Shri Bhagandeshwara Temple/ಶ್ರೀ ಭಗಂಡೇಶ್ವರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, Bhagamandala, Kodagu District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Shri Bhandeshwara Temple, at Bhagamandala, in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. This temple is at the confluence/ “Triveni Sangama” of the three rivers Kaveri, Kannike and the mythical river Sujyoti.

Moolavar  : Shri Bhagandeshwara

Consort    : Sri Parvati

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 4-tier Rajagopuram and a 2-tier Rajagopuram on the west side, built in Kerala style on the east and west sides. The temple complex consists of the Shri Bhagandeshwara, Maha Vishnu, Subramanya, and Vinayagar temples. A Big balipeedam is at the east side entrance of the temple.

In the outer praharam, Chamundi kallu (Erected on 10^th April 2009), Annadhana mandapam, office rooms, Tantri Room, and Prasad preparation rooms.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built in Kerala-style temple architecture. The temple complex consists of Thiruchuttambalam, nalambalam, pradakshinapatha, Sree Kovil, Namaskara Mandapam, dwajasthambam, and balipeedam.  The east-facing temple, the sanctum sanctorum, is enclosed with Thiruchutrambalam and Nalambama and huge walls.

The wooden carvings are noteworthy, which are present in the Sabha Mantapa situated right in front of Sri Subramanya and Sri Narayana temples.

The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape, and the vimana is of two tiers. A door is also kept on the backside of the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, mathalam, pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and pothyal. The vimanam is of pyramidal shape, paved with copper plates as tiles.  

Provisions are made to light thousands of lamps around the temple complex during festival seasons.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Bhagundeshwara temple complex is said to have been built by the Cholas before the 11^th century, following the Kerala temple architecture. Later, the temple received contributions from various dynasties, including the Wodeyars of Mysore.

During Muslims invasion in1785-1790 CE, the area was under the control of Tipu Sultan, and he renamed this place Bhagamandala as “Afesalabad”. The King Dodda Veerarajendra took Bhagamandala back into an independent Kodagu in 1790 CE.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Bhagamandala is at the confluence of three rivers, Kavery, Kannike, and the third river, the Sujyothi from underground. Hence, this place is a Triveni Sangama and is considered equivalent to Kasi/ South Kasi.  Hence, the devotees carry out the Shradha and last rites for the departed souls of their family.

Triveni Sangama

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri.

During Sankaramana Jatra and the Thula month (October – November), devotees from all over the country used to come and worship Shiva at this temple and take a bath in the Triveni Sangamam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 13.30 hrs and from 15.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +918272 243272 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Bhogamandala is 9 km from Talacauvery and 36 km from Madikeri, and 154 km from Mysore.

The nearest Railway Station is Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Triveni Sangama Nagars 

East side Rajagopuram

On the inscription

West side Rajagopuram

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Talakaveri Temple / ತಲಕಾವೇರಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, Talakaveri, Kodagu District, Karnataka.

The visit to Talakaveri, the origin of the Kaveri River, at Talakaveri, in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

Moolavar: Sri Agastheeswarar

Some of the salient features of this Talakaveri Temple are….

The total complex faces east with an entrance Kerala-type arch. The temple tank and an overflow tank are after the entrance arch. A Rishabam is on the east side of the temple tank. A small rectangular kund is the origin of the river Kaveri. The water overflowed from the small kund fills the tank. Two small sananidhis are built behind the kund. Only lamps are lit in the sannidhis. From where the water comes to the kund is not known.

SRI AGASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE

The Agastheeswarar temple is just above the temple tank. Moolavar Shiva Lingam is covered with kavasam and looks like a mukha lingam. Rishabam is in front of the main sanctum under a mandapam. No murtis are in the koshtams.

A Vinayagar temple is on the south side of the main temple. The prahara mandapam is around the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists only of a sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, plakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. A pyramidal style vimanam is over the prastaram. The vimanam is covered with copper plates.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the temple and tanks were constructed in the 20^th century.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 13.30 hrs and from 14.30 hrs to 17.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

Talakaveri is about 8.1 km from Bhagamandala on the Hill route, 44 km from Madikeri, and 160 km from Mysuru.

