Ancient Hoysala Shri Panchalingeshwara Swamy Temple ಪುರಾತನ ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಂಚಲಿಂಗೇಶ್ವರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, Govindanahalli, Mandya District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Shri Panchalingeswara Swamy Temple at Govindanahalli, in Mandya District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk” from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

Saptamatrikas

Moolavar: Sri Panchalingeshwara Swamy

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east, with 5 shrines with Shiva Lingas, with two entrances on the east side. Rishabams are in the entrance mandapam. Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum, and Gajalakshmi, Shiva, Parvati with or without Rishabam, Karthikeya, and Ganesha are on the top of the entrance. Rishabams are in the Navaranga mandapam in front of the second and third sanctum sanctorums. The names of the five Shiva Lingas are Sri Sadyojateshwara, Vamadeveshwara, Sri Aghoreshwara (a tall Shiva Lingam is on a square avudaiyar), Sri Tatpuruseshwara, and Sri Ishanyeshwara.

Saptamatrikas with Ganesha and Veerabhadra, Adhisesha, Shiva with Parvati (Parvati sitting on the lap of Shiva), Murugan as Arumugar sitting on a peacock, Mahishamardini, Chamundeshwari, Nava Durga, Saraswati, are in the Navaranga mandapam

ARCHITECTURE

The Panchalingesvara temple is a good specimen of the Hoysala style. The temple has five garbhagrihas in a north-south orientation and faces east. It is the extant specimen of a Hoysala temple having a quintuple plan. They have a separate sukanasi and navarangas in the same orientation. All are connected to a long, 68-pillared hall on the eastern side of the structure. The pillars are lathe-turned vrutha pillars. There are two entrance doorways opposite the second and third garbhagriha, respectively, with a porch for each. The Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

The wall is modestly decorated with pilaster turrets and sculptural representations of the Bhagavata and epics. In the region of the navaranga, the bhitti has a miniature shrine built into the southern wall. The pyramidal structure is in 3 tiers with a ribbed conical two-tiered stupi culminating in a finial. The vimana does not have any sculptures.

The antarala has a prominently projected sukanasa. Except for the karnakutas, the hara of each tala, including prasthara, stands unfinished.

The navaranga has seventeen niches, some of them having beautiful sculptures of the Hoysala art. The famous Hoysala sculptor Mallitamma is said to have carved two dvarapala figures.

Veerabhadra

Mahishamardini

Mahishamardini

Mahishamardini

Saptamatrikas

The outer wall has the sculptures of Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatars & Garuda, which include Buddha (The names are inscribed below each sculpture in Kannada), Vishnuvardhana’s Queen Shanthala Devi, Dharbana Sundari, Maha Vishnu sitting on Adhiseshan, Brahma, Indra on Iravatham, Rama and Sita, Thirivikrama, Vamana Avatar, Narasimha, Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu, etc.  

 Maha Vishnu's avatars

Buddha in the middle

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Govindanahalli formed part of Gangavadi under the Gangas of Talakad. Later, it came under the Chola rule. The Hoysalas annexed the Chola territory and ruled most parts of southern Karnataka between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries CE. On stylistic grounds, the temple could be dated around 1237-1238 CE.

Inscriptions –

1. On a stone in Panchalingeshvara Temple – Epigraphia Carnatica Volume - VI, no 39 – refers to the reign of the Hoysala king Someshwara – dated Saka 1159, corresponding to 1237 CE – the inscription starts with obeisance to Ganadhipati, Shambhu, Varaha and describes the Chandra vamsha starting from Brahma. Brahma begot Atri, and Atri begot Chandra (Moon). In this lineage, Chandra was born Yadu, mentioned in the epics. In this Yadava lineage was born Sala. The story of Sala slaying a tiger with a danda is described in detail. Once, Sala went to see goddess Vasanti, whose abode was in the forest near Shashapura and who was the guardian deity of the kings of his lineage. In this forest, he met a sage who was deeply immersed in his tapa. There came a tiger, and the sage directed Sala to kill the tiger in his own language as ‘hoy Sala’. Thus, kings in his lineage came to be known as Hoysala. From Sala was born Vinayaditya, and from him was born Ereyanga. Ereyanga begot Vishnu, the latter begot Narasimha (I). Narasimha’s son was Ballala. Ballala’s queen was Padmala. From this queen, Ballala begot Narasimha (II) and a daughter named Somala. Narasimha’s son was Soyideva (Someshwara), who was ruling at Dvaravati. Then starts the family of Bogayya, father of Ketana, grandfather of Bhoganna and Mallanna. Bhoganna and Mallanna served as the danda-nayaka (ministers) under the Hoysala king Someshwara. This king Someshwara, while residing at Pandya-mandala, which he subdued with his extensive might and prowess, made a grant of the great village Tenginaghatta to his army chiefs Bhoganna and Mallanna. Village Tenginaghatta, with its eleven hamlets, was turned into an agrahara. Bhoganna and Mallanna forwarded this grant of Tenginaghatta agrahara to several Brahmans of different gotras in the presence of Sri Ramanatha at Setu. The same grant is also notified in the Kannada language.

2. On the pedestals of the dvarpalas of the Panchalingeshvara Temple – Epigraphia Carnatica Volume - VI, no 40 – on the right dvarapala is inscribed ‘ruvari Malitama’ and on the left dvarapala is inscribed ‘ruvari Malitamma’.

3. Below the images on the outer wall of the Panchalingeshvara Temple – Epigraphia Carnatica Volume - VI, no 41 – the inscribed labels are Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Rishikeshi, Padmanabha, and Damodara

Malitamma was a well-known Hoysala artist whose work is also found at various other Hoysala sites. His name is found at six places: Amruteshwara temple at Amruthapura, Lakshmi-Narasimha temple at Haranahalli, Lakshmi-Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli, Keshava temple at Somanathapura, Lakshmi-Narasimha temple at Javagal, and this Panchalingeshwara temple. His first work was at the Amruteshwara temple at Amruthapura, which was constructed in about 1196 CE. His last work was at the Keshava temple at Somanathapura, which was constructed in 1269 CE. His career spanned about 73 long years. Govindanahalli would have been his second assignment after the Amruteshwara temple.

Ref:

1. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Website and display board at the temple.

2. Epigraphia Carnatica Volume - VI, no 39, 40, and 41.

Mallithamma - the sculptor's name inscription at the base of Dwarapalaka

LEGENDS

Since Govindaraja ruled this place, hence called Govindanahalli.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted during the Shravana month and Maha Shivaratri. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

https://web.archive.org/web/20150502190310/http://asibengalurucircle.org/mandya-3.html

Since the temple is under the control of the Archaeological Department, a local caretaker is available at the temple.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Govindanahalli is 5.5 km from Kikkeri, 18 km from Shravanabelagola, 21 km from Hosaholalu, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple, 21 km from Chennarayapattana, 55 km from Srirangapatna, and 75 km from Mysore.

The nearest Railway Station is Shravanabelagola.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---