Holy Pilgrimage – Karnataka State –( Westren Chalukya Temples, Bankapura Nageshvara temple, Yediyur Siddhalingeshvaraswamy temple, Kunigal temples and Yelluru Sri Vishveswara temple ) -27 at 4:16 AM

Holy Pilgrimage – Temples in Karnataka State

 

Western Chalukya temples, Karnataka

Some famous temples built by the Western Chalukyas are included in the table below.

 

Famous Western Chalukya temples in Karnataka (973–1200)
Name	Location	District	Period
Bhutanatha	Badami	Bagalkot	11th century
Mallikarjuna group	Badami	Bagalkot	11th century
Yellamma	Badami	Bagalkot	11th century
Amrtesvara	Annigeri	Dharwad	1050 C.E.
Jain	Lakkundi	Gadag	11th century
Kasivisvesvara	Lakkundi	Gadag	1086 C.E.
Nannesvara	Lakkundi	Gadag	11th century
Muktesvara	Chavudayyadanapura	Haveri	12th century
Siddhesvara	Haveri	Haveri	11th century
Tarakesvara	Hangal	Haveri	12th century
Ganapati	Hangal	Haveri	12th century
Parsvanatha	Shravanabelagola	Hassan	1083 C.E.
Arvattukhamba	Bankapura	Haveri	1091 C.E.
Shambulinga	Kundgol	Dharwad	11th century
Santesvara	Tilavalli	Haveri	12th century
Kaithabesvara	Kubatur	Shimoga	1100 C.E.
Trimurtinarayana	Bandalike	Shimoga	1160 C.E.
Mahadeva	Itagi	Koppal	1112 C.E.
Mallikarjuna	Kuruvatti	Bellary	11th century
Bhimeshvara	Nilagunda	Davangere	1075-1100 C.E.
Kallesvara	Bagali	Davangere	986 C.E.
Kedareshvara	Balligavi	Shimoga	1060 C.E.
Tripurantakesvara	Balligavi	Shimoga	1070 C.E.
Gandabherundesvara	Balligavi	Shimoga	1060 C.E.
Trikutesvara & Sarasvati	Gadag	Gadag	1070 C.E.
Dodda Basappa	Dambal	Gadag	12th century
Chandramaulesvara	Unkal	Dharwad	11th century
Jod-Kalasa Gudi	Sudi	Gadag	1060 C.E.
Mallikarjuna	Sudi	Gadag	1030 C.E.
Kumbhesvara	Lakkundi	Gadag	11th century
Naganatha	Lakkundi	Gadag	11th century
Manikesvara	Lakkundi	Gadag	11th century
Basavesvara	Basavana Bagevadi	Bijapur	1050 C.E.
Somesvara	Lakshmeshvar	Gadag	12th century
Kallesvara	Hirehadagali	Bellary	1057 C.E.
Kadambesvara	Rattihalli	Haveri	12th century
Kamalanarayana	Degaon	Belgaum	12th century
Dattatreya	Chattarki	Bijapur	12th century
Kallesvara	Huvvinahadagalli	Bellary	12th century
Kallesvara	Ambali	Bellary	1083 C.E.
Mahadeva	Jalsingi	Gulbarga	12th century

 

 

Bankapura Nageshwara Temple,  Karnataka

 

Bankapura is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is in Shiggaon taluk, is just 2.5 km from the Pune-Bangalore national highway NH4, 22 km from Haveri town. Bankapur is about 45 km from Hubli-Dharwad. An historical site, Bankapura is famous for the Nagareshwara temple, Bankapur fort, The peacock sanctuary.

 

Nagareshwar temple

The impressive Bankapur fort area has the eye catching 66 pillared Nagareshwar temple. The fort area comprises 139.10 acres (0.5629 km²) of land of, which 52.10-acre (210,800 m²) is reserved for the popularly known Mayura Vana, the abode of the peacocks for three decades.

