Bhadrakali temple in Warangal and its connection with the Kohinoor diamond - Times of India

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Bhadrakali temple in Warangal and its connection with the Kohinoor diamond - Times of India Posted: 07 Aug 2019 12:00 AM PDT The temple of goddess Bhadrakali has an intriguing history, and whoever has heard much about the illustrious Kohinoor diamond would be amazed to learn about it. But, before we move on to unravel the facts, here is a bit about the temple - Bhadrakali temple is situated atop a hill between the cities of Hanamkonda and Warangal in Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity of the temple is goddess Kali in her fierce form – large eyes, grim countenance, and eight arms wielding different weapons. The image is made of stone and it sits on her vehicle, the lion. Legend has it that the Kohinoor diamond was the left eye of the goddess in this temple. Hard facts about Koh-i-noor 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. Know more about Bhadrakali Temple 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." Next to the temple is the Bhadrakali Lake which is worshipped by the pilgrims, but, in order to maintain its sanctity, no one is allowed to take a dip or step into its waters. A good spot for photo ops nonetheless! How to reach the temple? The temple can be reached via TSRTC or auto-rickshaw services from Warangal railway station or Kazipet railway station. Flights are available to the Warangal Airport from different cities in India. There are train services also connecting Warangal to other destinations in the country. Liked this article? Let your friends know about it

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