Holy
Pilgrimage – Temples in Karnataka State
Banashankari Amma Temple (near Badami)
Banashankari Amma Temple (Kannada: ಬನಶಂಕರಿ ಅಮ್ಮನ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ) or Banashankari temple is a Hindu shrine located at Cholachagudd near Badami, in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, India. The temple is popularly called Banashankari or Vanashankari since it is located in the Tilakaaranya forest. The temple deity is also called the Shakambhari (Kannada: ಶಖಮಬ್ರಿ / ಶಾಕಂಬರಿ), an incarnation of the goddess Parvati.The temple attracts devotees from Karnataka as well as the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. The original temple was built by the 7th century Kalyani Chalukya kings, who worshipped goddess Banashankari as their tutelary deity. The current 18th century structure was built by a Maratha chieftain. The temple celebrates its annual festival called Banashankari jatre, in the months of January or February. The festival comprises cultural programmes, boat festival as well as a Rath yatra, when the temple goddess is paraded around the city in a chariot.
Etymology and other names
Banshankari or Vanashankari is made up of two Sanskrit words: vana ("forest") and Shankari ("the consort of Shiva, Parvati"). The temple is popularly called Vanashankari since it is located in the Tilakaaranya forest. The transformation of vana- to bana- reflects a common loanword adaptation in Kannada from Sanskrit words. The other popular name given is Shakambhari, which means the "Vegetable Goddess". It is formed by joining of two words Shaka and Ambari. In Sanskrit, Shaka means vegetables or vegan food and Ambari means "one who wears or bears to the hungry". A further elaboration is that "Shakambhari" comes from Shakam joined with the root Bhri (Shaka = vegetables or food and root bhri = to nourish).Locals also call the temple goddess as Balavva, Banadavva, Sunkavva, Shiravanthi, Chowdamma and Vanadurge. It is said that Banashankari is the sixth incarnation of the warrior-goddess Durga
History
Historians have dated the original temple to the 7th century AD - the Kalyani Chalukya period to Jagadekamalla I in 630 AD (according to epigraphic inscriptions) who installed the image of the goddess. The present refurbished temple was built in 1750, by Parusharam Agale, a Maratha chieftain.It is also said that the original temple was in existence even before the reign of the Chalukyas who gave royal favour to the beliefs of the Vaishnava, Shaivaite, Jain and Shakta religious orders. They worshipped Banashankari as a form of Shakti, their Supreme Goddess. Epigrahic inscriptions mention that Jagadekamalla I renovated the temple with several additions. Another inscription in Kannada language on a pillar located on the northern side of the temple dated to 1019 AD, describes the bravery of the Rashtrakuta king Bhimadeva. The Deepa Stambas (lamp pillar) are seen at the entrance to the temple; the construction of these, as per an inscription, are ascribed to the warrior Ketimayya
Structure
The temple was built initially in the Dravidian architectural style. The rebuilt structure is in the Vijayanagara architectural style. The temple is enclosed by a high wall on all sides. The main structure has a mukha mantapa (portico), ardha mantapa (entrance porch/chamber in front of the sanctum) and a sanctum topped by a Vimana (tower). The main sanctum of the temple has the image of goddess Banashankari diefied in it. The black stone sculpture depicts the goddess seated on a lioness trampling a demon under her foot. The goddess has eight arms and holds a trishul (trident), damaru (hand drum), kamaalpatra (skull cup), ghanta (war bell), Vedic scriptures and khadg-kheta (sword and shield). The goddess was the Kuladevi (tutelary deity) of the Chalukyas. The Devanga weaver community in particular, holds this goddess in great reverence Banashankari is also the tutelary deity of some Deshastha Brahmins.There is a 360 ft (109.7 m) square water tank in the forefront of the temple at the entrance, which is locally called as Haridra Tirtha, a corrupted version of the name Harishchandra Tirtha. The pond is enclosed with stone mantapas (halls) on three sides A pradakshina or circumambulatory path surrounds the tank
Lamp towers (Deepa stambhas) are seen in the foreground of the temple on the west bank of the pond and also at the entrance. The tower on the bank of the tank is also an uncommon guard tower which is "reflects the Vijayanagara blend of Hindu and Islamic style". It is called the Victory Tower.
