Ramesvara Temple, Balambeed, Karnataka

Ramesvara Temple, Balambeed, Karnataka

Ramesvara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Balambeed Village in Hangal Taluk in Haveri District in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is situated on the banks of Varadha river. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was built in 1118 CE by Bamagavunda, subordinate of Mahamandalesvara Tailahadeva of the Kadamba family of Banavasi-12000 and Panumgal-500, during the reign of Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI. The presiding deity was called as Gramesvara and the village was called as Ballareya Bidu in the inscriptions found in this temple. An Inscription dating back to 1118 CE during the reign of Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI records a gift of land and garden made to the temple by Bamagavunda.

It also records the allocation of funds collected through taxes to the temple. The hero stone found in this temple is dated to the 2^nd regnal year of Tailaha, Kadamba chief, who was ruling from Naraymangal. It records a grant of land at Kakere  made by Bamagavunda, in honour of his father who died in a raid made by Tailaha on Ballabidu during his invasion on Huritiginadu, the fort held by certain Sovarasa.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards south. It is very rare to see a south facing temple. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and a mandapa. The mandapa is supported by four central pillars. Nandi can be found in the centre of these four pillars in the mandapa facing towards the sanctum. The mandapa had three entrances on eastern, western and northern side. The walls of the mandapa had been lost completely.

The doorframes of the entrances can be found on their respective sides. The antarala had perforated windows on either side of the doorway, a characteristic feature of the Chalukyan architecture. But one side window is replaced with a plain one. The lintel of the antrala doorway has reliefs of Mahesvara at the centre flanked by Brahma and Vishnu on its sides.

The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Ramesvara in the form of Shiva Linga. The superstructure over the vimana, antrala and mandapa had been lost completely. The external walls have niches on all three sides, but all are empty. The external wall is devoid of any decoration except the niches and carvings of dravidian and nagara style vimanas. There are two hero stones on the left and the ride sides of the temple.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 13 Kms from Hangal, 13 Kms from Hangal Bus Stand, 22 Kms from Haveri, 23 Kms from Haveri Railway Station, 23 Kms from Bankapura, 51 Kms from Sirsi, 55 Kms from Ranebennur, 82 Kms from Hubballi and 91 Kms from Hubballi Airport. The temple is situated on Haveri to Hangal route.

Location