Hassanaamba Temple, Hassan, Karnataka...

Sri Hassanaamba Temple, Hassan, Karnataka...

The temple of Hassanaamba is believed to have been constructed sometime around the 12th century, though no one knows exactly when or how it came to be. There is an ant-hill representing the presiding deity inside the temple.
The town Hasan was named after the presiding deity at the Hasanamba Temple. She is called Hasanamba as she is perceived to be ever smiling, bestowing all riches on her devotees. Built in the 12th century, the temple is open to the public for a week, once a year during the lunar month of Ashwayuja, during Diwali in October. So devotees flock here to seek the Goddess’ blessings during this week.

The temple is unusual in that it is open to the devotees only for a week every year. The rest of the time the Goddess is left with a lit lamp, flowers, water and two bags of rice as offering until the next year. The nandaa deepa, (a ghee-lit lamp) burns all year round, for the entire duration when the temple doors are shut, with the ghee never depleting. And the anna naivedya (the rice offering) offered to the devi at the time of closing the temple is warm and unspoiled when the doors are opened again, a year later.