The peacock sanctuary

Fodder grown exclusively for Khilari bulls in the area has become an ideal peafowl habitat. The moat is about 36 km long, 10–15 metres wide and 7–8 metres deep.
The banks of the moat are covered with Acacia, Neem and Ficus plants. Crops like maize, jowar and horse gram grown regularly for cattle are delicacies of the peafowl.

The peacock sanctuary in Bankapura^[1] is the only second sanctuary in the country that is exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks.
Understanding the great presence of peacocks in the region, the Government of India declared Bankapura as a peacock sanctuary on June 9, 2006. Any visitor to this sanctuary will not return without seeing a flock of peacock, our national bird, happily dancing in the sprawling sanctuary, without a care in the world.
This sanctuary is situated on 139 acres of land which has the remains of the historic Bankapura Fort. The high mound and deep trenches of the land have provided a perfect home for these birds. The sanctuary is located on the cattle breeding farm which was set up way back in 1919 during the first world war period. The farm is located in 90 acres (360,000 m²), out of the total 139 acres (0.56 km²) of the sanctuary.
According to a rough estimate, there are more than 1,000 peacocks and peahen in the sanctuary. Also, minimal human intervention has helped in the breeding of these birds. They walk royally on the 4 km mound and also perch on green trees. The officials of the Department of Veterinary Sciences have shown great interest in the conservation of these birds, making it easy for the Forest Department to carry on with their job.
Bankpur Fort is home for not only for peafowl, but also a number of other birds like wood pecker, great-horned owl, babbler, magpie, robin, green bee eater, nightjar, spotted maina, paradise flycatcher, Indian robin, spotted dove, parakeets, kingfisher, grey hornbill, blue tailed bee eater, blacked winged kite, tailor bird etc

 

 

Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple, Yedeyur, Karnataka

Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Temple is a very famous Hindu pilgrimage centre situated in Yedeyur Village, Kunigal Town of Karnataka State in India.
Though called as a temple, it contains Nirvikalpa Shivayoga Samadhi of Tontada Siddalinga, a Great revered Veerashaiva Saint who flourished during the end of 15th century.
The temple holds annual festivals during Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi.
On the 7th Day of the commencement of the Hindu calendar (Ugadi), jathra is performed to mark the attaining of the Samadhi of Sri Siddhalingeshwara. Every year on Maha Shivarathri Sahasra Rudrabhisheka is performed. The Sahasra Kamala Pooja, Laksha Bilvarchana pooja is performed in the month of Shravana and Kumbhabhisheka is performed on each new moon day. During the annual festival of deepavali ( festival of lights ) Laskha deepotsava is performed by illuminating the temple with oil lamps as per Hindu tradition.
The temple has a large wooden Chariot (Ratha). The car festival is held on the 7th lunar day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra Masa (March-April).

About Sri Siddhalingeshwara Swamy

Sri Siddhalingeshwara Swamy a great revered Sharana Saint is considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He travelled far and wide preaching Sharana faith (Shaivism).
He performed 12 years of penance at a garden belongs to vokkaligara Nambiyana(Thota) and hence came to be known as Thontada Siddalingeshwara Swamy. He headed the Murugi muth and had a large following of disciples some of who wrote on Veerashaiva faith and philosophy. Hence Yedeyuru is deemed to be a seat of awakened spiritual consciousness.
He has written Shathsthala Jnana Saramrutha, containing 701 Vachanas (Poems) which are directing Sthalas (route) to Attain Ikya i.e. involvement to light.
He travelled far and wide, preached eternal truth and performed many miracles for scores of people irrespective of their caste or creed. His life and values held by him demonstrated the divine powers attained by him to heal the sick and suffering.
He is regarded as one of the greatest Saints of the Sharana Sect in the Hindu religion.
Yedeyur (variant spellings include: Yediyur; Yadiyur; Yadiyūr) is a town in Tumkur district of Karnataka state, India. It is an important center of pilgrimage for people of the Lingayat faith. Both a temple to and the Samadhi or tomb of Siddalinga Shivayogi, a great Lingayat saint of the 15th century, are located here.
Yedeyur is situated around 19km from Kunigal taluk, around 20km before bellur cross on Bangalore-Mangalore Highway.

