Sri Maruleshwara Temple / Sri Maraleshwara Temple, Talakadu, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

This Sri Maruleshwara Shiva temple is one of the Shiva temples of Panchalinga Temples in and around Talakad. Sri Pataleshwara/ Pataleshwar Temple, Maruleshwara Temple, and Vaidyanatheshwara Temples are near each other and Arkeshwara Temple and Mallikarjuna temples are outside Talakad. We visited the three Shiva temples out of 5 Shiva Temples in Talakadu.  These three temples were once under sand dunes. Excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during the 1970s protective walls are also constructed around the temple. This may be due change of direction of the Kaveri River or due to a flood. But there is a local legend behind this phenomenon.

Moolavar: Sri Maruleshwara

Some of the important details are…

This temple faces east about 20 feet below the ground level with protective walls. A Hero stone and half-buried statues are outside the sanctum. It was believed that the moolavar Shiv linga was installed and worshiped by Brahma. Moolavar Maruleshwara is a little large made out of sandstone also called Saikateshwara (Sand). (Maralu in Kannada means sand). Gangas period murtis of Maheswarar, Vishnu, Ambiga, Pickshadanar, Durgai, Murugan/ Kartikeya, Surya, and Vinayagar are in the artha mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and Artha mandapam. The sanctum plinth has jagathi, kumuda, gala, and mahapatti making the plinth padabandha adhisthana. The vimana above the sanctum was built in recent years.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was believed that this temple was constructed by Gangas during the 10^th Century.

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, during the 17^th century, the Mysore king  Raja Wodeyar made Tirumalaraja also known as Ranga Raya as a caretaker of Srirangapatna. His second wife Alamelamma took over when her husband left for Talakadu. She had a lot of jewelry. When her husband was infected with an incurable disease, She headed towards Talakadu. When she was Travelling to Talakadu, the Mysore king sent his army people to rob the Jewelleries of Alamelamma. Fearing from the Raja Wodeyars army, She throws all the jewelleries into the River Kaveri and ends her life by jumping into the river. Before jumping she gave a curse…

 

"Talakadu Maralaagi (Talakadu become sandy – தலக்காடு மணல்மேடாகட்டும்).

Malingi Maduvaagi (Malingi become whirlpool – மலிங்கி மடுவாகட்டும் ).

Mysore dhorege makkalagade hogali (Mysore kings never have children – மைசூர் மன்னனுக்கு வாரிசு இல்லாமல் போகட்டும்)."

To prove Alamelamma’s curse, the complete Talakadu was submerged under sand dunes and the same was excavated in 1911 by ASI. ( The actual reason may be due to the flood in the river and might have changed its course ).  The Mysore Kings don’t have Children till the 20^th Century. It was learned that the present King had a Child in recent years. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 18.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Talakadu ia bout 29 KM from T Narasipura and 45 KM from Mysore and 130 KM from Bangalore.

KSRTC buses are available from T Narasipura and Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Hero stone

 half-buried statues 

 Pichadanar

 Vishnu

  

Durga and Karthikeya

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Keerthi Narayana Temple / ஸ்ரீ கீர்த்திநாராயண பெருமாள் கோயில், at Talakadu / தலகாடு, Karnataka State.

17^th June 2018.

Talakadu near Mysuru/Mysore is known as Dalavanapura and Gajaranya in Sanskrit was the capital of Gangas from the 4^th to 10^th century. Gangas were succeeded by Chozhas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, and Mysore Wodeyars. This temple was once completely covered with sand dunes and excavated in 1911 CE.  The Temple is presently under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). There is an interesting legend (Alamelamma's Curse) behind this, which is given at the end of this article.  

Moolavar : Sri Keerthi Narayana

Thayar    : Sri Sundaravalli

Some of the important details are...

The temple faces east with a dwara mandapam and a Palipedam. Thayar Sundaravalli is in Dwara mandapam, may be a base of Rajagopuram without the super structure. The moolavar is about 8 feet high,  holding conch and disc in the upper hands, and stands in samabhanga posture on a lotus pedestal. Urchavar or the procession deity Vishnu with Bhudevi and Sridevi are in front.

