Amidst the picturesque landscape of Mysuru in Karnataka, Union Home Minister Amit Shah graced the revered Chamundi Hills on a serene Sunday. Shah, accompanied by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijeayendra, partook in the divine ritual of offering prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the esteemed deity of Mysuru. Preluded by seeking blessings from Lord Ganesh, Shah immersed himself in the sacred ambiance, surrounded by Sanskrit hymns chanted by the attending priests.
Embarking on a ‘pradakshina’ – a clockwise circumambulation – around the shrine post the prayers, Shah paid homage to the formidable ‘Chamundi’ or ‘Durga’. This manifestation of ‘Shakti,’ known for vanquishing the demons ‘Chanda’ and ‘Munda,’ along with the buffalo-headed monster ‘Mahishasura,’ holds a significant place in Hindu mythology.
Ensuring a sanctified visit, stringent security measures enveloped both the temple premises and the route leading to it from the city, acknowledging the Home Minister’s presence.
The temple, with a legacy spanning over a millennium, started as a modest shrine but evolved into a prominent place of worship over the centuries. Its ascendancy reached new heights when the Mysuru Maharajas, the Wodeyars, ascended to power in 1399 AD, becoming fervent devotees of Chamundeswari.
Shah’s journey into the cultural and spiritual fabric of Mysuru commenced in the early hours of Sunday, beginning with a visit to Sutturu to partake in the Sutturu Jathra (fair). Subsequently, he is slated to engage in pivotal discussions with the state BJP core committee members and leaders of the party’s Mysuru cluster later in the day. These deliberations gain significance in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Against the backdrop of a strategic alliance between the BJP and JD(S), negotiations on seat-sharing are underway, reflecting the political landscape in Karnataka. The BJP’s triumph in 26 out of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 polls, including support for the independent Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya, has set the stage for a compelling electoral narrative. The Congress and JD(S), securing one seat each, are gearing up for a renewed political landscape in the forthcoming elections.
