In 625 AD, King Pulakesi II of Chalukya dynasty had built the Bhadrakali Temple. When the region came under the reign of Kakatiya rulers, they made Bhadrakali as their tutelary deity, and fixed the left eye of the goddess with the rare Koh-i-Noor diamond. The fascinating diamond itself was mined from the Kollur mines (Golconda mines).
Later, sometime in 1310 AD, the Delhi sultanate under Alauddin Khilji brought the empire of Kakatiyas under their regime, destroyed the Bhadrakali temple, and took away the prized Koh-i-Noor to Delhi as their loot. Then onwards, the awe-inspiring diamond went from one hand to another– from Babur and Humayun to Sher Shah Suri to Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and Maharaja Ranjīt Singh of Patiala. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh was nearing his death, he willed that the ownership of the coveted diamond be given to the deity at Jagannath Temple. However, the British officials ignored the will of the king, and instead, took it to England as a gift to their queen.
Going by the journey covered by Koh-i-Noor diamond since 1306, it can be said that whichever king had it in its possession, met an early death. In fact, it is written that the stone is a harbinger of misfortune for male wearers–only God or a woman can wear it without harm. After goddess Bhadrakali, only the British Queen Elizabeth II could possess it without incurring serious harm; though it should be noted that the British empire faced decline a few years after the diamond went into its custody.
To avoid any untoward happening, and knowing well the curse carried by the diamond, the queen avoids wearing the crown studded with Koh-i-Noor diamond.
As for the Bhadrakali Temple we see today, after facing much plundering and damage in the last centuries, the temple was restored in the 1950s by an ardent devotee and some philanthropic affluent merchants. Now, the temple is visited by many devotees throughout the year.
Also known as the Golden Temple of south India, the Chalukya style architecture of the temple is worth admiring. The temple wears a golden hue at sunrise and sunset, hence, it has earned the sobriquet “the Golden Temple of South India.”
Bhadrakali temple in Warangal is among the oldest temples India that are dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. Located atop a hill, between the city of Warangal and Hanamkonda, by the side of Bhadrakali Lake, it is an ancient temple which was originally built during the Chalukyan reign in 625 AD.
Bhadrakali temple regained its magnetism after it was renovated in 1950s by Sri Ganapathi Sasthri and a few other locals. Although now it bears only a few traces of its glorious past, this temple is one of the most popular shrines and is visited by lakhs of devotees every year.
Along with historical importance and religious significance, natural rock formations around the temple also make this temple a must visit. However, as photography is not allowed inside the shrine, Warangal Bhadrakali temple photos cannot depict its mystical beauty. If interested, devotees can take photos outside the main temple.
In this temple, the main deity is Goddess Bhadrakali who is shown in sitting position. She is shown with eight hands, each carrying one weapon and is wearing an alluring crown. The idol is 2.7 meters and is made out of stone.
A fierce lion, the sacred vehicle of the Goddess is placed opposite to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. There are many other shrines inside the temple as well. In Maha Mandapam, separate shrines for Lord Shiva, Hanuman temple, Subramanya Swamy and Navagrahas along with images of Uma Maheshwara images on stone are placed. These are said to be among the oldest idols of the deities, which have been carved out of stone. Shrine of Lord Vigneshwara, which is built outside the main temple, is comparatively recent.
The deity in the temple is called Goddess Bhadrakali, yet the image of the Goddess is believed to be transformed by the holy mantras into Tripura Sundari, a rare form which signifies the supreme feminine power of the universe. The word Tripura Sundari literally means ‘beauty of the three worlds’. This state comprising of Goddess Kali form is regarded as a greatest manifestation of Prakriti.
A captivating feature of this temple is the Bhadrakali Lake, which is a man-made lake built during Kakatiya reign to serve as source of water for irrigation and other necessities. This lake, spread around 2 and half km, is surrounded by hills and dotted with various natural rock formations nearby. It presents a peaceful setting that adds on to the spiritual aura of the Bhadrakali temple.
Around Bhadrakali Temple Warangal, there are various other shrines that are worth visiting. Some of these are Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Padmakshi temple, Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy temple, Sri Narasimha Swamy temple, etc.
Another popular tourist attraction in Warangal, Thousand Pillar Temple is located around 2 km away from Bhadrakali Temple. Visit to both the places can be clubbed together.
Architecture and History of Bhadrakali Temple, Warangal
Built in the style of Chalukyan architecture, Bhadrakali temple is an ancient temple which was built to mark their conquest of Vengi region. The Ekanda Shila statue and the pillars in the temple present a glimpse of Chalukyan reign, while the intricate carvings on the pillars represent the brilliant craftsmanship of Kakatiya reign.
Kakatiya Kings has also considered Goddess Bhadrakali as their ancestral deity hence had contributed to the temple as well. It was during the Kakatiya reign that the Bhadrakali Lake was built. A lake connecting temple was also constructed during their rule. However, with the fall of Kakatiya reign, the importance of Warangal Bhadrakali temple also lessened.
After many decades, in 1950s Bhadrakali temple was again revived. This was started by Sri Ganapathi Sastri, an ardent devotee of Goddess Kali, who had migrated from Karnataka to Warangal in 1940s. Upon seeing the remains of Bhadrakali temple, he had decided to settle next to the temple which was then just a secluded area. He started the task of renovating the temple, with the help of other locals such as Sri Mudumbai Ramanujacharya and Sri Maganlal Sameja. Many others such as Vangala Guravaiah, Brahmasri Sri Hari Radhakrishnamurthy, Thandra Venkata Rama Narsaiah, Adluri Seetharama Shastry, Tankasala Narasimha Rao, and Maha Tapaswini Mangalambika also contributed in the renovation of this temple.
After the renovations, animal sacrifices were stopped in this Bhadrakali Temple. Even the idol of the deity was slightly modified. It is said that the deity had a fierce form originally which was later softened by a few changes. Goddess face was turned a smiling and calming face. Holy chants were also written of deity’s tongue at the time of renovations. Although Bhadrakali temple is renovated to a large extent, ancient pillars near the Garbha Griha are symbolic of its great history.