Kalleshvara Temple, Hire Hadagali, Karnataka

Kalleshvara Temple, Hire Hadagali, Karnataka

Kalleshvara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Hire Hadagali Town in Hoovina Hadagali taluk in Bellary district of Karnataka state, India. The temple is believed to have been built during 10^th Century by the Kalyana Chalukyas. It is undoubtedly one amongst the most beautiful temples of Karnataka. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was constructed by Demarasa, prime minister (or Mahamatya) to Western Chalukyan  King Someshwara I, who reigned from 1042–1068 CE. An old Kannada inscription dated to 1057 AD at the temple calls it Bhimesvara-Demesvara. The inscription gives information about the genealogy of the Chalukya dynasty and refers to Vikramaditya VI as a Kumara (prince). Another old Kannada inscription (1108 AD) from the rule of Vikramaditya VI gives further details about the consecration of the temple by Udayaditya under the orders of Demarasa. A third poetic Kannada inscription (1212 AD) on the premises belongs to the rule of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II.

The Temple

There are two entrances to temple (one facing east and the other facing south). The unique feature of this temple is the embossed carvings on the pattikas. The main temple houses idols of Ganesha, Saptamatrikas, Uma-Maheshwari and Bhairava. All the doorways and the pillars are of classical Chalukyan type.  There is a small idol of Nandi inside the temple. Another temple situated opposite to this temple is dedicated to the Sun God Lord Surya and has a huge Nandi in its front, facing the Kalleshvara. 

The temple is two shrined (dvikuta, though only one shrine has a superstructure or shikhara), each with a sanctum (garbhagriha) and a vestibule (antarala) that connects to a common four pillared closed hall (Navaranga or sabhamantapa, lit meaning "gathering hall"). In the original plan, a large "main hall" (mukhamandapam) existed, connecting the closed hall to the outside of the temple, from the southern direction.

Outside the main temple complex, an open hall (called Nandimandapa) containing a sculpture of Nandi (the bull, a companion of the god Shiva) has been converted into a shrine. The decorativeness of the outer walls of the main shrine and its closed hall exemplify Chalukyan art. Projections and recesses with niches have been created and used skillfully to accommodate pilasters whose niches contains Hindu deities in relief, depicting the gods Indra, Shiva, his consort Parvati, Lakshmi and others.

The doorway to the vestibule has artistic carvings of Dvarapalas (door keepers), the goddess of love Rati, and god of love Manmatha. The door lintel (lalata) has an image of Gajalakshmi (Lakshmi flanked by elephants on either side). The eaves over the door has fine images of the Hindu deities Brahma, Kesava (a form of Vishnu) and Shiva. The Architecture is actually a southern Karnataka Hoysala influence on Chalukyan architecture.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 16 Kms from Hoovina Hadagali, 16 Kms from Holalu, 28 Kms from Harpanahalli, 28 Kms from Harpanahalli Railway Station, 52 Kms from Ranebennur, 140 Kms from Hubballi Airport, 157 Kms from Bellary, 326 Kms from Bengaluru and 344 Kms from Bengaluru Airport.

Location | Photos