Hiremagalur Explained

Hiremagalur
Native Name:Hiremagaluru
Settlement Type:locality
Pushpin Map:India Karnataka#India
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates:13.3053°N 75.7956°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Karnataka
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Chikkamagaluru
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Kannada
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30

Hiremagalur (IAST: hirēmagalūru, in Kannada pronounced as /hiremaɡaluːru/ or 'town of the big'/'elder daughter'), was until recently a separate village, is now a locality in Chikkamagaluru (or town of the younger daughter) of Karnataka. In 1971, its population was 1,456 in an area of 1,300 hectares.

History

Inscriptions mention that during 9th and 11th-centuries, Hiremagalur was a flourishing agrahara town. Legends suggest that in this area, nine siddhas performed penance near a pond in the village known as Siddha Pushkarni. Legend has it that Parashurama too lived here, giving the village the epithet Bhargavapuri, or "the town of Bhargava (Parashurama)."[1]

Another legend suggests that this city was given as a gift to the elder daughter (elder daughter or hiriya magalu in Kannada) of King Rukmangada, who ruled Sakrepatna at the time. Hence the name of the locality came to be known as Hiremagalur (the town of the elder daughter).[1]

Location

The town is located about 3 km from the city of Chikmagalur. The new Chikmagalur railway station is being built in this place. A lot of new industries have started in this place.

Religion and Culture

The village is well known for its Kodandarama Temple, which depicts Rama, his consort Sita, and brother Lakshmana, as they would have appeared according to a Hindu wedding procession, with Sita to the right of Rama. This is different from popular renderings of the trio, where Sita appears to Rama's left. In the Kodandarama Temple, rituals and prayer are recited in pure Kannada, which is contrary to the other temples where all the prayers are recited in Sanskrit rather than Kannada.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mysore Gazetteer Volume V . 1928 . 1147 . 27 March 2024.