Bull or Nandi Temple in Karnataka

Nandi temple in Karnataka is also known as Bull Temple that belongs to the 16th century. The Bull temple enshrines a sacred bull called as Nandi who is to Lord Shiva’s vahana. This Bull or Nandi temple is located in the capital city of Bangalore, Karnataka. The Bull temple enhances the Dravidian style of architecture.

The Nandi temple was built by Kempe Gowda. The idol of Nandi is carved with a single granite rock of about 4.6mts tall.It is a sculptural magnum opus. The idol of Nandi or Bull is faces towards Lord Shiva haunch at the back with idols of Lord Surya and Goddess Candra on their chariots drawn by horses. The Nandi temple enshrines a small Lingam adorned in a beautiful Gopuram. Since the Bull is called as Basava, the locals named this temple as Basavanagudi. It is believed that from the idol if Nandi the river Vishwa Bharathi originates from its feet in the Nandi or Bull temple. The Nandi temple premises has a unique and large Ganesh idol made of 110 kilos of butter in the Ganesh temple. And this deity of butter is distributed as a prashada on every four years to devotees.

History of Bull Temple:

There is a great history for the Nandi temple in Karnataka, when a legend known as Sunkenahalli was cultivated for groundnut then a  bull started grazing in the well-grown groundnut crop. On seeing this a farmer got enraged and hit the bull with a club, immediately the bull sat down becoming motionless and was transformed into a stone. The farmers felt guilty for their repentance and built a temple for the bull. And the Bull started growing in height, then the farmers were worried and prayed to Lord Shiva who advised them to redeem a trident buried a few feet away from the bull and place the trident on the forehead of the stone statue to stop it from growing. Farmers followed the Lord’s advice and the bull stopped growing. Even today one can see the trident placed on bull’s forehead. From then onwards farmers of that place offer their first groundnut crop to the Bull and held a Groundnut fair near Nandi temple premises named as Kadalekayi Parishe every year in the months of November and December.

Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple in Karnataka

In the state of Karnataka, the place Kateel is considered as holy pilgrimage for the Hindus where Goddess Durga Parameshwari is enshrined as main deity in this temple. The Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple in Karnataka is located about 30km from the city of Mangalore where the temple is situated in the middle (katee) of the sacred river, Nandini so, the place is called Kateel. The river originates at a spot about 8 miles away, splits into two parts near the temple and rejoins on the other side of the temple.

In this Sri Durga Parameshwari temple there is a big rock in between the main entrance and before entering the temple the big symbolic rock situated to the left side is known as Goddess Rakteshwari. And people perform pooja to this goddess on every Sankramana devotees offer coconut sevas to this Goddess Rakteshwari.

The sanctum of Sri Durga Parameshwari idol is beyond the Dwajasthambha mandapam in a seated posture with four arms. The flag staff is covered with silver plating. Sine the deity destroyed the asura Arunaasuran, so she is called as Arunaasuramardini and as she appeared in the form of a bee (bramaram) and killed the demon so she has named as Bramaraambigai.

The temple of Sri Durga Parameshwari also enshrines other deities such as, on to the southern side of the main sanctum the idol of Mahaganapathi enshrines where priests perform Ganahoma and Pancha Kajjaya sevas. There is another god Shasthara enshrines in this temple as Lord Ayyappan on to the right side of Mahaganapathi. And other gods enshrined in this temple are Kshetrapala on the southwestern side, abode of Naga Devata and in the outside premises of the temple on the right Lord Brahma is enshrined.

As the Goddess Durga Parameshwari is very much passionate about dance and music, inside the temple there is a Yakshagana troupe who perform cultural activity depicting the miraculous power and grace of Goddess. And the devotees are offered with free meals everyday.

Shravanabelagola Temple in Karnataka

Shravanbelagola temple in Karnataka is a historical Jain temple And a famous pilgrimage centre in South India. This Shravanabelagola temple is situated on top of Vindyagiri hill in Hassan district. There is a massive statue of Bahubali of more than 1000 years old, erected in 983 AD. by Chamundaraya a general of King Rachamalla’s army.

The name Shravanabelagola got its name from the tank below which looks silvery. Shravanabelagola means the white tank of the Spartan and is known as the white pond of the Sravana or “the Jain monk. The Shravanabelagola temple place represents the richness of Hoysala art. This temple can be approached by climbing more than 600 steps which have been constructed out of the rocky surface of the hillock.

Reaching the temple peak visitors get enthralled by the towering statue of Bahubali, also called as Gomateshwara in nude form. This statue of the Jain saint Gommateshwara is carved out of a single rock mountain is about 58 ft high, naked, with 26 ft wide shoulders, 10-ft of its feet and carved with creepers and is one of the tallest and most graceful statues in the world located on the Indragiri hills. It dominates the landscape around the area and devotees come to visit Shravanabelagola temple from near and far. The Gommateshwara statue was made by a minister of King Rachamatta of Ganga dynasty Chamundaraya, in 983 A.D. The statue is located in the famous temple known as Manjunath Temple that symbolizes victory over earthly desires.

