Hasanamba ’miracle’ claims resurface as temple opens

It has long been believed that the lamp inside the sanctum keeps burning, that the flowers offered to the deity remain fresh and that the food offering placed there does not spoil. | Photo Credit: PRAKASH HASSAN

With the opening of the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan on Thursday, the controversy over the “miracles” associated with the shrine has resurfaced.

The Karnataka Department of Tourism’s official Facebook account highlighted the deity’s “specialities”, stating that the lamp inside the closed sanctum remains lit throughout the year, the flowers do not wither and the prasada remains fresh. “This is the miracle of Hasanamba,” the post said. The post was tagged to several accounts, including that of the Hassan Deputy Commissioner.

It has long been believed that the lamp inside the sanctum keeps burning, that the flowers offered to the deity remain fresh and that the food offering placed there does not spoil.

The claims have long been disputed. Years ago, rationalists in Hassan demanded that the district administration scientifically investigate the reported miracles. In 2018, the temple’s head priest stated publicly that there were no miracles. He also clarified that no cooked rice was kept inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Chinnenahalli Swamy, district secretary of the Bharat Gnan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS), said people tend to believe statements published through official channels. “If the administration itself publicises such miracles, how can we spread scientific temper? Let the festival continue, but publicising and promoting blind beliefs is unacceptable,” he said. “The same issue was raised by rationalists, including BGVS, in 2018. At that time, the district administration and the head priest had denied the miracles,” he recalled.

Published - October 29, 2026 07:33 pm IST