ARCHITECTURE

The main sanctum was built out of granite in Hoysala – Dravida style. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum and a mandapam with three entrances built over a large plinth with jagati having on plan a stellate garbhagriha. The mandapa or the navranga is spacious and has lathe-turned pillars and a ceiling adorned by creeper scrolls, lotuses, and other floral designs. The mandapa pillars have the reliefs of Ramanuja, Nammazhwar, Vedantha Desikar, and Ugra Narasimha in the artha mandapam pillars.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions ( Epigrapia Carnatica), this temple was built and consecrated on the 7^th December 1117 CE, by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate the Victory over Chozhas. The title of “Talakadugonda”  was assumed after this victory. It was told that the Sri Ramanuja was behind the victory. The place was also renamed Talakadu from Rajarajapuram, which was changed during Chozha's rule. From the Kannada inscriptions, Talakad was guarded by the chieftains Adhiyaman, Narasimhavarman, and Thikulathaman of Chozha Kings. In the battle, Adhiyaman was asked to surrender by the Vishnuvardhana's chieftain Veeragangan. In turn, Adhiyaman replied that he could take Talakad after their victory. In the battle, Chozhas were defeated and Adhiyaman was Killed. Through the Victory Veeragangan assumed the title of "Veeragangan who conquered thikula ( Chozhas in Kannada )". As per the inscriptions, this place was called Talaikadu. 

To Commemorate the Victory, Vishnuvardhana constructed the Kesava temple at his capital Velapur / Belur, which was then known as Vijaya Narayana Temple.  

Chozha period Tamil inscriptions are also found on the pedestal and lathe-turned pillars.  The Tamil inscription on the back side of the temple adhistanam records the endowment of burning lamps and the donations given to this Kirthinarayana Temple. 

The Sanctum Vimana collapsed due to rain in 2002 and the total Sanctum Sanctorum was dismantled and rebuilt by A S I.

 Tamil inscriptions

Tamil inscriptions

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, during the 17^th century, the Mysore king  Raja Wodeyar made Tirumalaraja also known as Ranga Raya as a caretaker of Srirangapatna. His second wife Alamelamma took over when her husband left for Talakadu. She had a lot of jewelry. When her husband was infected with an incurable disease, She headed towards Talakadu. When she was Travelling to Talakadu, the Mysore king sent his army people to rob the Jewelleries of Alamelamma. Fearing the Raja Wodeyar army, She throws all the jewelry into the River Kaveri and ends her life by jumping into the river. Before jumping she gave a curse…

 

"Talakadu Maralaagi (Talakadu become sandy – தலக்காடு மணல்மேடாகட்டும்).

Malingi Maduvaagi (Malingi become whirlpool – மலிங்கி மடுவாகட்டும் ).

Mysore dhorege makkalagade hogali (Mysore kings never have children – மைசூர் மன்னனுக்கு வாரிசு இல்லாமல் போகட்டும்)."

To prove Alamelamma’s curse, the complete Talakadu was submerged under sand dunes and the same was excavated in 1911 by ASI. ( The actual reason may be due to the flood in the river and might have changed its course ).  The Mysore Kings don’t have Children till the 20^th Century. It was learned that the present King had a Child in recent years. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 18.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Talakadu is about 29 km from T Narasipura, 45 km from Mysore, and 130 km from Bangalore.

KSRTC buses are available from T Narasipura and Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

I extend my sincere thanks to Mr John Peter, Former archaeologist & Teacher for taking us to all the temples and explaining the details. And also extend my thanks to the participants Mr. Srinivasan, Mrs. Sakthi Prakash, Mr. Sadasivam, and Mr. Raghu.

Visited 2nd time during “Karnataka State, Hoysala Period Shiva and temple’s visit”- on 30^th July 2023 organised by the FB Group தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் "திருக்கச்சி".  

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Pataleshwara Temple / Sri Padaleeswarar Temple / or Vasukishwara Temple, Talakad, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

This Sri Pataleswara Shiva temple is one of the Shiva temples of Panchalinga Temples in and around Talakadu. Sri Pataleshwar Temple, Maraleshwara Temple, and Vaidyanatheshwara Temples are near each other and Arkeshwara temple and Mallikarjuna temples are outside Talakadu. We visited the three Shiva temples out of 5 Shiva Temples in Talakadu.  These three temples were once under sand dunes. Excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) during the 1970s protective walls were also constructed around the temple. This may be due change of direction of the Kaveri River or due to a flood. But there is a local legend behind this phenomenon. 