Legend
The scriptures Skanda Purana and Padma Purana state that the demon Durgamasura harassed the local people constantly. Answering the prayers of the Devas (demi-gods) who appealed to God through a sacrifice to protect them from Durgamasura, the Lord directed the goddess Shakambari to help the people. The goddess appeared through the fire of the Yagna (fire-sacrifice) in the form of the goddess Shakambari. She then killed the demon after a fierce encounter and restored peace in the region. Banashankari is considered as the incarnation of goddess Parvati, who is the consort of god Shiva.The forests around the temple have coconut, plantain and betel leaf plants and trees. Hence, it is also said that during a severe famine, the goddess provided vegetables and food for the people to survive and thus, the goddess was given the name Shakambari.
Banashankari jatre
Banashankari jatre ('jatre' means a “fair”) is held as a religious cum cultural festival, at the temple precincts every year on the occasion of the Rath yatra, for a period of about three weeks starting from the Rath yatra. No past data is traceable confirming the beginning of such a festival, but it is inferred that it was started some two hundred years back. Pilgrims from across Karnataka and also the neighboring state of Maharashtra belonging to different religious beliefs, congregate here in large numbers to celebrate the festival. The time is considered auspicious to even fix marriages and purchase agricultural implements. Cultural programmes (music, drama and circus) are held to entertain the largely rural community who flock the venue to not only worship their favorite deity but also for fun and frolic. It symbolizes cultural bonding between people of different communities here. A unique feature is that many shops and kiosks set up during the festival selling vermilion, clothing, sacred threads and sweets are operated by Muslims who also display a portrait of goddess Banashankari in their shops. Another interesting marketing activity seen at this venue is of the sale, by artisans of Holeyalur and surrounding areas, of elaborately engraved door frames and doors made in teak, acacia and other varieties of wood. Cattle fair is also held during this festival. Speciality of the cattle fair is the focus on sale of white bulls.During the festival, the temple and town are decorated with hundreds of varieties of leaves and flowers. In the fair, which starts on Bandhashtami day, a Palleda Habba or the Vegetable Utsava or festival is also held when at the start itself 108 varieties of food items (called ‘bazi’ in local language) made of vegetables are offered to the deity
The festival also marks another unique event namely, the Teppotsava (the boat festival) held in the temple tank. During this event, parents use boats made of banana stems to ferry newly born children blessed by the grace of the goddess around the pond seeking good luck to their children
Rath yatra
The Rath Yatra or car festival of the goddess held every year starts on the full moon day of the Hindu month Pausha (January) in which the temple goddess Parvati is taken in the chariot (a movable shrine) in a procession along the streets of the Cholachagudd village from the temple gate to Padhkatte, another nearby sculpture. The Rath yatra is witnessed by thousands of people, irrespective of their caste and creed from across the state. To see this cultural and religious extravaganza, people from adjacent villages come in colorfully decorated carts.During the religious celebrations in Hindu temples, images of the gods and goddesses worshipped in the temples, are taken on large wooden chariots called rathas and drawn in a pageant by the devotees. The chariots are generally 5–6 m (16.4–19.7 ft) in height and weigh several tonns. Huge wheels of solid wood are fixed to the chariot. The chariot is pulled by specially trained men. The chariot appears like a mini temple or shrine as it invariably has figurines of gods and goddesses carved on it
The Banashankari temple located to the south of Badami and the Badami town itself are enclosed between two gorges. The valley formed by the two gorges has steep sand stone ridges. The soil formation is termed black cotton soil.
Location and access
One can easily reach Banashankari Temple by taking regular Buses
or by hiring taxis from anywhere in Karnataka
The temple is located at Cholachagudd about 5 km (3.1 mi) from Badami on the road to Gadag. Badami Railway Station, served by the South Western Railways, is the nearest railhead. Badami is well connected by a good network of roads to all parts of Karnataka and is 495 km (307.6 mi) from Bangalore and 125 km (77.7 mi) from Hubli, which is the nearest airport. in the fair all type of arnaments, jewellary, walldoor, cloths and bangle, sweets are available it is fair of 12 months.
Banashankari Temple, Amargol, Karnataka
Amargol is located in between Dharwad and Hubli and adjucent to Navanagar. It is famous for the ancient temple dedicated to Banashankari. Banashankari Temple at Amargo is 4 km from Unkal lake and Chandramouleshwara Temple HubliBanashankari temple at Amargol
At Amargol there is a temple of Shankarlinga built by Jakkanacharya. Nearby there is a Banashankari Temple.In the early 13th century, the temples of this period have nagara articulation, built in the stepped diamond and the square plan natural to a nagara superstructure. Notable among temples with a stepped-diamond style are the Ganesha Temple at Hangal, the Banashankari Temple at Amargol (which has one dravida shrine and one nagara shrine), and a small shrine that is a part of the ensemble at the Mahadeva Temple (Itagi)
Conservation and restoration work is in progress, belongs to Archaeological Survey of India.
