Kurudumale Ganesha Temple
ಶ್ರೀ ಕುರುಡುಮಲೆ ಗಣೇಶ ದೇವಾಲಯ
Maha Ganapathi · Mulbagal, Karnataka
Ancient
About the temple
Home to one of the largest and most powerful monolithic ancient Ganesha idols in India (13.5 feet tall); where the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara) reportedly meditated and sought Ganesha’s blessings before the creation of the cosmos. Traditional belief: Complete removal of stubborn obstacles (Vighnaharta), successful inauguration of new enterprises, marriage blessings, and fulfillment of deep wishes.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:30 – 20:00
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Maha GanapathiLord SomeshwaraGanesha Family
- Deity form
- Colossal 13.5-feet tall monolithic black Saligrama stone idol of Lord Ganesha with four hands, without pedestal, standing directly on earth
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Ganapatya Agamic Tradition
- Sanskrit name
- श्री कूरुडुमले महागणपति मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Kurudumale Maha Ganapathi Temple, Koodu-Male Ganesha, Saligrama Ganesha Temple
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 08:30 PM
- Break timings
- Open continuously during daytime; afternoon alankara 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM
- Special days
- Ganesh Chaturthi, Sankashti Chaturthi: 05:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Festival timings
- Open continuously from 05:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:30 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:30 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:30 PM
- Night aarti
- 07:45 PM
- Special aarti days
- Sankashti Chaturthi, Angarika Sankashti, Tuesdays, Ganesh Chaturthi
- Ritual schedule
- Suprabhatam, Ganapati Atharvashirsha Homam, Panchamrutha Abhishekam, Modaka Naivedya, Maha Mangalarati
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 01:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 07:45 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 07:00 AM - 09:30 AM (Extensive milk and panchamrutha abhisheka to the 13.5-ft deity)
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Consecrated by ancient rishis; mandapa and courtyard built under Vijayanagara Emperor patronage
- Architect / builder
- Traditional artisans of Karnataka; legend attributes adjoining carving to master sculptors Jakanachari and Dankanachari
- Construction materials
- Monolithic black Saligrama stone, granite pillars, and brick-mortar tower
- Historical events
- Lord Rama prayed here before marching to Lanka; Pandavas worshipped here during their exile; Vijayanagara kings prayed here before royal battles
- Renovations
- Protected and renovated under Karnataka Religious Endowments (Muzrai) Department
- Archaeological importance
- Celebrated mega-lithic sculptural icon of high religious antiquity
- Legends
- The name Kurudumale derived from "Koodu-male" (the hill of meeting where the Trimurtis met to establish the deity)
- Inscriptions
- Inscriptions in the adjoining Someshwara temple recording royal grants from Chola and Hoysala kings
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Other
- Architectural period
- Ancient icon with 14th - 16th Century CE structural mandapa
- Structure
- Spacious single-chambered granite stone temple without roof over the sanctum originally to accommodate the gigantic growing idol
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Stepped Dravidian Vimana tower rising above the massive deity
- Mandapa
- Open pillared sabha mandapa with heavy monolithic granite pillars
- Sculptural features
- Magnificent 13.5-feet single-stone black Saligrama Ganapathi with right-turned trunk (Valampuri), holding ankusha, pasha, and modaka
- Artistic elements
- Intricate stone carving of Mooshika (mouse mount), ornamental prabhavali, and floral doorway jambs
- Construction technique
- Monolithic stone carving of superhuman proportions erected on bedrock
- Unique features
- The colossal 13.5-foot monolithic Ganesha vigraha carved from single sacred Saligrama rock, standing without any pedestal
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi)
- Special celebration days
- Every Sankashti Chaturthi (monthly), Tuesdays, Sundays
- Cultural events
- Devotional bhajans, Harikatha, classical Carnatic concerts, and Vedic chanting during Ganeshotsav
- Annual events
- Kurudumale Maha Ganesha Rathotsavam drawing thousands of devotees from Karnataka, AP, and TN
- Peak crowd season
- August to October (Ganeshotsav season) and winter weekends
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 100+ Vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.