Tarakeshwara temple - Hangal

 Hangal is 35km frmo the district headquarters Haveri. .It is on the left bank of the Dharma River, and has ruins of some fortification on the river bank; the town has a huge lake near Billeshwara temple called Anekere.  Hangal was the capital of Hangal Kadambas feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukya. It is mentioned as Panungal in early records and identified by tradition with Viratanagara of Mahabharata days. The town has a huge Tarakeshwara temple. Other temple in the town are Ganesha temple, Virabhadra, Billeshwara and Ramalinga are the important temples.

The Tarakeshvara temple on plan consists of a Garbhagriha, Antarala, Navaranga, Sabhamandapa and a Mukhamandapa is a good example of the Kalyana Chalukya architectural style. Originally the Navaranga had Praveshamandapas on north, south and eastern sides. At present the north and southern Praveshamandapas have been converted into Garbhagrihas. The Garbhagriha has indented plan and enshrines a tall Shiva linga installed on a Panipitha having Kadambastylistic futures.

The intricately carved decorative doorways of the Garbhagriha has Panchashakas. On either sides of the decorative doorway of the Antarala has trellis (Jalandhras). The lathe turned pillars inside the Antarala has a decorative ceiling (Bhuvanesvari). The entrance way has intricate carvings.

In front of the garbhagriha is the Sukhanasi with four intricately carved pillars and a Nandhi is placed in the middle. The Sukhanasi situated on the right and left sides has a Linga and Parvathi sculpture respectively.

The main Garbhagriha enshrines a Linga which is called Tarakeshvara, sculptures of Vishnu, Brahma, Kartikeya and Nandhi. The exterior walls of the temple has bas-relief sculptures of Ramayana. The incomplete carved images of the Dvarapalakas are attractive. In the Mukhamandapa Hero-stones, inscribed sculptures and a few mutilated sculptures are kept. The Kadamba-Nagara Sikhara above the Garbhagriha has intricately carved decorations. It has a sculpture of hero fighting with a Lion resembling the Hoysala emblem.

The temple is famous for its very large domical ceiling in the main hall, which rises, in concentric circles of cusped mouldings, and then, at the apex, falling again in a great rosette or pendant. The Sabhamandapa with four entrance ways is stellar shaped and Hoysala styled huge pillars therein supports the upper beams. The rock is carved in the form of a lotus and is 30 feet in diameter, is a octagonalpiece of stone supported on 8 pillars.

The Kakshasana has polished pillars that are variously styled and shaped runs all along the Mandapa. The subsidiary ceilings (Bhuvanesvaries) found in the Sabhamandapa is plan while the centre one has the depiction of a flower-bud motif. The Mukhamandapa has also Kakshasana. The exterior wall of the temple is decorated with pilasters and Devakosthas. Garbhagriha ha four tiered sikhara with Sukhanasi projection. A tall stone pillar stands in front of the temple. 

 An inscription records a grant made to the Tarakesvara temple while another dated 1121 AD records the construction of Tailesvara temple and land grants made to it by the Mahaprashana Masana.

Bilagi Heritage Trip -2

 We reached Ratnatraya Basti at mid noon which situated at another corner of the village. I wonder about the size of the Basti, the sculptures of the stones where exquisite, flower formation decorated on the ceiling was intriguing and slab made by huge stone sheets. This Basti consists of a Ardhamandapa, a Navaranga and Mukhamandapa. The Basti is triple shrine (Trikutachala). The Sikhara is in Kadambanagara style. The main Garbhagriha itself has three compartments (in a row) and the images of Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Vardhamana are installed, and above the Parswanatha shrine raises the Sikhara.

 There are two Navarangas. The Mukhamandapa at the front appears to be a later addition. There is a vide porch which was plain. The pillars are not much elegant and plain.  It has two slabs containing inscriptions. The outer walls of the Basti have very beautiful sculptures are relief of imaginary birds and animals in profusion. There is also a Balipitha on the front side. The Jainas did not have decoration or sculptures on outside walls but took care to use such decoration in a limited way within the structures.

 History- The graceful Ratnatraya Basti was built by Bilagi chiefs The earliest inscription in the Basti dated to 1581 A.D. records the construction of the Ratnatraya Basti by Rangapparajodeya and the installation of the images of Neminatha, Parshwanatha and Vardhamana by his son Ghantendra – II at the instance of the Jaina saint Bhattakalanka.    Another inscription dated 1592 A.D. records the addition of ganhakuti which has the Shantisvara and also refers to the land grants made by Ghantendra – II.

Bhuvaneshwari Temple -

One more place we visit near to Bilagi village was Bhuvanagiri which is the only place in the entire State where a 16th century temple is dedicated to Kannada Mate Bhuvaneshwari Devi, situated at atop of 300 feet high in Bhuvanagiri, The temple deity is worshiped on all days of the year, complete with Naivedya Annadabhisheka, accompanied with the chanting of mantras. Surrounded by lush greenery on all sides, the age-old temple is a feast for the eyes.