Moolavar : Sri Vasukishwara   or Sri Pataleshwara

Some of the important details are...

The temple faces east and is about 20 feet below the ground level surrounded by sand mount. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.  The Mandapa pillars are squarish pillars of the  Ganga order. The specialty of this temple is moolavar changes its color from morning to evening from red to black and white during the night.

Believed to have been constructed during the 8^th century by Rashtrakutas and some claim that the original temple was built by Gangas during the 10^th century. The sanctum is constructed with jagathy, tripatta kumuda, gala, and ryalamala. Mouldings of this type of plinth are called as pratikrama type. The Vimana was built in recent years. The temple inside has the Ganga-style sculptures of Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Durga, and Bairavar. One of the sanctum stones contains the Chozha period inscriptions. Inscribed after the Victory of Talakadu over the Ganges.

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, during the 17^th century, the Mysore king  Raja Wodeyar made Tirumalaraja also known as Ranga Raya as a caretaker of Srirangapatna. His second wife Alamelamma took over when her husband left for Talakadu. She had a lot of jewelry. When her husband was infected with an incurable disease, She headed toward Talakadu. When she was Travelling to Talakadu, the Mysore king sent his army people to rob the Jewelleries of Alamelamma. Fearing the Raja Wodeyar army, She throws all the jewelry into the River Kaveri and ends her life by jumping into the river. Before jumping she gave a curse…

 

"Talakadu Maralaagi (Talakadu become sandy – தலக்காடு மணல்மேடாகட்டும்).

Malingi Maduvaagi (Malingi become whirlpool – மலிங்கி மடுவாகட்டும் ).

Mysore dhorege makkalagade hogali (Mysore kings never have children – மைசூர் மன்னனுக்கு வாரிசு இல்லாமல் போகட்டும்)."

To prove Alamelamma’s curse, the complete Talakadu was submerged under sand dunes and the same was excavated in 1911 by ASI. ( The actual reason may be due to the flood in the river and might have changed its course ).  The Mysore Kings don’t have Children till the 20^th Century. It was learned that the present King had a Child in recent years. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 18.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Talakad ia bout 29 KM from T Narasipura and 45 KM from Mysore and 130 KM from Bangalore.

KSRTC buses are available from T Narasipura and Mysore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Chozha inscriptions

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---  

Sri Janardana Temple at Malingi or Tadi Malingi, near Kollegal, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

It was learned that there is also another 11th-century Chozha period temple in dilapidated condition in the same village Tadimalingi on the south bank of river Kaveri. The Village Tadimalingi is just opposite to Talakadu. When Mr John had shown the picture of this temple  to the villagers,  nobody could identify it. Finally, the same auto driver who guided us to the Sri Mahalingeshwara temple came to our rescue and sent a person to show us.

The temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Janardana. Only the temple up to the ceiling exists and is completely hidden under the thick vegetation growth on it.  The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and an open / porch mandapam. The is no murtis inside the temple. The Pillars are very simple with simple capital / pothyal. The outside earth was covered up with jagathy and the sanctum was built with pada bandha adhistanam.

As per the Tamil inscriptions the temple was built during 10th century Rajaraja-I. As per the inscription the place was renamed as Jananathapura after the victory of Talakad. The inscription speaks about the donation given to the temple for burning perceptual lamps. During the Chozha period, an agraharam was also established on the banks of river Kaveri.

A stone chekku is also found near the temple with a partially visible Chozha period inscription. Hope this might have been used to extract oil to burn lamps in the temple.

