Golden mask to adorn Shivalinga in Mysuru

Shilpa P. | NT

Ahead of the Maha Shivarathri festival on Tuesday, the golden mask of Lord Shiva, weighing 11 kg, which would be adorned to Shivalinga of historical Trinayaneshwara temple at the Mysuru Palace premises, was removed from treasury of Muzrai department and handed over to the temple authorities on Monday.

The temple will be open to devotees for darshan from 6.30 am till midnight 12 am on Tuesday. And every year as many as over 50,000 people throng to have darshan.

This golden mask was gifted in 1953 by Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar on the occasion of the birth of late scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. The mask which is kept at the treasury of muzrai department is removed and adorned to Lord Trinayaneswara only once in year on Mahashivarathri day.

It is said that the Shivalinga at the temple was installed by a saint Trinabindu Maharshi in 9th century. Unlike other temples which face east, the temple faces west.

Arrangements were also brisk for the festival at the temple with 108 Shivalingas at Agrahara in Mysuru, which is also thronged by a large number of devotees for the festival on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, preparations were also brisk at the historical Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud. Devotees will be allowed from 4.30 am on Tuesday to 1 pm on Wednesday.

Special cultural programmes “Shiva Sanskruthika Sangeetha Vaibhava” will be arranged to keep devotees awake overnight for “Jaagarane” from 6pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday.