10 Minutes Away from the Past: The Perks of Living Near an Ancient Temple
Have you watched Indian films and wondered where they found these gorgeous temples as backgrounds for the big fat weddings? If you thought such wonders of architecture only existed in a handful of places in the country, far from where you live, you thought wrong. Bengaluru is a city that is fortunate enough to have everything within a hand’s reach, even ancient temples. Sri Bhoga Nandishwara Gudi is a stunning Vedic temple you must visit when you are in the area.
Since the temple is only a ten-minute drive from Chikkaballapur, you add the location to your itinerary when you are over at Adi Farms for the weekend; it is only 11 km away. Especially if you are scouring venues for your upcoming nuptials, you can get a good look at a potential option as well. With a mix of culture and history, you can have a blast at Chikkaballapur this time around.
History of the Temple
Sri Bhoga Nandishwara Gudi can be found at the base of Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur. This Vedic-style temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and dates back to the early 9th century. You can also find this temple spelt “Bhoga Nandishwara” or “Bhoga Nandishvara” across sign boards and resources. As one of the oldest identified temples in Karnataka, the temple has seen various dynasties and rulers during its time.
The earliest inscriptions at Bhoga Nandishwara temple speak about the construction of the temple by Nolambadiraja and Govinda III of Nolamba and Rashtrakuta, respectively. These have been traced to the time of c. 806. The temple also holds copper plates from c. 810 by Bana rulers Jayateja and Dattiya. Following this, the temple came under the patronage of South Indian dynasties such as Ganga, Chola, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and so on. The temple also came under the control of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan before coming under the British Empire around 1799. The Dravidian architecture and the temple’s history led the Archaeological Survey of India to classify the temple as a monument of national significance.
Dissecting the Architecture
The original complex of the temple is the oldest part of the structure, the additional constructions done later under various rulers have brought the temple to its full glory. The temple consists of two shrines: the Arunachaleswara shrine, built by the Gangas of Talakad, and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara shrine, which the Cholas commissioned. The former is the shrine towards the south of the complex, while the latter faces the north. In between these shrines, there is another shrine called Uma-Maheshwara that has the kalyana mandapa. This shrine has an elaborate design consisting of rich black stone pillars depicting many gods and their consorts. In this typical display of Hoysala architecture, the reliefs include Shiva and Parvathi, Brahma and Saraswathi, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Agni and Swaha Devi, and many more intricate carvings.
The notable features of this 9th-10th century Nolamba construction include:
- Pilasters on the outer walls of the shrines
- Perforated decorative windows
- Dancing Shiva on the south wall of the Arunachaleshwara Shrine
- Durga on a buffalo head on the north wall of the Bhoga Nandeshwara Shrine
- Shikharas rising from the two major shrines
If you are interested in art history, architecture, or Hindu mythology, this temple will be memorable. Even if you are not there for the knowledge, the place is still a treat for the eyes.
Both the major shrines in the temple have a linga in their sanctums called garbhagriha. They also have a sculpture of Nandi each in the pavilion or Nandi Mantapa. There are elegant pillars crafted from grey-green granite between the two shrines. They also carry exquisite reliefs on them. The Uma-Maheshwara shrine is said to be added to the complex by the Gowdas of the Yelahanka dynasty after the Vijayanagara rule. Even though there are two major shrines and an intermediate one, a wall is constructed to link them all and make them seem indistinguishable from the outside.
Later, a wide pillared hall was also worked into the space between the two shrines. The vestibule and the temple hall are covered with jali or perforated stone screens. The temple complex also has two minor shrines for Devi near the outer wall. There is also a second compound for this temple that contains Yali pillars that are a must-see. If you drop by on a festive occasion, you can head over to the Sringeri Teertha or the stepped temple tank where lamps are lit. Festivities mean the temple will be packed with locals and devotees from all across the region, so heading down a few days in advance to appreciate the architecture and later joining in on the fun might be a better idea.
Getting the Story Right
It is said that the Arunachaleswara and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara forms of Shiva stand for the two major stages in his life, childhood and youth, respectively. The third stage is Uma-Maheshwara which involves his marriage to Parvathi. By the legend, there is a depiction of this union in the namesake shrine. This is why the shrine is popular among newlyweds who seek blessings and those who wish to get married. Continuing with the legend, there is a Yoga Nandeeshwara temple at the top of the adjoining Nandi Hills, representing the renunciation stage of life. Of all the shrines in the temple, only the Yoga Nandeeshwara temple does not host any festivities.
Unwinding for the Weekend
Chikkaballapur holds depths for you to explore during weekends. This time, set your eyes on the ancient temple of Sri Bhoga Nandishwara. With mindblowing architecture and a calm aura, the place is a great choice to get your mind to settle down and relax. While at Adi Farms, you can further soothe yourself and get back to your life on Monday with more power to tackle everything in your way. Hurry up and grab the chance. You’ll enjoy the place so much that you might end up staying.