HOW TO REACH:

Tadimalingi is on the way from Talakadu to Kollegal and is about a KM off the main road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

                                                        Outer Corridor

 Simple pillar and capital (Pothyal) 

 Ashta Mangala symbols - Kumbh and Lamp in the makara torana of the niche 

 Chozha King Rajaraja-I inscription

 Stone Chekku ( Grinder or the oil extractor)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Mahalingeswarar Temple / Mahalingeshwara Temple, Malingi or Tadi Malingi, Near Kollegal, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

After the Talakadu Visit, on the way to Kaliyuru (where the Chozha’s victory memorial tablet or the Hero Stone is found), Mr John said that there are two Chozha period Temples at Malingi otherwise called Tadimalingi. This Village is on the south bank of river Kaveri. It was told that this place was once called Maavilangai which later turned to Malingi. (Tadi means edge in Kannada, in this case, edge of river Kaveri). When we were about to return without being able to locate the Shiva temple, an auto driver guided us to this temple.

Moolavar    : Sri Mahalingesvara

Some of the important details are...

The temple faces east amid houses of Malingi village without any proper approach. There is no proper entrance and entrance arch to this temple. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is of pada bandha adhistanam. The artha mandapam pillars are found cute with simple capital or pothyal. The niches are empty without any koshta Murtis.  There is no vimana found above the sanctum.

In the Antarala, the remains of saptamatrikas group of Varahi,  Brahmi, Maheswari, Indrani and Veerabhadra. Jyeshta Devi's image (not a fine finish and without a big belly) is also in the antarala.

The period in which the temple was built is not known, but an early Chozha’s  Kali icon was mentioned in a middle Chozhas book written by S R Balasubramaniam. Inscriptions are found on the sanctum wall and kumudam of the mandapam. The inscriptions belong to 1042 AD, Rajendran –I period starts with his title 'Thirumanni Valara" - திரு மன்னி வளர- speaks about the donation made to this temple.  The temple had undergone renovations in recent years.

Rajendra-I, inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

There is no fixed time, but the key is available at the nearby house.

HOW TO REACH:

Tadimalingi is on the way from Talakadu to Kollegal and is about a km off the main road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 A koshtam without images 

 Pillars Mandapam Pillars with simple capital

 Jyeshta devi

 Inscriptions on the floor

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at T. Narasipura/ Tirumakudalu Narasipura, near Mysore, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

This Shiva temple is on the north bank of river Kaveri at the junction of the three rivers Kaveri, Kabini, and Swasthika. Hence this place is called Tirumakudalu Narasipura, in short, T Narasipura.

The presiding deity: Sri Agastheswara

Consort                  : Sri Purnamangaia-Kamakshi 

Some of the important details are …

The temple faces east with a 4-tier Rajagopuram on the north. Nandhi, Dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are at the front. A stucco Nandhi is also there on an elevated plane. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and maha mandapam. There are no koshta Murtis around the sanctum. The moolavar vimana is in globe shape, with a big nasi on the east side. The Rajagopuram was built in Dravidian style with stucco images of Lakshmi Narasimha, Shiva with Parvathi, etc on the top tier. The rajagopuram was supported by wooden columns from the inside.

As per the legend, the sage Agasthiya asked Hanuman to bring Shiva Linga from Kasi to worship on the banks of river Kaveri. When the Hanuman didn’t turn up at the correct time, the sage Agasthiya made Shiva Linga from the sand, and the pooja was performed. The Shiva linga also called “Saikata-linga” is formed of sand with a cavity containing water on is, believed to represent the Ganges. When the water is filled in the cavity the excess water flows through an aperture below called ‘Nabhi’ or navel of the Linga.  A separate sannadhis are there for Hanuman with the Shiva Linga, Someshvara, and Markandyeshvara linga along with the Hanumantheshvara and Gargyeshvara linga form the “Pancha-lingams”. Kumbhamela is performed once every three years.

 Padabandha adhistanam

As per the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage, Bangalore, this Agastheswarar temple was constructed during 10 to 11^th century by Chozhas and patronized by the latter kings like Gangas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara dynasty, and Mysore Wodeyars. The temple is under reconstruction and dismantling was in progress with proper identification during our visit. Seen the basement of the mandapam and sanctums are filled with river sand, during earlier construction.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the Mysore to Kollegal road, about 34 KM from Mysore and 150 KM from Bangalore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 The dismantled pillars 

The inside view of Rajagopuram

The wooden columns support the Rajagopuram

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---