Baneswar Temple, Baneswar, West Bengal

Baneswar Temple, Baneswar, West Bengal

Baneswar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Baneswar Village in the Cooch Behar II CD block in the Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision of the Cooch Behar District in the state of West Bengal, India. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in West Bengal declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per legend, an asura named Banasura, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, requested Lord Shiva to come to earth with him. Lord Shiva agreed to his request with a condition that he would disappear if Banasura stopped his journey for whatsoever reason. Lord Shiva was following Banasura throughout his journey. Banasura suddenly stopped at Gordasandara, which was a breach of agreement. Lord Shiva instantly disappeared. Banasura installed a Shiva at this place on the banks of the Bangti River. Thus, the Lord Shiva of this temple and the place came to be called as Baneswar.

History

The temple is believed to be built by Raja Jalpeswar, who built the Jalpesh temple. He is believed to have ruled in the second century and is mentioned in Jalpesh Mahatmya. Few believe that Raja Nilambar of the Khen dynasty had built it. There is another school of thought that the temple was built by Maharaja Nara Narayan of the Koch dynasty. The temple was subsequently renovated by Maharaja Pran Narayan of the Cooch Behar State in 17^th century CE. This temple is under the Cooch Behar Debuttor Sangstha.

The Temple

The current structure of the temple is square on plan with a domical roof and a slightly curved cornice. The temple has a height of 10.9 metres (36 ft) and the base measures 9.6 metres (31 ft) square. The walls are 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) thick. The temple was slightly tilted on the east during an earthquake in 1897. It has entrances from the eastern and western sides. The sanctum is situated at about 10 feet below the plinth level. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Baneswar in the form of Shiva Linga within a yonipitha.

There are some decorated narrow strips on the walls. It has a raised platform in the front. There is a Nandi made of cement on the right. There is a tin shed housing idols of Shiva and Ardhanariswara on the northern side of the temple. There are few ancient idols including a Kali idol in another shed. There is a big pond namely Shiv Pukur nearby which is a habitat of many black softshell turtle, a critically endangered species of turtle. The turtles are locally known as Mohan and are sacred.

Festivals

A week-long fair is held every year during Shiva Chaturdashi (the 14^th lunar day of the dark fortnight of the month of Magha) near this temple. On the occasions of Madan Chaturdashi and Dol Purnima, the idol is carried temporarily to the Madan Mohan Temple of Cooch Behar town. Hence, Lord came to be called as Movable Baneswar.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 100 metres from Baneswar Railway Station, 2 Kms from New Baneswar Railway Station, 9 Kms from Cooch Behar, 12 Kms from Cooch Behar Bus Stand, 13 Kms from Cooch Behar Railway Station, 14 Kms from Alipurduar and 144 Kms from Bagdogra Airport. The temple is situated on Cooch Behar to Alipurduar route.

Location

Durga Gudi Kalyani, Aihole, Karnataka

Durga Gudi Kalyani, Aihole, Karnataka

Durga Gudi Kalyani is an ancient stepwell, located on the banks of the Malaprabha river in the heart of Aihole, an historical town, in Bagalkot District in Karnataka, India. The stepwell is situated close to the Durga Temple.

The Stepwell

This Stepwell is smaller than the well near Badiger Gudi. It is situated close to the Durga Temple. This stepwell was built to ensure adequate water supply to the temples in the complex. The water stains on the walls clearly indicate dipping water-table over time in the region.

Connectivity

The temple complex is located at about 100 meters from Aihole Bus Stand. Aihole is located at about 13 Kms from Pattadakal, 30 Kms from Badami Railway Station, 33 Kms from Bagalkot Junction Railway Station, 34 Kms from Badami, 38 Kms from Bagalkot, 88 Kms from Gadag, 136 Kms from Hubballi Airport, 164 Kms from Belgaum Airport, 277 Kms from Goa and 446 Kms from Bengaluru. Aihole is situated on Pattadakal to Amingad route.

Location

Sangameshwar Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Sangameshwar Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Sangameshwar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bevoor Village in Bagalkot Taluk in Bagalkot District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is believed to be built in 12^th century CE. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west. These three shrines were originally dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. All these shrines connects to the navaranga via their respective antaralas. The navaranga has a mukha mandapa on its eastern side and serves at its main entrance.

The east facing shrine is the central shrine of this temple. This shrine houses a yonipitha without a Linga. The doorjamb of the sanctum has five bands of decoration. The lintel of the sanctum doorway has an image of Gaja Lakshmi. The antarala of the main shrine has two pillars at the entrance and its ceiling has an intricately carved full blown lotus. The south facing shrine houses an image of Lord Vishnu.

The north facing shrine houses a Shiva Linga on the yonipitha with a Nandi in antrala facing towards the sanctum. These two shrines with their respective antaralas are similar to the main shrine in architectural style. The navaranga is supported by four central pillars standing on slightly raised platform and twelve pilasters. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters standing on kakasanas.

