Kedareshvara Temple, Balligavi – The Temple

Kedareshvara Temple, Balligavi – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with a pillared Mahadwara. This Temple is an excellent example of a transitional Western Chalukya-Hoysala architecture. It is the oldest example of such a combinational style in Karnataka. The temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west. The outside plan of the temple is in staggered-square style with many projections and recesses which is a Hoysala design. 

The western shrine is the central shrine and houses the presiding deity, Kedareshvara in the form of Linga. This shrine is the oldest dating from the 7^th or 8^th century CE. The southern shrine enshrines another Brahma Linga in its sanctum. This shrine might have housed a four faced image of Lord Brahma. Currently, this idol is situated in a museum within the temple complex. The northern shrine has an image of Janardhana, a form of Lord Vishnu, in its sanctum.

The western shrine has a vestibule whereas the other two shrines have a Ardha Mandapa). All the three shrines connected to a six pillared Maha Mandapa. The Maha Mandapa is further connected to a large ornate open Sabha Mandapa (Hall of gathering). The sabha mandapa has stepped entrances from the north, south and eastern directions. The entrance on the sides is a Western Chalukya idiom. The sabha mandapa has two rows of pillars.

The outer row of pillars are 16 faced (fluted) with leafy decoration while the inner row of pillars are lathe turned with bell shaped mouldings, a style popular with both Western Chalukyas and Hoysalas. The ceiling of the mandapa is flat and the inner ceiling is well carved with lotuses in them. The central ceiling has the carving of Thandaveswara (dancing Shiva) with eight dikpalakas (guards). Lord Shiva is shown with Nandi, Ganesha and Kartikeya in the central panel, while Indra, Agni, Yama, Nriti, Vayu, Varuna, Kubera and Ishana are distributed on around him.

The entrance to the shrine which faces east has a Nandi, the bull and a celestial attendant of Shiva. The superstructures (shikara) over the shrines are 3-tiered vesara style (combination of south and north Indian style) with the sculptural details being repeated in each tier. The superstructure are well decorated with sculptures of Thandaveswara, Varaha, Uma Narasimha, Bhairava etc. The tower of the shrine has an apex called the kalasha (decorative water-pot like structure).

The superstructure over each of three shrines is connected to a low protrusion tower called Sukanasi (tower over the vestibule for the central shrine and tower over the ardha mandapa for other two shrines, called nose of the main tower). The Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over the sukhanasi were added in 1060 CE by Hoysala Vinayaditya. The crest on the north tower has fallen down, the other two are intact.

These three towers are similar in form to each other with the wall details repeated at each level (tala). The outer walls of the open mandapa (hall) have carvings of miniature decorative towers (aedicula) and women wearing fine jewelry. Another shrine similar to the Kedareshvara temple can be seen in the temple complex towards the north west of the main temple. This shrine is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west.

This shrine is called as Prabhudeva Temple. Prabhudeva might be the original name of Veera Saiva saint Allama Prabu before attaining the enlightenment. The western and southern cell have Lingas inside while the northern one has a Veerabhadra image. The wall of the temple is relieved by a madhya banda with lozenge decorations. There is a small museum housing sculptures and architectural fragments, in the complex.