The visit to this Shri Panchalingeswara Swamy Temple at
Govindanahalli, in Mandya District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage
Walk” from 22nd to 24th 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 avatarsBuddha 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
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.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