Festivals celebrated at Shravanabelagola Temple:

The biggest event celebrated at Shravanabelagola temple is the Mahamastakabisheka dedicated to Lord Gomatesheshwara, a big festival that takes place once in every 12 years. During this festival the statue of Bahubali or Gomateshwara is given a sacred bath with holy water, milk, honey, curd, ghee, sandalwood paste and turmeric paste and then showered with silver and gold coins. Thousands of pilgrims visit the place of Shravanbelagola temple in Karnataka to witness and participate in this festival.

History of Shravanabelagola Temple :

The word Belagola is derived two kannada words which means Bel is white and kola means pond an illusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. It is believed that the two hills Chandragiri and Vindyagiri are the places where Chandragupta Maurya who was a former king have meditated at this place.

Shravanabelagola temple has 500 inscriptions is the major highlight written in several languages which depicts the history. These inscriptions depicts the development of several kingdoms such as Hoysala, Rashtrakutas, Ganga, Wodeyars and Vijayanagara.

There is a Mutt at the base of the two hills where Jain Munis reside and there is also a Sanskrit Pathsala where Sanskrit and Shastras are taught.

Hoysaleswara Temple in Karnataka

Hoysaleswara Temple in Karnataka located at Halebid near Belur enshrines Lord Shiva as main deity, is one of the largest temples in South India. The Hoysaleswara Temple belongs to 12th century that was built during Hoysala Empire by the king Vishnuvardhana and so the temple named as Hoysaleswara which is derived from king Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara. The temple architecture is an outstanding epitome of Hindu architecture.

The Hoysaleswara Temple enshrines two main temples that enshrines lord Hoysaleswara and another Shantaleswara that are named after Shantala Devi, queen of King Vishnuvardhana located next to each other, facing the east direction. The temple is based on Soapstone. Lord Surya, the sun god of 7 ft tall image also enshrines in this temple. There are huge images of Nandi in the temple hall.

The temple of Hoysaleswara has four porches for its entrance. Among them one entrance at north is used by visitors as main entry. The south side entrance and other two east side face two large detached open pavilions whose ceiling is supported by lathe turned pillars.

There is Hoysaleswara Temple has pillar named Garuda Stambha is the center attraction of this temple. The southern side entrance pillar demonstrates heroes flanking knives and cutting their own heads as Garudas are the selected bodyguards of the kings and queens who are lived with the royalty to defend. And after the death of their master, the garudas committed suicide and so they are portrayed on the pillar. The Hoysaleswara temple has a large tank that receives water through channels from an ancient dam built over the river Yagachi.

History of the Hoysaleswara Temple:

It is believed that the temple was laid stone by the affluent Shaiva citizens of Halebid and was constructed by king Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala Empire. During the construction of the temple there held a tough competition between Hoysaleswara Temple and Chennakesava Temple at Belur. During the 14th century the Hoysaleswara Temple witnessed ransack of loot and raid by the Muslim invaders. Thereafter temple under went horrifying incidents of ruins and thus got neglected.

Vittala Temple in Karnataka

 One of the most famous attractions of Karnataka state is Vittala Temple in Hampi that enshrines Lord Vishnu. This Vittala Temple has an extravagant architecture on its walls to see. The temple is located on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra which was built in the 15th century AD.

Inside the Vittala Temple there are projections of ten avataras of Vishnu. The base of the temple is chiseled with friezes of the swan, the horse and the warrior. Lord Vishnu in this temple is worshipped as deity Vittala, as a cult deity by the cattle herds in the state of Karntaka.

The Vittala Temple has special attraction of stone chariot with stone wheels shaped in the form of a lotus and can be revolved.  The Vittala Temple has Lord Vishnu enshrined as main deity facing to the east. The sanctum of the god comprises the open ‘maha mandapa’, a closed ‘ardha-mandapa’ with side-porches and a covered ‘pradakshina-prakara’ enclosing the ‘antarala’ and ‘garbha griha’. And there are many small halls, temples and pavilions located inside the temple of Vittala.

Vittala Temple is sculptured has Vijayanagar Art. The outer pillars are known as the ‘Musical Pillars’ as they echo when banged.

History of Vittal Temple:

This temple is a very ancient temple in Hampi that was built in 15th century AD at the time of Devaraya II. This temple portrays the perfection of the Vijayanagara style of architecture. It is opined that  the Vittala Temple was neither finished nor consecrated, epigraphic and literary evidences show that it remained in worship at least till the time of the battle of ‘Rakshasi tangdi’.