The nearest Railway Station is Mysuru.

LOCATION OF KAVERI RIVER ORIGIN: CLICK HERE

The small Kund from where the Kaveri River originates

Vinayagar sannidhi

Vinayagar sannidhi

Overflow point

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Shri Omkareshwara Swamy Temple, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Kodagu District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Shri Omkareshwara Swamy Temple at Madikeri in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. The temple consists of Sri Omkareshwara Swamy and Anjaneyar temples.

Moolavar  : Shri Omkareshwara Swamy

Consort    : Shri Parvati

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a temple tank. A newly built Anjaneyar temple is in front of the temple entrance on the east side. The temple was built on an elevated level. The entrance to the temple is like a fort entrance. A big balipeedam is after the entrance. Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is small on a round avudaiyar. The Shiva linga is on a square pedestal with kapota bandha base with Jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and kapotam. A Rishabam is in front of the sanctum sanctorum.  Utsavar and Ambal are at the base of the Moolavar.

PC - Website

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is about 15 feet above the ground level, and 30 steps are provided to reach the temple floor. The temple was built in Indo-Islamic design with domes, minarets, arches, and intricate carvings. The blend of Indo - Saracenic style / Gothic, and Islamic styles makes it visually distinctive.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built by King Linga Rajendra II in the early 19th century (1820 CE).

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Shiva Lingam is swayambhu, brought from Kashi.

It is believed that the king built this temple as a parihara to the accidental killing of an innocent person during his Kingdom expansion. Due to the caused due killing, the King lost his peace and sleep. As per the advice of Rajapurohits (Royal Priests), a temple was built to get rid of the sin.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas conducted are Kaal Sarp dosha poojas, Maha Mrityunjay Japa, Narayan bali pooja, Pind daan poojas, Tarpan puja, Ganesh Gauri puja, Shradh puja, Pitru dosh nivaran puja, Ganga puja, Mangal dosh nivaran puja, Abhishek puja, Dhwaja puja, Chandi yagya, Panchamirt Abhishek puja, Rudri puja, Ashi Visarjan puja, Mahalakshmi havan, Satyanarayan katha, Vastu shanti puja, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

Maha Pooja timings are 12.00 noon and 20.00 hrs in the evening.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 2 km from Madikeri Fort and 120 km from Mysore.

The nearest Railway Station is Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

East side entrance

Anjaneyar Temple in front of the east side entrance

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Shri Gommatagiri Gommateshwara Digambara Jaina Temple ಶ್ರೀ ಗೊಮ್ಮಟಗಿರಿ ಗೊಮ್ಮಟೇಶ್ವರ (ಬಾಹುಬಲಿ) ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ, Gommatgiri Temple, Bettadur, Karnataka

The article was written by

John Peter, Thalavadi and Sakthi Prakash, Erode.

The visit to this Shri Gommatagiri Gommateshwara Digambara Jaina Temple, at Gommatagiri, in Mandya District, Karnataka, was missed in the “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

 

Moolavar: Shri Gommateshwara, also known as Bahubali

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The Gommateshwara temple faces east, on a small hill about 50 meters high, called Gommatagiri, also known as Shravana Gudda. About 50 steps are provided to reach the mandapa at the top.

The monolithic Gommateshwara is 16 feet tall, standing posture open to the sky, made out of granite similar to Shravanabelagola. The standing snakes with their hoods on either side of the statue are very attractive and unique of this kind.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the Jain site, this Gommateshwara is 800 years old, dating back to the Vijayanagara period. Even though it is claimed to be 750 years old, there is no evidence found to prove its antiquity. It is further believed that the Gommateshwara was established during the Chengalvas and Kongalvas period.

Ref

1. https://gommatagiri.org/

2. Display board installed at the site.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, once a year in November, Maha Masthabhisheka, also known as abhisheka or pouring divine liquids and flowers.