Though the idea of a temple dedicated to Bhuvaneshwari Devi was conceived by the Kadambas, the rulers of Vijayanagar carried it forward, so much so that they would not venture out without paying their obeisance to the deity. Finally, it was the rulers of Bilagi who constructed the temple of Bhuvaneshwari Devi in Bhuvanagiri. It all started when Tirumala, the then ruler of Vijayanagar, was unable to bear the torture of Bijapur ruler Adil Shah and shifted his kingdom to Pennugudi (Chandragutti) with the help of the rulers of Shwethapura present day Bilagi.

 

 Bilagi kingdom spread from Gangavali River in Uttara Kannada district to Gangolli River in Udupi district. Since the rulers of Bilagi were both valiant and great admirers of Kannada language, a temple was built in dedication to Kannada Mate Bhuvaneshwari Devi. There is ample evidence to suggest that the temple was built in 1692 by Basavendra, the last ruler of Bilagi. Since the area is populated by people belonging to the Havyak community, the temple administration is taken care of by them.

Virabadhra Temple- Kallapura

At Evening we visited Virabadhra Temple in a remote village called Kallapur, the temple built in later Chalukyan style. On plan, it has a Garbhagriha, and a Navaranga. The Navaranga has supported by 14 pillars and surrounded partially walls in its 3 sides. Inside the temple are placed a huge statue of lord Virabhadra. The place has a very tranquil and scenic setting, the surroundings of the temple have many sculptures and a vast tank situated just few steps away from the temple.

Kamalanarayana Temple – Degaon

 

It was my unanticipated unplanned visit to Kamalanarayana Temple we reached this place at unusual time but still we had enjoyed the breathtaking stunning this temple, it’s really amazing to have such a glorious temple belonging to the ancient times and this is a place worth to showcasing. What we admire today is a ligancy of our ancient people handed down to the generations that have followed and are yet to come and each delicately carved figure was a testament to the rich talent of those forgotten sculptors whose chisels and hammer converted simple stones into such everlasting works of art..

The Kamala Narayana Templeple at Degaon is one of the best monuments which situated at unassuming little village. The place name might have originated from its temple complex Devagrama meaning a village of God..

 

The striking monument here is the magnificent Kamala Narayana Temple, built by Tippoja, the architect of God Bankesvara at the command of Kamala Devi, the queen of the Goa Kadamba King Sivachitta, in the middle of the 12th century. These wise moves ensured that even today 9 centuries later while exploring on here we could experience the same solitude and place that allowed those ancient cultures and peoples.

 

It’s built on an unusual plan as it has three shrines and the principal one is located inside a long hall which has an open verandah with a sloping roof resting on ten pillars. While this temple with its lovely pillar designs and eye-catching symmetry was delighting and it quicken my pulse.

 

The back of the temple shows the two shrines wide apart. The walls are decorated with projecting pillars and horizontal bands of moldings. The shrines are not roofed by superstructures. The temple is rectangular in shape and consists of three cells with the pillared hall running from North to South in front of the shrines on the west side.

 

Each of these shrines is divided into two parts, Garbhagriha and Sukhanasi. The frames of the doorways of the Sukhanasi are carved with creepers. The pieced stone windows which surround the doorways are more ornamental than in any other Kadamba temple.

 

The Garbhagihas have, as in other Kadamba temples, the dedicatory block with the image of Gaja-Lakshmi. The first cell contains the image of Narayana. The second cell has the icon of Lakshmi-Narayana with Lakshmi seated on the lap of Vishnu. Garuda and Maruti are standing on either side of this image. The third cell bears the image of Kamala Narayana with two attendants on either side.

 

The walls of the temple are adorned with niche having plasters surmounted by terraced pyramidal towers in the Kadamba style crowned with a Kalasha. The ceiling has pendant lotuses, all of them artistic pieces of workmanship remarkable for richness of ornamentation and elaboration of details.

 

The distinguishing feature of the Kadamba style is the tapering terraced tower, a perfect pyramid, the vigorous and purposeful line of each of these terraces attracting the eye even from a long distance. The Kadamba style would seem to have reached its perfection in the ''Kamala Narayana Temple at Degamve. It is a typical example of a temple built in this style which had come under the Hoysala influence.

 

On returned we took local food we tried Rotti with local curries in one small hotel. Rotti is sort of a staple food. The dish itself is rather bland, and I wondered how something as tasty as this. It does provided a peaceful sight with excellent unsullied experiences to see on the end of the journey.

Photos by- Rajesh Naik,Ashok SB  &  Myself