The mukha mandapa is enclosed by parapet walls on all sides except its entrances. The mukha mandapa can be reached by a flight of steps. The ceiling of the mukha mandapa has an intricately carved lotus. The superstructure over the southern shrine is of stepped pyramidal style. The exterior walls of the temple are devoid of any decoration except the carvings of the pilasters at regular intervals.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 750 metres from Bevoor Bus Stand, 23 Kms from Kudala Sangama, 26 Kms from Bagalkot Junction Railway Station, 29 Kms from Aihole, 30 Kms from Bagalkote, 52 Kms from Badami and 155 Kms from Hubbali Airport. The temple is situated on Bagalkot to Kudala Sangama route.

Location

Rameshwar Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Rameshwar Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Rameshwar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bevoor Village in Bagalkot Taluk in Bagalkot District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is believed to be built in 12^th century CE. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and pillared sabha mandapa. The sabha mandapa is supported by thirty two pillars and eighteen pilasters. There are two varieties of pillars found in this mandapa. The first variety has a square base, cubical shaft, pointed circular mouldings and a beveled capital.

The other variety has square base with repeated pot designs. There are two pillars at the entrance of the antrala. The lintel of the antrala has carvings of Lord Shiva at the center flanked by Vishnu and Brahma at its terminal projections. The doorjamb of the sanctum has five bands of decoration.

The lintel of the sanctum doorway has an image of Gaja Lakshmi. The base of the doorjamb has carvings of dvarapalas on either side.   The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Rameshwara in the form of Shiva Linga on a pedestal. A small Nandi can be seen in front of the Linga. The exterior of the temple is devoid of any decoration.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 500 metres from Bevoor Bus Stand, 23 Kms from Kudala Sangama, 26 Kms from Bagalkot Junction Railway Station, 29 Kms from Aihole, 30 Kms from Bagalkote, 52 Kms from Badami and 155 Kms from Hubbali Airport. The temple is situated on Bagalkot to Kudala Sangama route.

Location

Kalika Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Kalika Temple, Bevoor, Karnataka

Kalika Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Durga located in Bevoor Village in Bagalkot Taluk in Bagalkot District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple was constructed in 12^th century CE by the western Chalukyas. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of sanctum, navaranga and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa has four pillars in two rows and two pilasters in the side walls. The decoration of the pillars of the mukha mandapa is similar to pillars of the navaranga. The roof of the mukha mandapa is in slanting roof style. The navaranga is supported by four central pillars and twelve pilasters. The pillars have the square base and cubical shaft with pointed round kapota and beveled capital. The doorjamb of the navaranga has five bands of decoration.

A Bhairava in standing posture flanked by two female attendants can be seen on either side at the base of the doorjamb.  The lintel of the navaranga doorway has an image of Gaja Lakshmi. The doorjamb of the sanctum has five bands of decoration. The lintel of the sanctum doorway has an image of Gaja Lakshmi. The sanctum enshrines a seated image of goddess Durga. There is no shikhara over the sanctum. The exterior of the temple is devoid of any decoration.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 750 metres from Bevoor Bus Stand, 23 Kms from Kudala Sangama, 26 Kms from Bagalkot Junction Railway Station, 29 Kms from Aihole, 30 Kms from Bagalkote, 52 Kms from Badami and 155 Kms from Hubbali Airport. The temple is situated on Bagalkot to Kudala Sangama route.

Location

Basaveshwara Temple, Basavana Bagewadi – History

Basaveshwara Temple, Basavana Bagewadi – History

The temple was constructed in 11^th century by the Western Chalukyas. The temple is maintained by the Kudala Sangama Development Board. Basavana Bagewadi is considered as the birth place of Basavana, the philosopher of the Lingayat sect. The three important places connected with life of Basavanna are Basavana Bagewadi, the place of his birth, Kudala Sangama, the place of his spiritual education and where he spent his last days, and Basava Kalyana, where he served as a minister and started the social revolution.

Basaveshwara / Basavanna was a 12^th century CE Indian statesman, poet, philosopher, social reformer and Lingayat saint in the Shiva focussed bhakti movement during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya / Kalachuri dynasty. Basava was active during the rule of both dynasties but reached the peak of his influence during the rule of King Bijjala II in Karnataka, India. Basava spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanas.

He rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals but introduced Ishta Linga necklace, with an image of the Shiva Linga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one's devotion to Lord Shiva. As the chief minister of his kingdom, he introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mandapa which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.

The traditional legends and hagiographic texts state Basava to be the founder of the Lingayats. However, modern scholarship relying on historical evidence such as the Kalachuri inscriptions state that Basava was the poet philosopher who revived, refined, and energized an already existing tradition. The Basavarajadevara Ragale (13 out of 25 sections are available) by the Kannada poet Harihara (1180 CE) is the earliest available account on the life of the social reformer and is considered important because the author was a near contemporary of his protagonist. 