 

Kunigal Temples, Kunigal, Karnataka

Kunigal (Kannada: ಕುಣಿಗಲ್) is a town in Tumkur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kunigal taluk. Kunigal is famous for stud farm owned by Vijay Mallya.
 Kunigal is located at 13.02°N 77.03°E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 773 metres (2536 feet). It is situated on the National Highway 48 ( NH-48 ) connecting Bangalore and Mangalooru
•Kunigal: the first name of this place is narthana puri(Tumkur dt; tq.hq) also called Kunuglu or Kuningalu in inscriptions, is situated at a distance of about 35 km south of Tumkur on the Bangalore-Hassan road, and 75 km from Bangalore city.
• The derivation of the name is said to be Kuni-Gal (dancing stone), Shiva having danced here according to a legend.
• Three streams rising in Shivaganga, namely, Nalini, Nagini and Kamala are said to unite their waters here.
• It is said that the Ganga King Shivarama was the governor of this place. In 785 A.D. one Veera Kambala Raya is said to have laid the foundation for the fort here. The place which was an agrahara during the Hoysalas came into the possession of the Magadi chief who enlarged the town and the fort.
• The Narasimha temple here is a large structure of the Hoysala period altered during the Vijayanagara days. But it contains a figure of Janardana said to have been brought from Huliyurdurga.
• The large Someshvara temple has a mahadwara in the south and an udbhava linga. The Padmeshvara temple in the Hoysala style consists of a garbhagriha, a shukanasi and a navaranga.
• The three-celled Venkataramana temple has a good figure of Shrinivasa.
•The Shivarameshwara temple, a new one, has a figure of Mahishasuramardini made in the Ganga style and is said to have been brought from Kortagere.
•The place has a stud farm, continuing to exist from the days of Haidar Ali and is famous for sericulture and also beedi rolling.
• Other notable places in the taluk are as follows:
Huliyurdurga: is about 64 km south of Tumkur town and about 38 km south of Kunigal.
It is now the headquarters of the hobli of the same name was once the headquarters of the taluk of the same name till 1873. It is situated on the foot of the hill of the same name. The hill is a solid mass of rock and has the peculiar appearance of an inverted cup. The fortification of the hill commanding the place is about 845 metres above the sea level and were said to have been erected by Kempe Gowda, the Magadi chief. There are springs, ruined houses, powder magazines granaries, durbar hall and other remains.
•The Gopalakrishna temple close to this hill is said to have been built by Kempe Gowda or by Chikkadeveraya Wodeyar. It has well worked granite pillars in the navaranga.
•The temple of Mallikarjuna is situated on the summit of Hemagiri hill which is by the side of Huliyurdurga.
•A shrine of Vadiraja locally known as Hemagiriyappa is on the eastern slope of Hemagiri where the object of worship is a round stone and on the southern slope is a shrine of Bhairava. The hill is loftier than Huliyurdurga but not fortified.
•Hutridurga: also known as Doddabetta is a fortified hill in the south-west of Kuigal taluk, rising to 3708 feet above the sea level.
•The hill has eight gateways from the foot to the summit in addition to several outer gates. On the summit known as Sankarakumbhi is situated a small Shankareshvara temple with a spring called Dodda done or big spring in front of it From the summit, we get an extensive view of the surrounding landscape dotted by a large number of tanks and hills.
• Hutridurga derives its name from Hutri, a village situated about 3 km from the foot of the hill. The village immediately at the foot of the hill is known as Santhepet and that situated on the first elevation as Hutridurga. The Hutridurga village has several temples of Adinarayana, Veerabhadra and Anjaneya etc.
• Near Hutridurga is the village of Sondalagere, famous for Kambada Narasimha Swamy (Pillar Narasimha Swamy) temple. The village is situated on Kunigal - Magadi road via Kempanahalli at a distance of 12 Kms from Kunigal town and well connected by bus service. The village provides a picturesque view of Hutidurga hill.
•Amruturu: at a distance of about 11 km south-west of Kunigal town is the headquarters of the hobli of the same name In ancient period this place was an agrahara and was popularly called Atakur and Veera-Narasimhapur.
•The Chennakeshava temple here is a representation of Dravidian style of architecture of the 16th century A.D.
•The Someshvara temple also called Chandramaulishvara near the tank at this place is of the 16th century A.D.
•The Pattalamma temple (the village goddess) has several painted stucco figures of which Pattalamma and Lakshmi are canopied by a seven-hooded serpent. The leelas (sports) of Shiva and 10 incarnations of Vishnu have been painted on the walls and beams of the temple.
• Very near to this place at Marconahalli, a dam has been built across the Shimsha River forming the biggest reservoir in the district. The dam was completed in 1939.
•Yedeyur: the headquarters of the hobli of the same name, is about 19 km south-west of Kunigal.
• The Siddalingeshvara temple here, a celebrated pilgrim centre, faces north and is a large structure of Dravidian style of architecture.
• It has the gaddige of Tontada Siddhalinga, who lived in the 16th century A.D. a highly venerated Veerashiva teacher and author of many works. He is believed to have traveled in the whole country with a huge band of followers preaching Veerashaivism and principles of love, compassion and brotherhood.
•The ceiling of the mukhamantapa of the temple and the hall in the lower level have painted on them scenes from the life of Siddhalinga and the sports of Shiva.
•There is a managing committee constituted by the State Government.
•Pilgrims are fed free here. The car festival in honour of Siddhalingeshvara is held during March–April. There is also a temple of Varadaraja here and two other Veerashaiva mathas.

