Snippets of Information
Temples in Karnataka
* 13 Jul 2022
Kalleshwara Temple, Hulikal, Tumkur, restored by the ASI is
situated about 3 km from Tandaga. Built by the Hoysalas, it is different
in its simple and plain structure, devoid of the intricate carvings
found in other Hoysala temples.
Source: teamgsquare.com
* 13 Jul 2022
A few lesser known (Hidden) Hoysala Temples visted and photographed by Sarathy PB
1) Karadeshwara temple - Nagalapura
2) Chennakeshava Temple - Nagalapura
3) Kalleshwara Temple - Hulikal ( This one floods during Monsoon and makes a nice scene)
4) Chennakeshava Temple - Thandaga
5) Mule Sankreshwara Temple - Turuvekere
6) Chennakeshava Temple - Turuvekere
Source: sarathythetraveler.com
* 13 Dec 2021
Panchalinga Kshetras, Karnataka
Ravana after severe penance received the Atma Linga from Lord Shiva with
the condition that he should not place it on the ground during his
journey from Mount Kailas to his kingdom Lanka. At the request of
Narada, Lord Ganesha in the guise of a small boy intervened so that
Ravana was forced to place the Lingam on the ground at Gokarnam.
Enraged Ravana tried very hard to prise the Lingam off the ground but
the Lingam had taken root at Gokarnam. The Lingam at this temple
is said to have a dent, the place where Ravana had held with force to
move the Lingam. The casket holding the Lingam, its lid, the cloth
covering the Lingam and the rope that was used to tie up the casket,
however flew off, fell and turned into Lingams in four nearby spots
resulting in the Pancha Linga Shetrams -
Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna - where the Lingam was placed by Ravana on the ground
Murudeshwara Temple - where a Lingam was formed from the cloth covering the Atma Lingam
Sajjeshwara Temple, Shejwad village on the outskirts of Karwar - where a Lingam was formed out of the casket
Dhareshwar Temple - where a Lingam was formed out of the string
Gunvanteshwara Temple - where a Lingam was formed out of the lid of casket
Source: Of legends and history by Chitra Ramaswamy, March 1, 2016, deccanherald.com
* 12 Dec 2021
Murudeshwara temple in Karwar district, Karnataka is a
contemporary structure on the Kanduka hillock and is surrounded on three
sides by the Arabian Sea.. The new temple with the 2nd largest
Rajagopuram (249 ft with a built in lift so visitors can reach the top
to enjoy the scenic view) in India has been built by R.N Shetty, a
philanthropist and
businessman. The temple complex is maintained by R N Shetty trust.
- It is believed that, Lord Shiva had given the Atma Linga to
Ravan as a gift for his penance, which sits originally in the heart of
Shiva. The temple features the cloth which covered the Atma Linga. It is
also said that all the Gods, according to the Hindu scriptures attained
invincibility and mortality after worshipping Lord Shiva.
- Karnataka is believed to contain Lord Shiva’s Pancha Kshetra and
Murudeshwar temple is one of the Pancha Kshetra of the state, and the
four other being Dharmasthala, Nanjanagud, Gokarna and Dhareshwara.
- The most noticing highlight of the temple is the mammoth statue of the
Lord Shiva which has been built such that that the rays of the Sun
first falls on the Shiva’s statue. This Shiva statue here at the temple
Murudeshwar is the second largest statue of Lord Shiva, the largest
being the Kailash Nath Mahadeva statue in Nepal.
- Inside the main shrine of the temple is a Deep (flame) which is
believed to be burning the way it burnt when the temple was built. In
order to get blessing of the God for prosperity and good luck, people
pour oil into the burning Deep and see their image into the oil.
- The gigantic Gopuram at the entrance is believed to be the second
tallest of all the Gopurams in the world and has a height of 237.5 feet
while the tallest Gopuram is located at Srirangam temple in Tamilnadu.
Source: mahashivratri.org
* 5 Dec 2021
Around 1,500 temples in 958 centres, according to historical records,
were built during the Hoysala period - between A.D. 1000 and A.D.1346.
The main entrance to the Chennakesava temple complex is crowned by an
ornate gopura or tower, built in the Vijayanagara style. Within the
complex, the main temple of Chennakesava lies in the centre, facing
east, flanked on its right by the Kappe Chennigaraya temple, and a small
Lakshmi shrine. Set back on its left is an Andal, or Ammanavara temple.
There are two graceful Garuda sthambhas, or pillars, in the main
courtyard. The sthambha facing the main temple was built in the
Vijayanagara period, and the one to the right of the temple was built by
the Hoysalas.
