Symphony of heritage in Ramanathapura, Hassan

Ramanathapura, was an ancient religious centre located on the bank of the river Kaveri and is considered as one of the famous pilgrimage centres in Hassan district. It formed a part of Chola, Hoysala & Vijayanagara kingdoms.Traditionally famous as the Dakshina Kashi and Agasthya Kshetra. This place because sacred and it was the natural choice of the kings to perform the various spiritual activities in ancient time, however it is famous as a sacred and pilgrim place because of the River Kaveri and Sri Rameshvara Temple.

There are many temples on this village of Rameshwaraswamy temple, Prasanna Subramanya Temple, Agasteshwara temple, Pattabhirama Temple, Lakshmi Narasimha Tempe, Anjaneya Temple, Durgarameshavri Temple which are prominent. All the temples are built in Dravidian style. The best part of this village is that you can explore many other holy shrines around the vicinity that are well-connected to each other through walking distance. This is the reason the place is also known as the town of temples. This ancient Ramanathapura village is also known by various names such as Samvartakapuri, Vahnikapura and Tretapura.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Agni Deva (Vahni) performed a prayer in middle of the river Cauvery to wash off the curse of sage Bhrigu. The place is called Vahni Pushkarini. This Thirthasnana place is situated in middle of River Cauvery so that it became the holiest and the greatest of all Thirthas in South India. Devotes used to take a holy dip in this place before visiting the temples. The reason being, they believe that doing this will wash away all their sins. Devotees are also seen performing various rituals on the bank of the river Cauvery. There is a place like Kapila Shil where, saint Vishvamitra performed a prayer, it is said that chanting one Gayathri Mantra is equal to 1000 times in this place. There is one more place called Bhogarbha in this river were Kamadeva disturbed Shukracharya’s meditation and cursed him and made him as a stone. 

Sri. Vyasaraya swamy from Sosale Muth has established Vyasanjaneya Swamy Temple at bank of River Kaveri, Agasteswara Temple situated on left attaching to this temple. This is 560 years old Anjaneya temple constructed on a small area the main building of the temple has one Garbhgriha with 6 feet height Anjaneya idol.

Agasteswara Temple:

Agasteswara temple is believed that it has been constructed by sage Agastya. When Kaveri left sage Agastya, he followed the river from Bhagamandala and reached to Ramanathapura. He established this temple and worshiped God Shiva here. Inside the second Prakara there is a separate beautiful shrine for Mother Kaveri.   

Like a diamond inside the star this temple sits in the center of a majestic star shaped platform, the temple faces east and consists of a mandapa, navaranga and antarala or sukanasi. It is constructed in ekakuta style, consisting of one Garbhagrha (sanctum) which is provided with antarala. The temple has one entrance and a grand compound wall. 

Pattabhirama temple:

Pattabhirama temple is just a plain structure with beautiful Rajagopura. It is situated at heart of the village, 1km away from the Rameshwara temple here Lord Rama siting with goddess Sita on his lap. Bharat and Shatrughan behind holding with Chamara and God Hanuman on right side and Lakshmana on left side. There is no other idol in this kind exists in India and also three temples in India where Sita sat on Ram’s lap including this.

The idol of Pattabhirama temple is believed that it has been constructed by a sage Saubari the son of Kanva Rishi. Soubhari lived under water for twelve years when a king Mandhata was ruling the area. One day, Soubhari came across the king when king playing in the water with his children and grandchildren. This made Soubhari to feel that, he too should get married and to have children and grandchildren. He then married all the fifty daughters of Mandhata and settled. 

The car festival of this temple is on Mrigashira Ramanuja Saptaha. The Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the Gopura are beautifully sculptured. They stand tall to add grandeur to the hall.

Lakshmi Narasimha Tempe: The Lakshminarasimha temple was built during the reign of Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar. The ground plan of the temple is slightly peculiar. The temple has undergone a lot of reconstructions and has lost its original look. From the inscription it becomes clear that Rameshvara was a great Shiva centre. Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya and later Dhvita Saints also visited this holy place. 