A full account of Basava's life and ideas are narrated in a 13^th century CE sacred Telugu text, the Basava Purana by Palkuriki Somanatha. Basava literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language. He is also known as Bhakti Bhandari (the treasurer of devotion) and Basavanna. Basava was born in 1131 CE in the town of Basavanna Bagewadi in the northern part of Karnataka, to Maadarasa and Madalambike, a Kannada Orthodox Brahmin family devoted to Hindu deity Vishnu. 

He was named Basava, a Kannada form of the Sanskrit Vrishabha in honour of Nandi bull (mount of Lord Shiva) and the local Shaivism tradition. Basava grew up in Kudalasangama, near the banks of rivers Krishna and its tributary Malaprabha. Basava spent twelve years studying in the Hindu temple in the town of Kudalasangama, at Sangameshwara then a Shaivite school of learning, probably of the Lakulisa Pasupatha tradition. Basava married Gangambike, a cousin from his mother's side.

Her father was the provincial prime minister of Bijjala, the Kalachuri king. He began working as an accountant to the court of the king. When his maternal uncle died, the king invited him to be the chief minister. The king also married Basava's sister named Nagamma. As chief minister of the kingdom, Basava used the state treasury to initiate social reforms and religious movement focussed on reviving Shaivism, recognizing, and empowering ascetics who were called Jangamas. 

One of the innovative institutions he launched in the 12^th century CE was the Anubhava Mandapa, a public assembly and gathering that attracted men and women across various walks of life from distant lands to openly discuss spiritual, economic, and social issues of life. He composed poetry in local language and spread his message to the masses. His teachings and verses such as Kayakave Kailasa (Work is Worship) became popular. He spent 12 years of his life at Kudalasangama and attained Jeeva Samadhi in Kudalsangama.

Several works are attributed to Basava, which are revered in the Virashaiva Lingayat community. These include various Vachana such as the Shat Sthala Vachana (discourses of the six stages of salvation), Kala Jnana Vachana (forecasts of the future), Mantra Gopya, Ghatachakra Vachana and Raja Yoga Vachana. The Basava Purana, a Telugu biographical epic poem, first written by Palkuriki Somanatha in 13^th century CE and an updated 14^th century CE Kannada version, written by Bhima Kavi in 1369 CE are sacred texts in Virashaiva Lingayat.

Other hagiographic works include the 15^th century CE Mala Basava Raja Charitre and the 17^th century CE Vrishabhendra Vijaya, both in Kannada. Basava's poem, such as Basavanna 703, speak of strong sense of gender equality and community bond, willing to wage war for the right cause, yet being a fellow devotees' bride at the time of his or her need.

Basaveshwara Temple, Basavana Bagewadi, Karnataka

Basaveshwara Temple, Basavana Bagewadi, Karnataka

Basaveshwara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Basavana Bagewadi Town in Basavana Bagewadi Taluk in Vijayapura District in the Indian state of Karnataka. Basavana Bagewadi is the birthplace of 12^th century CE social reformer, Basavanna. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/07/basaveshwara-temple-basavana-bagewadi-history.html

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. Though it is a shiva temple, the prominence is given to Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The temple consists of sanctum, open vestibule, ranga mandapa, sabha mandapa and nandi mandapa. The sanctum, open vestibule, ranga mandapa and sabha mandapa were built with sandstone but the nandi mandapa was built with granite. The nandi mandapa is of later addition. The roof of the ranga mandapa has a carving of Lord Shiva in dancing posture surrounded by ashtadikpalas.

The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga. The doorjamb of the entrance of the sanctum have five bands of decoration. The lintel of the doorway has a carving of Gajalakshmi. Nandi enshrined in the nandi mandapa is worshipped like a separate deity. Nandi is praised as Moola Nandeeswara. Nandi is larger in size compared to the Linga in the sanctum. A marble sculpture of Basavanna can be seen in the sabha mandapa.

The actual house where he spent his childhood with his parents has been replaced by a modern structure called Basava Smarak. It is a large hall with a domed ceiling. There are reliefs depicting the important events in the life of Basavanna. Three life size idols of his Guru Jatavedamuni, Madalambike with infant Basava and Madiraja at the centre of the hall. It depicts the moment when Guru Jatavedamuni awakens the still-born infant.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 500 metres from Basavana Bagewadi Bus Stand, 20 Kms from Basavana Bagewadi Road Railway Station, 20 Kms from Mangoli, 41 Kms from Talikoti, 46 Kms from Vijayapura, 60 Kms from Kudala Sangama and 190 Kms from Hubbali Airport. Basavana Bagewadi is situated on Vijayapura to Talikoti route.

Location