Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) – An Abode of Saint Mahadeshwara

Seven hill ranges collectively known as the MM hills or Male Mahadeshwara Hills is a major pilgrim center for Lord Shiva.The Hills is located in Chamarajanagara. The place is famous for the Mahadeshwara Temple. Here Lord Shiva is in the “Swayambhu” form which means self-manifested.

The temple draws several pilgrims from Tamil Nadu as well as Karnataka. The temple lies amidst the thick jungles of the hill ranges. MM Hills not only a major devotee point but also a major tourist attraction spot too, with its unadulterated beauty.

Mahadeshwara- An incarnation of lord Shiva

Mahadeshwara is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. Legendary stories claimed that the Saint Mahadeshwara who came to the hills about 600 years ago, toperform atonement and then remained there with the Shiva lingam, continuing to offer atonement in the temple’s garbhagriha in the form of lingam.

Saint Mahadeshwara was believed to be traveling to the forests of MM hills on a tiger, hence the name Huli Vahana was given to him. He performed miracles and worked to save the saints and others villagers who lived in the proximity. The unending miracle sagas are sung by the localities in their village folk songs in the Janapada style.

The Legend of Mahadeshwara

The tale of Mahadeshwara is sung across by the devotees of Saint Mahadeshwara. According to the legend, Mahadeshwara was born to a dainty virgin woman Uttarajamma, during the Kaliyuga. The saint was supposedly from Srishaila and had moved to the MM hills. He was