 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

CONTACT DETAILS

Website: https://gommatagiri.org/

https://www.jainheritagecentres.com/news/news-updates/gommatagiri-bahubalis-64th-masthakabhisheka/

Contact Us

E-mail address: info@gommatagiri.org

The mobile number +919900190815 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The hill Gommatagiri is about 17 km from Krishnarajasagara Dam and 24 km from Mysore.

The nearest Railway Station is Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

“Hero and Sati Stones” at Thippuru/ Tippur, and Kikkeri in Mandya District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Hero Stone at Sri Lakshminaraya Swamy Temple, Tippur /Thippuru, in Mandya District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

HERO STONE
PLACE             : Tippur
LOCATION       : Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple
TITLE              : Hero Stone  
PERIOD           : 12th century
DETAILS          :

The Hero Stone measures 4 ½ feet high and 3 feet wide. The Hero Stone is in 4 stages. At the bottom, a battlefield is shown. The hero is fighting with enemies, standing on the dead soldiers.  In the 2^nd stage from the bottom, there are three people, who may be ladies, shown on the left side. On the right side, the hero is fighting with a person riding on a horse. In the third stage, from the bottom, the hero is taken to heaven by the angels. In the top stage, the hero is shown worshipping a Shiva Linga. His wife (?) is shown standing next to the hero.

நான்கு நிலையடுக்கு நடுகல்  

சுமார் 4 1/2 அடி உயரமும் 3 அடி அகலமும் கொண்ட பலகை கல்லில் நான்கு நிலையாக நடுகல் வடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கீழிரெண்டு அடுக்குகளில் நடுகல் வீரன் எதிரிகளுடன் போர் மோதும் காட்சி ஒன்றில் தரை படையினருடன் வாள் கேடயம், வில், அம்பு ஏந்தி போரிடுவதும் மற்றொன்றில் குதிரை வீரர்கள் ஈட்டியுடன் பாய்ந்து தாக்குவதை எதிர் கொள்வது போன்றும் சிற்பங்கள் வடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள. பூசல் இரண்டு கட்டங்களாக நடந்திருக்க வேண்டும். போரில் மாண்ட வீரர்களின் மீது ஏறி நின்று யுத்தம் செய்வது போன்று காட்டப்பட்டு இருக்கின்றது. இதனை கர்நாடக நடுகல் வரலாற்றாய்வாளர்கள் royal fight என குறிப்பிடுகிறன்றனர். மேல் இரண்டு சிற்பங்களின் உள்ளடக்க அகலத்தைச் சுருக்கி கல்வெட்டுக்களை தமிழில் பொறித்துள்ளனர். போரில் இறந்த வீரனின் ஆன்மா இரு தேவகன்னியர் துணையுடன் விண்ணுலகம் செல்லும் காட்சியும், மேல் அடுக்கில், வீரன் அமர்ந்த நிலையில் கையிலாயத்தில் சிவலிங்கத்தை வழிபடும் காட்சியும் அழகாக செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Bottom tier - Royal fight

2nd tier from the bottom

சிதைந்த நிலையிலுள்ள தமிழ் கல்வெட்டு

1. ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ குலோத்து

2. ங்க சோழ தேவர் திருவி

3. ரையாட்டு ராஜேந்

4. த்ர சோழத்  ந்த(ரி)தெ  

5. ..ங்கைகு(ரக்)வேளக்கா…

6. முச் ராஜேந்திர சோழ (செர்)…

7. மாராயன் ஊர்துறைநா…

8. ட்டு துறைதிப்பூரை

9. யாண்டு முப்பத்து

10. மூன்றாவது பொ

11. ய்சாளன்ரிமித்(ப)

12. து எரிந்த பொ

13. ழுது ராஜேந்திர

14.சோழ மாராயன்

15.மகன் (க)ழகங்(சோ)   

16. ணன் (நாடு)… (தன்னு)  

17. குடிமக்களும் தன்…..

18. விரானகன்….

19. காள... அ…..தும்

20. யோன்…...ரு(ம)

21. காட் டுரா 

22. ஜேந்திர

23. நூ…..   

