Located
in the Basavanagudi region of Bangalore, the Bull temple is one of the
prominent landmarks of the city. The name Basavanagudi literally
translates to mean "The Temple of the Bull". Dedicated to
Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva, the Bull temple was built by Kempe Gowda
in the 16th century. The majestic structure of Nandi, 15 feet tall and
over 20 feet long, has been carved out of a single granite rock.Legends abound regarding the origin of the magnificent bull carved in a crouching position. The surrounding area of the temple was inhabited by groundnut growing farmers and a bull used to graze on the flourishing groundnut crop. Enraged at the loss caused by the bull, a farmer hit the bull with a club which was transformed into a stone. Stunned by this event, the worried farmers built a temple to appease the bull of Lord Shiva, Nandi.
Thus originated the practice of farmers offering their first crop of groundnut as an offering to the bull. The occasion gradually metamorphosed into the famous the Kadalekayi Parishe (The Groundnut fair), which is held in the month of November. Every year, during the fair farmers offer their first crop of groundnut to the sacred bull of the temple.
A 17th Century inscription at the base of the structure mentions about a stream called Vrishabhavathi that is believed to have originated here seven or eight decades ago.