APMC Amargol
Hubli has a large market located between Dharwad and Hubli.
Transportation Hubli
Hubli is well connected by road, rail and air. NWKRTC (North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) is a state run corporation headquartered at Gokul Road, Hubli. There is excellent inter-city transportation between Hubli and Dharwad as NWKRTC and Bendre Nagara Sarige (a consortium of private bus-owners) healthily compete to cater to the large number of commuters between Hubli and Dharwad daily[citation needed]. Bus services from the twin-cities exist to every part of Karnataka and neighbouring states and other popular destinations. There are many private bus operators who render services for overnight travel between Hubli and Bangalore, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad.Several express and passenger trains ply between Hubli and Bangalore everyday. Hubli being an important railway junction has daily trains to Gadag, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Solapur, Bellary, Belgaum, Bangalore, Mumbai, Davangere, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Mysore,Tirupati and weekly services to Chennai, Howrah and Thiruvanantapuram.
Hubli has an airport in gokul road IATA code:HBX. Kingfisher Airlines was providing daily flights to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai
Banavasi Temple. Karnataka
Banavasi (Kannada: ಬನವಾಸಿ) also known as Konkanapura is an ancient temple town in Uttara Kannada District bordering Shivamogga district in the South Indian state of Karnataka .Huen Tsang the Chinese traveler-monk who was in India between 630-644 C.E, visited Konkanapura called Konkanapulo(referred in Chinese scripts)or Banavasi.
Shimoga was earlier called as Mandli. There are legends about how the name Shivamogga has evolved. According to one, the name Shivamogga is related to the Hindu God Shiva. Shiva-Mukha (Face of Shiva), Shivana-Moogu (Nose of Shiva) or Shivana-Mogge (Flowers to be offered to Shiva) can be the origins of the name "Shivamogga". Another legend indicates that the name Shimoga is derived from the word Sihi-Moge which means sweet pot. According to this legend, Shimoga once had the ashram of the sage Durvasa. He used to boil sweet herbs in an earthen pot. Some cowherds, found this pot and after tasting the sweet beverage named this place Sihi-Moge
History
Banavasi is one of the oldest towns in the Karnataka state. It has grown up around the Madhukeshwara Temple built in the 9th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva the supreme God in Shaivism, a major branch of HinduismIn 2006, a 5th century copper coin was discovered here with an inscription in the Kannada script, one of the oldest such coins ever discovered The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums said that the coin's inscription in archaic Kannada proves beyond doubt that Banavasi had a mint in the 5th century.
Adikavi Pampa, the first poet of Kannada, wrote his epics in Banavasi.
The town once was the capital of the Kadamba rulers, an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka. They established themselves there in A.D. 345 and ruled South India for at least two centuries.
Kadamba Dynasty, Kadambas of Banavasi (Kannada: ಕದಂಬರು) (345 – 525 CE) was an ancient royal family of Karnataka, India that ruled northern Karnataka and the Konkan from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. At the peak of their power under King Kakushtavarma, Kadambas of Banavasi they ruled large parts of Karnataka state.
The dynasty was founded by Mayurasharman in 345 CE which at times showed the potential of developing into imperial proportions, an indication to which is provided by the titles and epithets assumed by its rulers. King Mayurasharman defeated the armies of Pallavas of Kanchi possibly with help of some native tribes. The Kadamba fame reached its peak during the rule of Kakusthavarma, a powerful ruler with whom even the kings of Gupta Dynasty of northern India cultivated marital alliances. Tiring of the endless battles and bloodshed, one of the later descendants, King Shivakoti adopted Jainism. The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western Ganga Dynasty and together they formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with absolute autonomy. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they branched into Goa and Hanagal.
