VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Rameshwara Temple, Narasamangala in Chamarajanagar Taluk, Karnataka.

Sunday, 16 December 2018

Sri Rameshwara Temple, Narasamangala in Chamarajanagar Taluk, Karnataka.

08^th December 2018.

Visit to this temple was a part of Thalavadi Heritage Walk. Without proper directions and mobile signals (Google Maps), we found it very difficult to locate this temple. And finally, we reached the spot. This temple is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI). Even though it was a Sunday, the caretaker opened the sanctum door.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of a 10 feet square sanctum with and height of about 7 feet, 18 feet ardha mandapa, and an open mukha mandapa. The steps side walls to the mukha mandapa have the reliefs of Sanga Nidhi and Padmanidhi. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of ardha mandapa. Both dwarapalakas are standing in an unidentical position. The ardha mandapam is being supported by a lathe turned 4 numbers of Ganga period hard soapstone pillars. Ashtathik Palakas panel with dancing Shiva at the center is on the ardha mandapa ceiling. There is a big-sized Chandikeswarar statue kept in the ardha mandapa, perhaps for safety reasons it might have been kept in the ardha mandapa. In between pillars reliefs of lions, horses, and makara-headed fish. One of the capitals of a pillar has the relief of the Ganga King and his wife. The beams of the ardha mandapa have the reliefs of dancing, moving, fighting / wrestling dwarf bootha ganas with various heads like monkeys, elephants, etc. In the sanctum, the moolavar is unique 22 inches in diameter stands on a darkish black stone avudayar.

Ashtadikpalakas

The Adhistanam has, oorthuva padma, round Kumuda, and yazhivari similar to Srinivasanallur Shiva Temple. The Koshtams are empty now. The Vimana is two-tier built with brick and mortar. Various postures of Shiva Like. Gajasamhara Moorthy, Dakshinamurthy, Alingan Murthy, Rashabandhikar, dancers, etc, adorn the Vimana. Most of the images are mutilated yet the remains are enough to indicate the remarkable elegance and fine taste of Gangas. The Vimana is very much similar to the Dharmaraja Ratham of Mamallapuram Pallava period monolithic rock-cut Temple. The Construction has the influence of Pallava architecture.

Adhistanam

In the outer praharam, Nandhi is on a platform and its ears are found broken. On the Northwest corner platform,m there is a Mahishamardini statue. On the Southwest corner, there is a building that houses Saptamatrikas statues, Jain Tirthankara Parshvanath, and Vinayagar statues. In addition, there are inscription stones and Hero stones. In addition to this, there is a Shiva linga with avudayar on the southeast platform.

The temple was built during the 9^th century Ganga period and the king who built the temple is not known. This is one of the very old and earliest temples built with stone and Stucco in Karnataka. One of the Tamil Inscription stones speaks about a grant made to this temple god Ramanathadeva of Narasamangala by the Hoysala King Veera Ballala –III.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE