Day 3 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena.
A SMALL SHRINE WITH A BIG STORY
It's in Agrahara Valagerehalli, a village about 60 kilometres from Bengaluru, in the Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district (now renamed Bengaluru South district).
Despite its modest size, the shrine has drawn visitors from across India and even from abroad.
The temple was built in 2010 by a local businessman named Ramesh. Interestingly, he has played an important role in the construction of the nearby Kempamma Temple, dedicated to the village’s presiding deity, Goddess Kempamma.
THE LEGEND
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| Image courtesy: Times Now |
The animals reportedly stayed at the site throughout the building process, quietly guarding the area. Villagers say the dogs never behaved aggressively, yet seemed to keep watch like sentinels.
Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the dogs vanished.
Soon afterwards, goddess Kempamma is said to have appeared in a dream, instructing that a shrine be built in honour of the two dogs. The message was clear: the animals had been divine guardians, and their spirit should continue protecting the village.
And so the temple was built.
CANINE PROTECTORS
Inside the shrine stand statues representing the two dogs, placed close to the sanctum of the goddess. For devotees, these are not merely sculptures but symbols of vigilance and protection.
The rituals are similar to those at other temples:
Daily offerings: Flowers, fruits, and prayers are placed before the statues.
Weekly puja: Formal worship is conducted three times a week.
Annual celebration: Once a year, a special festival honours the canine guardians, attracting devotees who seek protection from misfortune and negative energies. (None of the online resources said on whch date or month the annual celebration takes place.)
THE TOY TOWN
The temple lies near the town of Channapatna, famous worldwide for its traditional wooden toys.
Often called Gombegala Nagara — the “Town of Toys” — Channapatna’s colourful handcrafted playthings have been kids' favourite for generations.
The place gained international attention during the visit of Barack Obama to India in 2010, when the toys were highlighted as a distinctive local tradition.
OTHER ANIMAL TEMPLES
The Channapatna Dog Temple is not the only such temple in the country.
A few examples include:
Dogs: The Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple in Kerala also considers dogs sacred, feeding and naming them as part of their tradition.
Rats: The Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan is home to sacred rats.
Snakes: The Mannarasala Temple in Kerala is a forest sanctuary dedicated to serpents.
Bears: The Chandi Mata Temple in Chhattisgarh is famous for wild bears that visit to participate in rituals.
These might appear a bit strange, but actually they reflect an old Indian worldview of divinity in every form of life.
Information sources: The Times of India, Times Now, Malayala Manorama, News18
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026
Similarly, there is a temple for dog in Chengalpattu in Tamilnadu.
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