Prasanna Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple: The Subramanya Temple has an interesting tale. 460 years ego Vibhudesha Theertharu Swamiji of Kukke Subramanya Matha started to travel towards Coorg to spread Madhva philosophy. During this tour he established Subramanya Temple at Sorlabbi. Then he visited Ramanathapura and stayed there for meditation and pooja. After completion of his pooja and meditation, he stayed at Sankranthi Mantapa. When he slept in the night, Lord Subramanya swamy appeared in his dream and ordered to construct a temple here. At the same time God Subramanya swamy appeared in the dream of Holenarasipura king Narasappa Nayaka. The God ordered him to give all support and co-operation required for the establishment of the temple with an assurance of male baby.

Then King Narasappa Nayaka met Swamiji and started to construct a new temple for Sri Subramanya swamy as per the directions given by Swamiji, thus a new and beautiful temple was constructed as wished by Subramanya Swamy. From this achievement the Swamiji becomes cheerful and satisfied hence he called the temple as Prasanna Subramanya Swamy Temple.

At the same time wife of Narasappa Nayaka blessed with a male child, finally Sri Vibhudesha Theertharu continued to worship the god until the end of his life. This temple is very famous and sacred as similar to Kukke Subramanya. The installed deity is made from black Saligrama stone. The idol consists of seven hoods. Soil taken from anthill is the main Prasadam here.

Rameshwaraswamy Temple: Ramanathapura is also connected with the story of Ramayana. Another interesting story linked to Lord Rama and Anjaneya himself visited this place and worshiped Shiva here. After killing Ravana on his return from Srilanka Lord Rama offered prayers to lord shiva to remove all his Brahmahatya sins by killing Ravana. 

The name of the town has however been derived from the famous Rameshvara Temple of this place. A portion of the historical Rameshwaraswamy temple tower has been damaged due to the incessant rains in 2019 due to this temple was closed for public visits. Rameshvara Temple stand as testimony to the architectural magnificence of the Chola and Hoysala ages in the history of medieval India. The temple also excels in artistic sculpture. Besides the finely carved pillars inside, the ornate gopura and intricately latticed walls with rows of parakeets above Mantapas are eye-catching. 

The familiar sight here is the children offering beaten rice and groundnuts for fish in the water. Village Panchayat, Local Youth Club and Society for Advancement of Aqua culture have created awareness among general public about the importance of protecting the sanctuary. Tor khudree one of the endangered fishes are found in the area.  The whole area is declared as a protected zone H.H, the Maharaja of Mysore, under the ‘Provisions' of Section 5(1) of the Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Reg. 11 of 1901, declared it as ‘Fishing Prohibited Area. 

During monsoon, the river floods the area and during summer, there shall be very low water level as a result of which distress conditions prevails for the fishes in the sanctuary. The construction of Harangi dam has reduced flow of water in the river and in summery months, it reaches a very low level. The depth is reduced due to siltation and also on account of accumulation of debris. When the water level reduces in the river, certain body parts of the fishes get exposed and are subjected to injury and disease which has proved fatal on many occasions.  Larger sized fishes have declined and population wise too, they have reduced in numbers. Torkudree are very much on the decline and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis are in large numbers in the sanctuary; in the interest of protecting the endangered, it is necessary to replenish these from other areas of the river.

Basadi Halli Jinalaya's,Halebeedu

Halebidu Heritage trip Part -(2)

A just few steps away from the Kedaresvara temple is Basadi compound south of Basadihalli, located close to the Hoysaleswara Temple where there are of Adinatheswvara, Shantishvara and Parshvanatheshvara Jain Basadis with agleam black stone pillars is considered as a part of the group of the Jain cloisters is considered as the most important Jain temple. Hardly a stone’s throw away but cut off from the tourist circuit is the nonchalant hamlet of Basadihalli with three Jinalayas dating to the period of King Vishnuvardhan who was earlier a Jain called Bittideva.

