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.

Harihareshavara temple -Harihara

 Karnataka is land of monuments the various dynasties that ruled here were great patrons of art and architecture. As a result of their efforts Harihara has been dotted with beautiful temple in Davangere district. The Harihareshavara temple built in 12th century by Polava, a commander and minister of Hoysala Empire king Vira Narasimha-II, here Lord Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped in the combined Harihara form, the deity is also known as Shanarnarayana and Shambhu. The place is also known as Dakshina Kashi.

 The deity being a fusion of the two lords, the right vertical half is of Lord Shiva and the left vertical half is of Lord Vishnu.  On the right side of the Harihara idol is carved Shiva’s Trishul and Hari styled as an ascetic and on the left side Vishnu is carved with the discus and head is curved with a crown. This marvellous stone carved temple is visited by both Vaishnavaites and Shaivites.

 God had to take this form because the places from Uchchangi Durga in the east Govinahalu in the south, Madanur in the west and Airani in the north were under the control of the demon Guhasura and the place was known as Guharanya. The demon had a boon from Lord Brahma that no human and no god or Shiva or Vishnu kills him. This gave him the power and evil mind to harass people living around the place.

 When the people complained to the gods about devil Guhasura, the gods in turn approached Cishnu and Shiva for a solution. Vishnu and Shiva came together in a new Avatara/farm called Harihara and killed demon Guhasura. Here onwards this place came to be known as Harihara. The place on earth where god took this form is near Kadalur, at the confluence of the rivers Haridra and Tungabhadra.

 The striking feature of the temple is the symmetrical big hall with beautiful lathe turned shining stone pillars supporting the roof. The roof has projections and recesses adding charm to the temple. The ceiling also carved with different flowers like lotuses and lilies.

 A microscopic image of Goddess Lakshmi represented on the lintel of the doorway testifies the architectural proficiency and inimitable craftsmanship of the Hoysala artists. South side of the temple is Vamana avatar with his foot raised high to measure the world. Shiva and Ganesh idols are carved on the south wall. Many inscriptions written in Kannada are on display in the temple premises.

The outer walls of the temple are rich in extensions, cells and carvings, and the outer end of the roof is supported by half pillars resting on the walls of the hall. The ceiling has exquisite artistic carvings on it and is held up by the pillars. The temple is made of soapstone whose original tower is missing and has been replaced by today’s tower of brick and mortar.

 Every year the Car festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm with many people thronging the place. During Nagapanchami the Karnika is chanted by priest of Yelavatti Hanumantappa temple on the banks of the Tungabhadra. The priest of this temple visits Harihareshavara temple on this day and gets the impressions of the lord. This ritual of getting the impression and chanting the Karnika has been going on for the last 200 years, for prosperity of our country.

Someshvara Temple - Kalkere

 Kalkere village provides a restful escape for those wanting to feel the powerful vibrations from the lord. This unique temple, which contributes to the history of architecture in Karnataka. Kalkeri has places of tourist interest like the Someshwara Temple, a huge lake and the Basaveshwara Temple. Villagers of Kalakeri took initiative have embarked on preserving and renovating the centuries old Basaveshwara and Someshvara temple. 

  A few steps lead you into the Someshvara temple with stone pillars and beautiful clean stone courtyard where you can walk and peacefully experience the calmness of the temple, which has stood witness to mankind for a century.

 A rare 15th-century relic — a combination of Viragallu and Mastigall the 1.85-metre-long and 55-cm-wide stone has sculptures at four levels. At the lowest level, a soldier is injured in a war. He and his wife, who had committed Sati, are carried in a palanquin in the second level. This is the depiction of death, according to experts. At the third level, the couple is seen looking at each other intimately, while sitting in the palanquin. This time, the carriers are women guards ‘approaching the gates of heaven’.

 At the final level, the brave couple is sitting before a Shiva Linga. They are joined by a priest, Nandi, the Sun and the Moon. This is seen as the depiction of heaven. While Viragallus are erected in memory of brave soldiers, Mastigallus represent women who sacrificed their life on the pyre of their husbands. However, this stone is unique as it is a single structure erected in the memory of a brave soldier and his wife, a Maha Sati.

The trail to Golden Era...Part 4.
In the 6 lines carved at the bottom, references have been made to Veera Harihara Rama and his minister Mangappa Nayaka. There is also a reference to Kumara Harihara Rama, who is probably the prince.  Kalkeri was an important cultural centre in the Vijayanagara kingdom. The new stone is an addition to the rich cultural heritage of the village.

 The inscriptions written in Kannada script denote that the stones belonged to the 13th century and were carved during the reign of Yadava (Sevuna) king Ramachandra (1272 AD). The inscriptions tell us about the attack on Chandavara in Kumta taluk of Uttar Kannada district by his army chief Saluva Ballugideva. Ballugideva was defeated by the combined attack of Kavadeva of Chandavara, Hemmadideva (Shivachitta Permadi) of Goa and Pandyadeva of Baarakuru in Udupi district,” Ms. Potnis said in a release. Both the inscriptions reveal the heroic death of the army commanders Paraka Paruseyya Nayak and Kaayya and subsequent “Sati” performed by their wives Elubai and Banubai the place, “Barakuru” in Udupi district, was an important one during the reign of Alupa kings.

 The chirping of the birds and the gurgling of the river are soothing to the ears. The greenery surrounding the riverbanks is breathtaking. All these put together was the picture perfect. . Inside the sanctum sanctorum is the one foot tall lingam. This is said to be an ‘Udhbava Lingam’ meaning lingam which was naturally formed and one can feel the powerful vibrations from the lord.