Experts, writers say Mahishasura was not a demon

MYSURU: The story of Mahishasura has been twisted to show him in bad light, claimed Mahesh Chandra Guru, professor at journalism department, University of Mysore, at an event here on Sunday.
“He was a Buddhist king who respected human values, but the priestly class projected him as an ‘asura’ and claimed that he was killed by Chamundeshwari, a fictitious character created by them,” he said at “Mahishana Habba” held at Chamundi Hills.
Guru claimed that there is no evidence to prove “Mahishasura Mardhini” — the killing of Mahishasura by Chamundeshwari. “Mahisha was a symbol of equality and justice and people who didn’t tolerate his popularity conspired and projected him as a demon with baseless stories. There is reference in Pali language that he was the king of Mahisha Mandala and therefore Mysuru city is named after him,” Guru said.
Folklore expert Kalegowda Nagavara, who also attended the event, said Mahisha ruled Mysuru and was a good administrator. “Facts have been twisted. People need to understand the truth and stop seeing him as an asura,” said Nagavara.
Writer Bannur Raju said that Chamundi Hills was formerly known as Mahabaleshwara temple and it has a temple of Mahabaleshwara. “The hillock was named after Chamundi during the period of the maharajas of Mysuru after cooking up a story that Chamundeshwari killed Mahishasura,” said Raju.
Author Siddaswamy, who has written a book called “Mahisha Mandala” (Mahisha Kingdom), claimed that a statue of Mahisha was installed at the entrance of the hills during Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar’s period.
President of Dalit Welfare Trust, Shantharaju said that the trust will publish literature on Mahisha and educate about his good deeds among tourists and devotees. “We’ll place a demand before the government to celebrate Mahisha festival,” he said.
Members of the trust, which organized “Mahishana Habba” on Sunday, garlanded the statue of Mahishasura atop the Chamundi Hills. Writer Sidda Swamy was also present.