Halebid is said to have originally contained no less that 720 Jain Bastis but now there are only three of them remains. This Jain temples at Halebid of which are believed to have been built during the reign of Hoysala period, was built around ShantalaDevi reign. Though Vishnuvardana converted to Hinduism at the instance of Sri Ramanujacharya he & his queen patronised Jain faith too, his wife Shantala remained a Jain and built Jaina temples.

The Parsvanathesvara Basti is the Largest of these Bastis containing an image of Parshvanatheshvara which is a piece of beautiful workmanship. Among these three shrines, Parswanathaswamy Temple is the most noteworthy the twelve pillars that hold the doom appear thoroughly polished and have been shaped attractively. These pillars have been made in a very fine and very attractive manner. All the pillars consist of some beautiful images. The lathing of these pillars has been done very well and all the images are very different from each another. The shine on these mirrors allows the visitors to see their faces very clearly.

 

This Basadi looks simple at the outside, but possesses very rich decorations inside. The sculpture of the underside sealing, called Bhuvaneshwari, is very attractive. The round pillars of nice resplendent black stone found in the Navaranga portion reflect the spectators images!.There is a special place for such exquisite pillars in Hoysala architecture. Lord Parshvanatheshvara figure fourteen feet in height & with curly hairs is made out of black granite stone. On the figurine, a seven-headed serpent has been imprinted appears to be protecting the Lord. Another tall pillar with a sculpture of Brahma stood outside one of them while the ancient well here was almost dry

The central temple is of Lord Adinatheswvara while Shantishvara is located in the east and both of these temples have their own importance in their religion. Adinatha Basadi was built by Devara Heggade Malli Mayya. It is a little one containing proportionately a little Navaranga and a little sanctuary. A Saraswatee idol exists in the Deva Koshtha of the Navaranga. Since the original idol of the sanctuary is broken, it has been deposited in the neighboring Saantinatha Basadi.

Saantinatha Basadi is a high and broad Basadi situated on the right of the Adinatha Basadi. One going by the name Madhukanna Vijayanna built this beautiful jinalaya in 1256 AD with the substantial encouragement offered by the association of the businessmen of Dhorasamudra. The outer wall of this Basadi is ofcourse very simple. No embellishments there with decorations and idols. But here too, in the Navaranga portion, there are huge shining round pillars taking their appropriate positions. A monolithic 15ft idol of Santhi natha satnds in sanctuary in the Sthanaka posture. Once in 12 years the Head Bathing Festival (Mahamasthakabhisheka) takes place here. Facilitating the bathing performance brick steps have been built in a convenient way. In front of the Basadi entrance there is a measuring column call Manastambha as lofty as 30ft.

 

The Archaeological Survey of India board gave us some information dedicated to Parshwanatha, Shantinatha and Adinatha, these Jinalayas were built in memory Boppadeva. The big Basadi Facing the entrance of the Compound is called Vijaya Parshwanatha Basadi. This was completed in memory of Ganga Raja. The commander of Vishnuvardhana Raya 1113 AD, by his son Boppadeva. Originally as a memoir of the title of Ganga Raja it had the nomenclature styled as Dhrohagharatta Jinalaya. During the opening ceremony of the Jinalaya, Vishnuvardhanaraya became Victorious in the battle of Bankapura. So this was renamed as Vijaya Parswanatha Jinalaya and was honored with royal donations for its maintenance.

Attached to the walls of the Navaranga there are in all 24 Peethas (seats) indicating the east while existence of the idols of 24 Teerthankaras there. They have all vanished today. In-front of this Basadi there is a Mukha Mantapa (Portico Hall) comprising many pillars, along with a big inscription describing the construction of this Jinalaya.

All these three Basadi's being comprehended with in one compound, have common Pushkarnee on the north -east corner of the compound.These Jain Temples are renowned for their decorated pillars which are highly polished almost resembling mirrors. The construction of Basadi Halli temple is of very high grade and consist of many appreciable carvings that can be seen all over specially at the top of the doors.