24. மஹி….

25. ...

26. சே…. ரி….

27. ...

INSCRIPTION IN ENGLISH

1 svasti śrī Kōlōttu
2 ngaśōladēvar tiruvi
3 rājyattu Rējēn
4 draśōlat-te[ri]nda
5 [n]gai-vēļaikā[rak]ku.
6 much [chēr] Rājēndraśōla
7 mārāyan Urturai-nā
8 ttu Tuxaittippūrai
9 yāndu muppattu
10 mūnrāvadu po
11 ysaļan [pa]rimit
12 tu exinda po
13 ludu Rajendra
14 śōlamārāyan
15 magan [Chō][la*]gań[ga]
16 nan [tannu]. [nattu]
17 [kkudimakkaļum] tan..
18 [vīrāna]....kan
19 kāla. dum.a.
20 yon[ma] ru.
21 [kāttu] Rā
22 jēndra.
23 nù.....
24 mahi...
25
26 chẽ.. ri.
27

Ref

Epigraphia Indica

 

THE DETAILS OF INSCRIPTION

The inscription belongs to Kulothunga Chozha’s 33^rd year of reign. As per the inscriptions, when the Hoysalas fought against Thippur, Rajendra Chozha Marayan’s son Chozha Ganganan, who belonged to the Valangai Velakara army regiment, might have been killed. The nadukal might have been erected in memory of him.

From this, it may be noted that 15 years before the Thalakad war, the Hoysalas started the war against the Chozhas. As per historians, the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhan’s first war against the Chozhas.

கல்வெட்டு செய்தி

முதலாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழனின் 33 வது ஆட்சியாண்டில் ஊர்த்துறை நாட்டிலிருக்கும் துறை திப்பூரை போசாளர் (ஹொய்சாளர்) தாக்க முற்படுகையில் இராஜேந்திரசோழ தெரிந்த – வலங்கை – வேளைக்காரர் படைப் பிரிவை சேர்ந்த இராஜேந்திர சோழ மாராயனின் மகன் சோழ கங்கணன் அதனை எதிர் கொண்ட பூசலில் இறந்துபட்டிருக்கலாம். அவனது நினைவாக இந்த நடுகல் எழுப்ப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம்.

இந்த நடுகல்லின் காலம் பொயு 1102 – 03 ஆண்டு. இதன் பிறகு தலைக்காடு பொ.யு. 1117 ஆண்டு ஏறக்குறைய 15 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பாகவே கங்கபாடியை மீட்கும் நடவடிக்கையில் முனைப்புடன் ஹொய்சாளர்கள் செயலாற்றினர் என்பது இந்நடுகல் சான்றினின்று அறியவருகின்றோம். மேலும் விஷ்ணுவர்த்தனின் தந்தை எரெயங்கதேவன் மற்றும் தமையன் முதலாம் வீரபல்லாளனின் ஆட்சி காலத்திலும் கங்கபாடியின் தண்டநாயகனாக விஷ்ணுவர்த்தனன் நியமிக்கப்பட்டார் என்பதும் இவர்களின் குறுகிய ஆட்சி காலத்திற்கு பின் பொயு 1108 ஆண்டே விஷ்ணுவர்தனன் அரியணையேறியதும் இந்த நடுகல் போர் நடவடிக்கை இவனது கன்னி முயற்சி என்பது அறியற்பாலது. 

தமிழில்: திரு ஜான் பீட்டர், (மு)தொல்லியல்துறை. 

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

Inscriptions

SATI STONE AT KIKKERI
PLACE             : Kikkeri
LOCATION       : Sri Brahmeswara Temple
TITLE              : Sati Stone / Ondi Kai masti kallu
PERIOD           : 16^th – 17th century
DETAILS          :

The sati stone is kept inside the Sri Brahmeswara temple. In this, the husband and wife are shown in a standing posture. Since the images are completely sculpted. The wife took sati after her husband’s death. So, a hand is shown on the right side of the sati stone. Hence, this Sati stone is called Ondi Kai Masti Kallu. 

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---