Betaraya Temple, Turuvekere, Karnataka

Betaraya Temple, Turuvekere, Karnataka

Betaraya Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Turuvekere Town in the Turuvekere Taluk of Tumkur district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. This Temple is considered as the main and the largest Temple in Turuvekere. The temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India. Turuvekere is a temple town housing Hoysala era temples and Vijayanagara temples.

History

Turuvekere was an Agraharam town (a place of learning) in the 13^th century CE. It is said that the presiding deity of this temple was installed by Shantala Devi, Queen of Hoysala Emperor Vishnuvardhana. The current structure was built around 15^th century CE by Vijayanagara Kings. The Rajagopuram is recently built in 2014.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala, closed maha mandapam, open ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The mukha mandapa is supported by 16 pillars. The pillars are simply plain and devoid of any decorations except the central pillars. Balipitha and Dhwaja Sthamba can be found in mukha mandapa.

The ardha mandapa can be accessed through flight of steps from the northern and southern side. The ardha mandapa is supported by four pillars and four pilasters. The Maha Mandapa has an entrance porch on the southern side. The entrance porch is supported by two pillars and two pilasters.

The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity Betaraya Swamy, a form of Lord Vishnu in it. There is a separate shrine for Goddess Lakshmi in the temple premises. The temple has an old ornamental wooden cot, which is used for the Sayanotsava of the image and is said to have been presented by a Mysore general Katti Gopalaraja Arasu.

Festivals

Bramha Rathotsava is celebrated during the month of march is the famous festival celebrated here.

Prayers

Devotees pray to Lord to get relief from diseases & adverse effects from planetary positions in horoscope, and to be blessed with wealth & courage.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 600 metres from Turuvekere Bus Stand. Turuvekere is located at about 15 Kms from Aralaguppe Railway Station, 28 Kms from Tiptur, 28 Kms from Tiptur Railway Station, 32 Kms from Yadiyur, 54 Kms from Huliyar, 72 Kms from Tumkur, 124 Kms from Bengaluru and 146 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. Turuvekere is situated on Huliyar to Yadiyur route.

Location