Mysuru, 26 Feb

A massive crowd of devotees thronged major Shiva temples, including the Trineshwara Temple at Mysuru Palace, the Srikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud, and the Male Mahadeshwara Temple atop MM Hills, on Wednesday to celebrate Maha Shivaratri.

All Shiva temples were adorned with special floral decorations and illuminated from Tuesday evening in preparation for the grand celebrations. Devotees queued up from early morning until late night to offer special prayers at various temples in the city, including Amrutheshwara Swamy Temple (D Subbaiah Road), Sri Trineshwaraswamy Temple and Sri Kodi Bhyraveshwara Swamy Temple (Mysuru Palace premises), Sri Kameshwara Kameshwari Temple, 108 Linga Temple (Gurukula on Ramanuja Road), Sri Chandramouleshwara Swamy Temple (Vontikoppal), Sri Maruleshwara Swamy Temple (KG Koppal), Sri Mahadeshwara Temples (Bannur Road, Paduvarahalli, KT Street, Halladakeri, Sunnadakeri), and Sri Mahalingeshwara Swamy Temple (Srirampura), among others.

The Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Wadiyar, accompanied by his wife Trishikha Devi Wadiyar and their two sons, visited the Trineshwara Temple, where the deity was adorned with an 11-kg gold mask (Chinnada Kolaga).

The 25th and last Maharaja of Mysuru, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, had donated the Chinnada Kolaga to Sri Trineshwaraswamy Temple in 1952 as a fulfillment of his vow upon the birth of his son, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. Similar Kolagas were also donated to the Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Swamy Temple and the Male Mahadeshwara Swamy Temple (MM Hills).

Wadiyar stated that he prayed for peace and prosperity for all and announced that his second son has been named Yugadyaksha Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

Atop Chamundi Hills, devotees also flocked to the Chamundeshwari Temple, where all entry gates were opened to facilitate their visit.

Meanwhile, at T Narasipura, where Maha Kumbh mela concluded on Ash Wednesday, thousands of devotees took a holy dip at Triveni Sangama, the confluence of the Kaveri, Kapila, and Spatika Sarovara rivers. Devotees also offered special prayers at Agastheswara Temple, Gunjanarasimhaswamy Temple, and other prominent shrines.