Kuderu Swarna Gowri Temple

Swarna Gowri temple is located at Kuderu village of Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka.The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati or Uma Devi the consort of Lord Shiva.

The 110-year-old Swarna Gowri temple, which is open for just 12 days in a year, is the nucleus of celebration during Gowri festival as women from across the state visit to offer bagina and pray to remain ‘Muttaide’
(Sumangali).

Generally Gowri is usually worshiped separately in homes but here in Kuderu village has a big temple of Swarna Gowri.
During the Gowri festival in this town, all the housewives of the town gather in the temple and observe the Swarna Gauri Vrat for 12 consecutive days.

Swarna Gowri Vratha is a revered Hindu festival predominantly celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Observed on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, this auspicious occasion sees devotees worship Goddess Gowri, embodying Goddess Parvati’s fair complexion. Married women undertake the Swarna Gowri Vratha, seeking blessings for a harmonious and fulfilling marital life. According to tradition, Goddess Gowri is believed to have visited her parental home on this day, only to be accompanied by her son, Lord Ganesha, the following day, symbolizing his arrival to escort her back to Mount Kailasha. This festival is also observed as Hartalika Teej in North Karnataka,Maharashtra and other North Indian states.

Significance of Swarna Gowri Vratha

The origin of Swarna Gowri Vrat is said to be mentioned in Aadi Shakthi Mahathmyam.

There was a place named Vimalpur on the banks of the river Saraswathi. It was ruled by a King named Chandra Prabha. He had two wives.

One day, he had been to a dense forest for hunting. There he saw a few women doing Puja. He asked them about Pooja they were performing.They replied that they were doing Swarna Gowri Vrat. They even tied the holy sacred thread to his right wrist saying that it would bring auspiciousness to him.

Happily, he returned to the palace and narrated the incident to both his wives. His first wife got angry. She snatched the tied thread from his wrist and threw it on a dead tree.

Next day morning, the second wife saw the tree springing back to life. She immediately took the sacred thread and tied to her hand. Auspicious things started to happen to her and the King had paid his attention only to her.

Due to her arrogance and ignorance, the first wife had to leave the palace. She was wandering in the forest with self-pity and regret. She could not console and control herself. Seeing her distress, Sri Parvathi Devi herself appeared before her and asked about her predicament. The helpless woman narrated her ordeal.

Sri Parvathi Devi had advised her to observe the Swarna Gowri Vrat at the forest itself. The devotee did the Vrat sincerely. Due to the good effect of the Puja, she returned to the palace and lived with the King happily.

The observance of Swarna Gowri Vrat is believed to bring in good health, prosperity, fame, progeny, fortune, peaceful life, inner peace and glorious life.