Talakadu: Alamelamma’s Curse and the Doom of Wodeyars

Anshika Rana

Talakadu: Alamelamma’s Curse and the Doom of Wodeyars

Talakad or Talakadu, a historical town located on the left bank of River Kaveri, is wrapped with ancient legend and buried under the curse of sand. Despite having a rich cultural heritage with several temples showcasing diverse architectural styles, the town is now surrounded by sand dunes, an unlikely sight in a river basin. Sadly, the glorious temples are buried under the sand.

Vaidyanatheshwara Temple; Source: Pilgrimaide

The origin of Talakadu is not found in the pages of history, but an oral tradition passed down from generation to generation provides a story. The legend has it that the twin brothers Tala and Kadu stumbled upon a miraculous discovery while exploring the forests around their home in Kanyakumari.

One day, as they wandered through the woods, they came upon a strange sight. A group of wild elephants had gathered around a large tree, swaying back and forth as if in a trance. Tala and Kadu watched in amazement as the elephants bowed down before the tree, offering it their respect and devotion.

The brothers were intrigued by the extraordinary sight and headed towards the tree. They chopped it down with the blows of their axes and found an image of Shiva inside. To their amazement, the elephants transformed into rishis or sages, and the tree restored itself.

Everyone present was granted moksha. The place where this miraculous event occurred came to be known as Talakadu and it became a sacred site for Hindus all across the world. Two stones in front of Veerabadra Swamy Temple, Lepakshi, are believed to represent the two brothers.

As the years passed, Talakadu flourished and grew into a bustling city. It became the capital of the Western Ganga dynasty, and its stunning architecture and rich cultural heritage attracted visitors from far and wide.

However, the city's luck would not last forever. In the 9th century, it was captured by the Cholas, Hoysalas, and finally, the Vijayanagara kings. Despite these changes in rule, Talakadu remained a vibrant and thriving place.

In the 17th century, the city's fate took a dark turn. Tirumala Raja, the viceroy of Vijayanagara who held court at Srirangapatna, came to Talakadu to perform rituals at the Vaidyanatheshwara Temple that houses deities of Lord Ganesha, Natraja, Murugan, Goddess Manonmani and several others. In his absence, his wife Alamelamma was left in charge of the city of Srirangapatna.

When Alamelamma learned that her husband's health had taken a turn for the worse, she rushed to Talakadu to be by his side. In her absence, the city of Srirangapatna was entrusted to the care of Raja Wodeyar of Mysore, a vassal under Tirumala Raja.

Raja Wodeyar saw this as an opportunity to seize control of Srirangapatna and its territories, and he went on to capture Talakadu as well. Desperate to get his hands on the queen's royal jewels, he tried to take them by force. But Alamelamma was not about to let her possessions fall into the hands of a thief. She ran towards the Kaveri River, throwing her jewels into the water as she went.

As she reached the river's edge, Alamelamma turned to face Raja’s army. Her last words before plunging into the river were a curse to the Raja:

May Talakadu become a desert land, May Malangi become a whirlpool, And Mysore kings bear no heirs!

It was said that the city had once been a thriving metropolis, full of grand temples and lush greenery. But after a curse was placed upon it by the queen Alamelamma, the city had been transformed into a barren wasteland, covered in shifting sand dunes.

For centuries, the people of Mysore lived with the curse, watching as their city was slowly buried beneath the sand. As the years went by, the curse seemed to turn true with the Maharajas failing to produce an heir to the throne.

The former Maharaja, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, who reigned from 1974 to 2013, faced a similar predicament. Despite his immense wealth and authority, he was unable to produce an heir during his lifetime, leaving the future of the Mysore dynasty uncertain upon his passing. Confronted with the challenge of securing a successor, Queen Pramoda Devi took the step of adopting his grand-nephew, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, and bestowing upon him the title of successor. King Yaduveer appears to have eluded the curse and now finds himself blessed with a son.

Talakadu still stands as a cultural and spiritual site, filled with ancient temples hidden beneath the sand for centuries. These temples are believed to number around thirty in total, and are a source of great fascination and devotion for pilgrims who travel from all over the country to visit them.

Today, Talakadu continues to be a place of great spiritual significance and is a testament to the enduring power of faith and devotion.

Every 12 years, the sand dunes that cover the temples mysteriously disappear, revealing the holy sites to the world once again. This event, known as the Panchalinga Darshana, is observed with a series of rituals performed by devotees of Shiva.