10 Minutes Away from the Past: The Perks of Living Near an Ancient Temple
Have you watched Indian films and wondered where they found these gorgeous temples as backgrounds for the big fat weddings? If you thought such wonders of architecture only existed in a handful of places in the country, far from where you live, you thought wrong. Bengaluru is a city that is fortunate enough to have everything within a hand’s reach, even ancient temples. Sri Bhoga Nandishwara Gudi is a stunning Vedic temple you must visit when you are in the area.
Since the temple is only a ten-minute drive from Chikkaballapur, you add the location to your itinerary when you are over at Adi Farms for the weekend; it is only 11 km away. Especially if you are scouring venues for your upcoming nuptials, you can get a good look at a potential option as well. With a mix of culture and history, you can have a blast at Chikkaballapur this time around.
History of the Temple
Sri Bhoga Nandishwara Gudi can be found at the base of Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur. This Vedic-style temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and dates back to the early 9th century. You can also find this temple spelt “Bhoga Nandishwara” or “Bhoga Nandishvara” across sign boards and resources. As one of the oldest identified temples in Karnataka, the temple has seen various dynasties and rulers during its time.
The earliest inscriptions at Bhoga Nandishwara temple speak about the construction of the temple by Nolambadiraja and Govinda III of Nolamba and Rashtrakuta, respectively. These have been traced to the time of c. 806. The temple also holds copper plates from c. 810 by Bana rulers Jayateja and Dattiya. Following this, the temple came under the patronage of South Indian dynasties such as Ganga, Chola, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and so on. The temple also came under the control of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan before coming under the British Empire around 1799. The Dravidian architecture and the temple’s history led the Archaeological Survey of India to classify the temple as a monument of national significance.
Dissecting the Architecture
The original complex of the temple is the oldest part of the structure, the additional constructions done later under various rulers have brought the temple to its full glory. The temple consists of two shrines: the Arunachaleswara shrine, built by the Gangas of Talakad, and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara shrine, which the Cholas commissioned. The former is the shrine towards the south of the complex, while the latter faces the north. In between these shrines, there is another shrine called Uma-Maheshwara that has the kalyana mandapa. This shrine has an elaborate design consisting of rich black stone pillars depicting many gods and their consorts. In this typical display of Hoysala architecture, the reliefs include Shiva and Parvathi, Brahma and Saraswathi, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Agni and Swaha Devi, and many more intricate carvings.
The notable features of this 9th-10th century Nolamba construction include:
- Pilasters on the outer walls of the shrines
- Perforated decorative windows
- Dancing Shiva on the south wall of the Arunachaleshwara Shrine
- Durga on a buffalo head on the north wall of the Bhoga Nandeshwara Shrine
- Shikharas rising from the two major shrines
If you are interested in art history, architecture, or Hindu mythology, this temple will be memorable. Even if you are not there for the knowledge, the place is still a treat for the eyes.
Both the major shrines in the temple have a linga in their sanctums called garbhagriha. They also have a sculpture of Nandi each in the pavilion or Nandi Mantapa. There are elegant pillars crafted from grey-green granite between the two shrines. They also carry exquisite reliefs on them. The Uma-Maheshwara shrine is said to be added to the complex by the Gowdas of the Yelahanka dynasty after the Vijayanagara rule. Even though there are two major shrines and an intermediate one, a wall is constructed to link them all and make them seem indistinguishable from the outside.
Later, a wide pillared hall was also worked into the space between the two shrines. The vestibule and the temple hall are covered with jali or perforated stone screens. The temple complex also has two minor shrines for Devi near the outer wall. There is also a second compound for this temple that contains Yali pillars that are a must-see. If you drop by on a festive occasion, you can head over to the Sringeri Teertha or the stepped temple tank where lamps are lit. Festivities mean the temple will be packed with locals and devotees from all across the region, so heading down a few days in advance to appreciate the architecture and later joining in on the fun might be a better idea.
Getting the Story Right
It is said that the Arunachaleswara and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara forms of Shiva stand for the two major stages in his life, childhood and youth, respectively. The third stage is Uma-Maheshwara which involves his marriage to Parvathi. By the legend, there is a depiction of this union in the namesake shrine. This is why the shrine is popular among newlyweds who seek blessings and those who wish to get married. Continuing with the legend, there is a Yoga Nandeeshwara temple at the top of the adjoining Nandi Hills, representing the renunciation stage of life. Of all the shrines in the temple, only the Yoga Nandeeshwara temple does not host any festivities.
Unwinding for the Weekend
Chikkaballapur holds depths for you to explore during weekends. This time, set your eyes on the ancient temple of Sri Bhoga Nandishwara. With mindblowing architecture and a calm aura, the place is a great choice to get your mind to settle down and relax. While at Adi Farms, you can further soothe yourself and get back to your life on Monday with more power to tackle everything in your way. Hurry up and grab the chance. You’ll enjoy the place so much that you might end up staying.