Someshwara Temple, Kolar, Karnataka
Someshwara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Kolar Town in Kolar District in Karnataka State, India. Someshwara Temple is located in the heart of Kolar Town and is one of the famous temples in this town. Presiding Deity is called as Someshwara. The Temple is believed to be built by Cholas and extensively renovated by Vijayanagara Kings in 14th Century. The Temple follows Dravidian style construction. The temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.
History
Kolar town is known for its antiquity has witnessed the rule of Cholas, kings of Vijayanagara, Wodeyars, Hyder Ali Khan, Tipu Sultan and the British Raj. The temple was built by the Cholas who ruled this region in the 11th century. The temple was later expanded by the Vijayanagara Empire and is a fine example of the Vijayanagara style of architecture. The carvings on the inner pillars of the temple have an international connection which depicts the importance and value of trade to the King.
The Temple
The temple architecture resembles that of the Someshwara temple in Bangalore, except, this temple is more rich in finish and detail. The temple is noted for its tall superstructure (gopuram) over the main entrance (Mahadwara). The superstructure is built of brick and stucco. The huge gopura on the entrance stands testimony to the hand of the Cholas in the construction of this temple. Though both temples have a large open pillared Mukha Mandapam (hall) leading to the sanctum (garbhagriha), in Kolar the open mandapam has a central hall surrounded by a raised floor. Several ornate pillars on the raised floor support the ceiling of the Mandapam.
The temple has heavy Prakara walls, a Kalyana Mandapam (Wedding hall), a Mukha Mandapa with massive pillars, a Vasantha Mandapam (Marriage Podium) and a shrine for goddess Parvati Devi. There is a granite bull carved at the entrance of the temple. The door frame of this magnificent temple is carved in pure Vijayanagara style with the Dwarapalas (guards). Presiding Deity is called as Someshwara. Sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of Lingam.
The base of the temple outer wall (adhishthana) consists of decorative moldings, with friezes of elephants, dwarfs and lions embellishing the upper moldings. The outer wall of the temple has miniature decorative pilasters (kumbha) with turrets (aedicule). The main shrine has a Dravida (south Indian) style tower (shikhara), a vestibule (sukhanasi) that connects the sanctum to a Navaranga (closed hall) which leads to the large pillared Mukha Mandapam.
An ornate Kalyana Mandapam ("marriage hall") built of granite, at the south-west corner of the complex, has pillars with decorative sculptures in relief. The Kalyana Mandapa has 64 – 16 sided pillars, a few depicting men, riding horses and others represent mythological stories. The carvings on the pillars bear influence of the European, Chinese and Thai style. The Kalyana Mandapam’s top portion depicts a Chinese style of architecture and the temple tower boasts of stucco figures.
The temple is enclosed by a cloistered wall (prakara). At the frontal extension of the hall are four full length pillars depicting riders on Yalis ("mythical beasts"). The Vijayanagara inscriptions are found on the walls of the Yagasala and temple store room which date back to the 15th century A.D. The temple also has a large stepped tank in Vijayanagar style called Kalyani.
Connectivity
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