Sanskrit
verse
describing
these
different
forms
is
as
follows
-
Devim
Purvahna
Sandhyayam
Gayathrim
Vahni
Roopinim
Devim
Madhyahna
Sandhyayam
Savithrim
Rudra
Roopinim
Saraswathim
Tu
Sayahne
Sandhyayam
Vishnu
Roopinim
Goddess
Savithri
Goddess
Savithri
is
on
the
right
side
of
goddess
Gayathri
Devi.
She
has
four
arms
(two
on
each
side).
The
right
arms
hold
(top
to
bottom)
the
Trishula
(trident)
and
Japamala
(prayer
beads),
the
left
arms
hold
Agni
(fire)
and
a
Damaru
(drum).
The
goddess
is
seated
on
Vrishabha
Vahana
(bull),
since
Sri
Gayathri
Devi
appears
in
the
form
of
Rudra
in
afternoon.
Goddess
Gayathri
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