VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Vaidyanatheshwara Swamy / Vaidyesvara Temple, Talakadu, Karnataka.

Monday, 2 July 2018

Sri Vaidyanatheshwara Swamy / Vaidyesvara Temple, Talakadu, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

This Sri Vaidyanatheshwara Swamy Shiva temple is one of the Shiva temples of Panchalinga Temples in and around Talakadu. Sri Pataleshwar Temple, Maruleshwara 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. This temple is at the entrance of the Talakadu Village maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI). The temple was completely submerged in the sand dunes till recent years. The same was cleared in 1911 CE by ASI. There is an interesting local legend behind this, which is given below.

Moolavar: Sri Vaidyanatheshwara Swamy

Some of the important details are ….

The temple faces east without any Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are immediately after the entrance. A stucco Rishabam is on a platform on the south side praharam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This Sri Vaidyeswara temple complex was built during the 10^th century Gangas and patronized by the latter kings Chozha, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras, and Wodeyars of Mysuru / Mysore. Since the exact period is not known, some claim that the temple was built by Madhavamandri (1350 CE) an eminent minister of the Vijayanagara King Harihara – I.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, Artha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Urchavars/ processional deities with Nataraja are in the maha mandapam. Ambal sannadhi is on the northwest of the same complex. The Sanctum Vimana was built with stucco (Lime and mortar) during the 17^th century. Huge Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Maha mandapam. The belly looks like Rishaba /bull’s face is worth seeing.

Bull face

The niches are filled with decorative gods and goddess images like Mahishamardini, Brahma, Saraswathi, Surya, Ganesha riding on a mouse (Mooshika), Kangalamurthy, Veerabhadra, Tripurantaka, Chandrasekara, Mohini, Lakshmi, Bhairava, Varadharaja, Nataraja, of Vijayanagara period.

Mahishasuramardini

Pichadanar

The base was constructed with sribandha adhistana consisting of upana, jagati, katakavrita, kumuda, gala, kapota carved with muktagrasas. The face of the jagathy has the murals of a row of bansas and elephants. The pillars of the assembly hall are of bhadrakanda type of Vijayanagara architecture. The ceiling of the mukamandapa is built in nabhichchbanda style. The lalada of the doorway has the relief of Gajalakshmi. On the above a relief of Umamaheswara seated in sukhasana.

Monkey relief on the kodungai

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 jewellery 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.