 

Yelluru Shri Vishweshwara Temple, Karnataka

Mahathobhara Yelluru Shree Vishweshwara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishweshwara (Shiva) in the Yellur village of Udupi district in the state of Karnataka, India. The temple is known from time immemorial as the divine place of Swayambhu Saannidhya. Devotees here pay their respect to Lord Vishweshwara by offering tender coconut Abhishekham, lit oil lamps and gold coins (pawan). It is believed that the Lord will grant all their prayers. The story goes that the Lord Ullaya got pleased with the penance observed by a devotee who belonged to the Kunda Hegde family and as result he descended from Kashi to Yelluru.
The temple that belongs to the Maagane that comprises Nandikooru (Adve, Ulluru, Kolachuru), Kalathuru, Kutyaru, Padooru, Belapu and Kunjoor, has a rich and divine history of over 1,000 years.
The architecture of the temple is unique and considered a classic one in the view of the Tantragama experts. The age-old temple has been considered as the perfect and unique model of the Devaayathana style of architecture.
Lord Vishweshwara is referred to at least in 12 rock edicts and recorded by the Kaifiyaths.
The temple has been renovated from scratch and was inaugurated in grand functions lasting from 4 March 2009 to 12 March 2009

Legends

The Lord Vishveshwara is believed to have emerged from underground respecting the devotion of a Samanta Raja of Kuthyar Dynasty. The linga of the Lord Shiva thus emerged and was first understood to have been found by a Koraga community (Scheduled Tribe) mother while she was collecting firewood and leaves in the forest where her son "Yellu" was buried after his untimely death. While cutting the bush she hit the ground and the earth is said to have started bleeding. Scared by the flow of blood she screamed "Oh, Maga Yellu, yei Moolu Ullana?" (meaning 'Oh, my son Yellu, are you here?') in Tulu. In fact it was the "Linga" itself, and it is said that the mark of the wound is still on it. And the village was thereafter known from Yelluna Ooru to gradually Yellur.

 

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)                                                                                                                              

(My humble  salutations to the great devotees ,  wikisources  and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the collection )