Nageshvara Temple | |
|---|---|
Hindu temple | |
_at_Begur%2c_Bengaluru.JPG) Historical Naganatheshwara temple at Begur | |
 Interactive map of Nageshvara Temple | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Bangalore Urban |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
TheNageshvara temple complex (also speltNagesvara and calledNaganatheshvara locally) is located inBegur, a small town within theBangalore urban district ofKarnataka state, India. Two shrines within the temple complex, the Nageshvara swamy main deity was consecrated by Rishi’s and temple were commissioned during the rule ofWestern Ganga dynasty kings Nitimarga I (also called Ereganga Neetimarga, r. 843–870) and Ereyappa Nitimarga II (also called Ereganga Neetimarga II, r. 907–921). The remaining shrines are considered a later day legacy of the rule of theChola dynasty,Hoysala dynasty,Vijayanagara Empire over the region. Ravana villain in Ramayana lost his atma linga in Gokarna and while returning to Sri Lanka he worshiped Nageshwara.[1] AnOld Kannada inscription, dated c. 890, that describes a "Bengaluru war" (modernBangalore city) was discovered in this temple complex by the epigraphist R. Narasimhachar. The inscription is recorded in "Epigraphia Carnatica" (Vol 10 supplementary). This is the earliest evidence of the existence of a place called Bengaluru.[2]
The Nageshvara temple has a simple square sanctum (garbhagriha), avestibule (antarala) that connects the sanctum to a "great closed hall" (maha-mantapa ornavaragna) which leads to an open hall (agra-mantapa). The entrance to the open hall is viabalustraded steps in the south-west and north-west corners.[3] The open hall has six unequally spaced pillars, with an image ofNandi (vehicle orvahana of the godShiva) placed on a "lotus platform" (padma-pitha) in the outer bay (compartment formed between four pillars). The white granite pillars are simple in design; with a square base (pitha), plain lower part and fluted octagonal in the centre. Many parts of the temple, including the open and closed halls appear to have been subjected to renovation in later periods. The sanctum has alinga, the universal symbol of the god Shiva.[3]
The ceiling in the closed hall (navaranga) has the characteristic Western Ganga artistic touch, the eight panel sculptures in a square grids (called theashta-dik-palaka) which includes an image of four handedUma-Maheshvara (the god Shiva with his consortParvati). The ceiling of the open hall also has the grid sculptures with a seated image of Shiva and Parvati in the centre. Other sculptures kept in the hall includeMahishasuramardini (a form of the goddessDurga), a unique two handedGanesh, andKalabhairava (a form of Shiva). The vertical doorjamb (sakha) have the typical carvings of creepers withganas (attendants of the god Shiva from Hindu Mythology) in loops with lotuses (padma) at the terminations. On top of the doorjamb, at the centre of thelintel (lalata), is an image ofGajalakshmi (a form of the goddessLakshmi) with elephants on either side.[3]
The Nageshvarasvami temple, also a Western Ganga construction, faces east, has a square plan for the sanctum, a vestibule, an open hall, a detached hall calledmukha-mantapa whose ceiling is supported by eight pillars. An image ofNandi is placed in themukha-mantap making it serve the purpose of aNandi-mantapa (Nandi hall). The base of the entrance (dvara) is flanked by niches with images ofGanga-Yamuna figures with attendant ladies. This appears to be aChalukya–Rashtrakuta influence.[4]
![9th century temple at Begur (pic taken in c.1868), by Henry Dixon, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections[5]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aTemple_at_Begur_(c.1868)%2cby_Henry_Dixon%2c_from_the_Archaeological_Survey_of_India_Collections.jpg)
Begur (Bengaluru) Inscriptions and Herostones
12°52′36″N77°37′36″E / 12.87674°N 77.62671°E /12.87674; 77.62671