During the pre-Kadamba era the ruling families that controlled Karnataka, the Mauryas, Satavahanas and Chutus were not natives of the region and the nucleus of power resided outside present day Karnataka. The Kadambas were the first indigenous dynasty to use Kannada, the language of the soil at an administrative level. In the history of Karnataka, this era serves as a broad based historical starting point in the study of the development of region as an enduring geo-political entity and Kannada as an important regional language
Location
Banavasi lies deep in the rain forests of Western Ghats with the Varada river flowing around it on three sides. It is located 374 km from Bangalore. The nearest railway station is 112 km away in Shimoga. Sirsi, 21 km away, is the nearest town. Lodging is provided by some home stays and a tourist complexRoad
Shimoga has a total road length of 6632 km with 222 km belonging to the National highways and 402 km belonging to state highwaysRail
The rail network in Shimoga district:- Shimoga-Bangalore broad gauge
- Birur-Shimoga broad gauge
- Shimoga-Talguppa broad gauge
Attractions
The annual December cultural festival, Kadambothsava, is a huge gathering, organized by the state government, and featuring folk dancers, drama troupes, classical musicians, art exhibitions, while drawing together performers, artists, and writers from all of south India.Banavasi has long been a cultural centre, especially the Yakshagana art form. Today local artisans craft and sell the classical folk art Yakshagana masks here
Begur NaganatheeshvaraTemple, Bangalore
Begur is a village in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is in the state capital Bangalore. It is off Bangalore-Hosur highway. It is said to have been a prominent place during the rule of the Western Ganga Dynasty and later the Chola Kingdom. A tank and a beautiful temple (Nageshvara temple) dating back almost 1100 years are of historical importance. A short distance away is a broken old mud fortress in which is the Kashi Vishweshwara temple. Nageshvara temple has Panchalinga (five Shiva lingas) which makes the temple unique. On the eve of Shivaratri devotees perform pujas and stay awake the whole night. Kartika Somavara is another big occasion in which special pooja's are performed in the temple.In the month of April there is a car festival (Bramha Rathotsava) which visited by many people. The temple complex is under renovation. Nearby is the picturesque Begur lake.
There are 5 major roads that connect Begur to rest of Bangalore.
- The Begur - Jigani road is supposed to be a 80 feet road.
- Begur to Hosur Road via AECS (HAL) layout.
- Begur to Bannerghatta Road via Hulimavu.
- Begur to Bommanahalli via Hongasandra.
- Begur to Electronics City via Bettadasanapura.
Sri Kukke Subramanya Mutt's Raghavendra temple, Akshaya Nagar Sri Vadiraja temple, St.Ignatius Church and Chowdeshwari temple are other attractions.
Transportation
BMTC buses plying between Begur and KR Market/Shivaji Nagar/Kempegowda Bus Stand. Marco Polo AC buses to Shivaji Nagar travel from Vishwapriya Nagara.
Brahmeshvara Temple, Kikkeri
The Brahmeshvara temple (also spelt Brahmeshwara) is a fine specimen of 12th century Hoysala architecture and is located in the town of Kikkeri of Mandya district in Karnataka state, India. It is only 10 km from the historically important town of Shravanabelagola (in Hassan district). The temple was built in 1171 AD by a wealthy lady called Bammare Nayakiti during the rule of Hoysala King Narasimha I. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Architecture
The design of the temple is unique. the interior of the temple has been widened beyond its base by making the outer walls bulge out in a convex shape. This is a ekakuta (single shrine) construction. There is a four feet tall image of the Hindu god Vishnu in one of the niches of the navaranga (hall). The madanika figures (also called salabhanjika, refers to the sculpture of a woman, displaying stylized feminine features) carved on the capitals of the pillars of the hall are works of fine artThe vimana (shrine that contains the cella) has a well executed, highly decorative and intact tower (sikhara). The vestibule (called antechamber or antarala) which connects the cella to the hall has a sukhanasi (called "nose") which is actually a low protrusion of the tower over the shrine, built over the vestibule. Other standard features in a Hoysala temple are the large domed roof over the tower, which is also the largest sculptural piece in a Hoysala temple (called the "helmet" or amalaka) and whose shape usually follows the that of the shrine (square or star shape); the kalasa on top of it (the decorative water-pot at the apex of the dome); and the Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over the sukhanasi.
The temple's decorative features can be said to belong to the "old kind" prevalent even before the Hoysala times. In this type of decoration, below the superstructure (tower), an eaves that projects about half a meter runs all around the temple. Below the eaves are decorative miniature towers (the aedicula) on pilasters. The large wall images of deities and their attendants are placed below these decorative towers. Below these images is the base of the wall which comprises five different horizontal moldings, one of which is a row of blocks
Location to Shravanbelagola
Shravanabelagola is located at 13 km to the south-east of Channarayapatna in the Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district of Karnataka. It is at a distance of 51 km south-east of Hassan, the district centre. It is situated at a distance of 12 km to the south from the Bangalore-Mangalore road (NH-48), 78 km from Halebidu, 89 km from Belur, 83 km from Mysore, 233 km from Mangalore, 17 km from Hirisave and 157 km from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka.Transport for Mandya Dist.
