A Police Constable (pic.right) presenting the Guard of Honour to Goddess Chamundeshwari during the puja. [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]

Many are not aware that a Guard of Honour usually presented to visiting digni taries by the Police is being accorded since ages to Goddess Chamundeshwari at the temple atop Chamundi Hill here. She is learnt to be the only deity receiving the honour twice everyday.

Everyday, the Police are learnt to present the Guard of Honour at 9.30 am and 8.30 pm. On regular and normal days, an armed Police Constable presents the Honour and it will be by two cops on special occasions.

The concept originated about 50 years ago and executed by the Police has a history of centuries. During the days of Maharajas, the Honour was said to be called Barjith and was said to be presented by Palace Sepoys before Nada Devathe Chamundeshwari. The le gend says, it began way back in 1399.

According to Historian Prof. P.V. Nanjaraje Urs, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar began the custom of presenting the Guard of Honour to Goodess Chamu-ndeshwari, the way it was being presented to the Maharajas. Several Sepoys would line up at the entrance of Mysore Palace and present the Guard of Honour to the Goddess. With the exit of Maharajas’ rule and democracy setting in, Police personnel began presenting the Honour.

Temple priests Sridhar Dikshit and Srinivasan say that the Police present the Honour and prayers with their arms, the way devotees offer pra- yers with beating of cymbals and ringing of bells.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / by B.L.Harish / Jun 06th, 2011