The ruler who built this temple was Vishnuvardhana, who succeeded to the
Hoysala throne in the first decade of the 12th century and completed
this (temple) in A.D. 1117.
He built three temples in this complex - the Vijayanarayana, the Kesava and the Lakshminarayana.
There are 118 inscriptions in the temple complex, belonging to a period
from A.D. 1117 to the 18th century. They record details of the
construction of the temple, the artists employed, the grants and
endowments given, and the renovations to the temple. In one of the first
inscriptions engraved in this temple, Vishnuvardhana says that he has
"built it from the wealth which he amassed from the sword". He says that
the main temple was built to celebrate his liberation from the
Chalukyas. It was a declaration of his sovereign status. That is why he
called the deity Vijayanarayana, a name later changed to Chennakesava.
Later myths suggest that he built this temple after he was converted to
Sri Vaishnavism by Ramanuja.
Source: Hoysala heritage by S. Settar (historian), frontline.thehindu.com, April 25, 2003
* 15 Feb 2022
Chennakeshava temple of Belur, in the Hassan district of Karnataka
Chenakeshava Temple of Belur is a 12-century Hindu temple in the Hassan
district of Karnataka commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE and
it took over three generations - 103 years - to finish!
Source: fb: @wowclubindia
* 16 Nov 2021
The seven mukti stalas of Karnataka (Parasurama Kshetras)
- Udupi Bala Krishna - Gopala temple (seat of Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy)
- Kollur Mookambika temple, in Udupi district (Shree Kshethram set up by Adi Shankaracharya)
- Gokarna Shiva temple in Uttara Kannada district (Atmalinga given by Lord Shiva to Ravana)
- Subrahmanya temple on the Kumara Parvata
- Kumbasi (Kumbhasi) Ganesha temple (Ganesha in standing posture).
- Kodeshwara / Kotilingeshwara temple (worshipped by Brahma)
- Sankaranarayana temple (there are two Lingams)
All of these shrines are also known as Parasurama Kshetrams, created on the land reclaimed from the sea by Parasurama.
Source: templenet.com
* 19 Oct 2021
Amruteshvara Temple, Amruthapura, Chickmagalur district of, Karnataka
Amrita-dandanayaka, who was a general in the army of the Hoysala king
Ballala II, caused the Amrutesvara temple to be constructed in the
Hoysala style .
There is a stone stele engraved with an inscription composed by the
celebrated thirteenth century Kannada poet Janna who was a court poet of
the Hoysala king Ballala II and earned the title of ‘kavichakravarti’.
Yashodhara Charite, Ananthnatha Purana and Anubhava Mukura are among is
famous works.
A unique feature of the mukha-mandapa is its more than hundred miniature
temple towers carved on its parapet wall. These models are carved in
big and small sizes in alternate fashion. These are supported on
pilasters arranged in star design. Few turrets show curvilinear rising
which indeed is peculiar as such a design is not frequently seen in
Hoysala temples.
There are several large panels on the upper part of the parapet wall
depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Krishna's life and the Mahabharata.
The south side railing displays various scenes from Ramayana such as
Putrakameshti Yajna, Rama proving his strength, Setu Bandhan, False
heads of Rama and Lakshmana shown to Sita, Hanumana lecturing Ravana,
Fall of Ravana, Sita’s reunion with Rama and Lakshmana.
To the right of the north entrance, there are twenty-five panels related
to Krishna stories as depicted in Bhagavata Purana and another
forty-five panels depicting early events of Mahabharata - Krishna-lilas
starting with his birth in Kamsa’s prison, Bakasura Vatsasura
Pralambasura vadhams, Kaliya nartanam, Govardhana Giri, end of Kamsa in
the hands of Krishna.
Scenes from the Mahabharata such as Kunti with her five sons, seeking
help from Bhishma, Lakshagrha on fire, Draupadi Svayamvara, Khandava
Forest on fire, Shishupal Episode, Arjuna being granted Pashupata in the
hands of Shiva.
The tower of the temple is a seven story structure consisting of seven
rows of indented square-shaped kirtimukhas. In each of these kirtimukhas
are placed a form of Rudra. The top stone kalasa is no more there, it
has been replaced with a metal kalasa. The tower projects over to
sukanasi above which a Hoysala emblem is placed. This emblem depicts the
fighting scene between Sala and a tiger.
To the south of the main temple, at right angle, is a Sarasvati Temple.
Source - Text and images in pinterest collection: Amruthapura - The Amruteshvara Temple by Saurabh Saxena, puratattva.in, December 7, 2015
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