Roads
Mandya district has an extenstive road network. NH 48 and NH 209 passes through the district. The road network in the district includes 73 kilometres (45 mi) of National Highways, 467 kilometres (290 mi) of State Highways and 2,968 kilometres (1,844 mi) of Major district roads.[7]Railways
Mandya belongs to "South Western Railways" of "Indian Railways". Mandya has many railway stations which are listed below:[8]Station Name
1. Shrirangapattana - S
2. Pandavapura - PANP
3. Mandya- MYA
4. Maddur -MAD
Bucesvara Temple, Koravangala
The Bucesvara temple (also spelt Bucheshwara or Bucheshvara) is a simple yet elegant specimen of 12th century of Hoysala architecture. It is located in the village of Korvangla, 10 km from Hassan city, in Hassan district or Karnataka state, India The temple was build in 1173 A.D. by a rich officer called Buci (or Buchiraja), to celebrate the coronation of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II Nearby are two more temples that are in ruins. From the inscriptions on the premises, it is evident that these two temples had been commissioned by Buci's older brothers, Govinda and Naka. This temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Architecture
By plan, the temple is a divikuta (two shrines) that face each other. These shrines are connected by a closed mantapa (hall) and an open mantapa. Consequently, one shrine appears much dimmer in lighting than the other. At the eastern end of the complex is a small shrine whose deity is the Bhairava, a form of the Hindu god Shiva.The western shrine facing the east, containing an image of Surya (the Sun god in Hinduism) has a staggered square plan (also called "cross in square", a square with three projections per side ), it's kalasa (decorative water-pot on top of the tower over the shrine, and Hoysala crest (warrior stabbing a lion) are intact, and the decorative features on the sikhara (tower over shrine) and the outer walls are "conventional" by Hoysala standards.
The eastern shrine, which contains a linga (the universal symbol of the Hindu god Shiva) has a similar plan; a Sukhanasi (called "nose") which is a low protrusion of the tower over the shrine and is built over the vestibule which connects the vimana (cella) to the hall. However it's main tower is missing and it is unclear if the tower was a part of the original plan or not.
The temple decorative features can be said to belong to the "old kind" prevalent even before the Hoysala times. In this type of decoration, below the superstructure (tower), an eaves that projects about half a meter runs all around the temple. Below the eaves are decorative miniature towers (the aedicula) on pilasters. The miniature towers (turrets) are in various styles; nagara, dravida, vesara, and bhumija. In the "old kind", the large wall images of deities and their attendants are placed below these decorative towers. These images include among others; Bhairava (a version of the god Shiva), the goddess Saraswati and Durga, Maheshvara, Narasimha, Brahma, and Venugopala. Below these images, the base of the wall comprises five different horizontal moldings, one of which is a row of blocks.
The halls are adjoining. The closed hall is complete in design but the open hall is not. It has no structure above its eaves (due to the missing tower) and provides two side entrances into the temple, the southern entrance being flanked by two small elephant balustrades. The outer wall of the closed hall has, in addition to usual Hindu iconography, some unusual reliefs, depicting animals devouring animals. The ceiling art in the open hall is of fine quality and the pillars have a glossy finish. The pillars of the mantapa (hall) are bell shaped, a design achieved by turning with lathes
Location
It is located in the village of Korvangla, 10 km from Hassan city, in Hassan district or Karnataka state
Transport to Hassan
Hassan is the hub of Broad gauge railways to Birur, Bangalore and Mysore. The line to Mangalore is fully converted to broad gauge under Project Unigauge in 2006. Goods traffic was started in May 2006 and passenger trains were commissioned on December 8, 2007. At present two express trains plying between Bangalore and Mangalore connect Hassan with Bangalore and Mangalore. Hassan-Shravanabelagola new broad gauge line was commissioned in February 2006. It also has a full-fledged bus terminus operated by Karnataka State Bus Transport Service, besides this it is also well connected by private bus services to all the major cities across south and west India. The nearest airports are Mysore (115 km), Bangalore (117 Miles/187 K.M) followed by the one in Mangalore. The national highway 48 which connects port city of Mangalore to capital city Bangalore passes through Hassan.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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