Someshvara Temple, Haralahalli – The Temple

Someshvara Temple, Haralahalli – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform. The temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west. All these three shrines connects to a common sabha mandapa through their respective vestibules. The sabha mandapa is provided with a mukha mandapa on the eastern side. The mukha mandapa is square on plan. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters.

The pillars stand on the kakasana. The mukha mandapa is enclosed by parapet walls on its sides. The mukha mandapa has flight of steps flanked by balustrades. The doorway is provided with double door jamb design. The lintel of the doorjamb has a carving of Gajalakshmi. The sabha mandapa is square on plan and stands on four central pillars set on an elevated floor in the centre.

The sabha mandapa has eight niches, two each on north, south, east, and west walls. Most of these niches are empty, one of the niche houses an image of Sapta Matrikas and another houses a broken Hoysala (man slaying lion) emblem. The central ceiling of the sabha mandapa is divided into nine compartment, each containing a flower with central hanging bud. The ceilings of the cardinal points also has flower decoration with hanging buds.

A Nandi can be seen in the sabha mandapa facing towards the main sanctum. The vestibules are square on plan. The doorjamb of the vestibules are decorated with creeper scrolls. The base of the doorjamb has depiction of dvarapalas on either side. The centre of the lintel has a carving of Gajalakshmi. The doorways of the antrala are provided with perforated windows. The vestibules have a superstructure called sukhanasi.

It looks like a shorter extension of its respective main tower. The central shrine (western shrine) is the most prominent one. This shrine is facing towards east and square on plan. The doorjamb of the sanctum has five bands of decoration carved with lozenges, creeper scrolls etc. The base of the doorjamb has depiction of dvarapalas on either side. The centre of the lintel has a carving of Gajalakshmi.  

The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Someshvara in the form of Shiva Linga on a square pitha. The northern shrine houses Vikrameshvara and the southern shrine houses Gutteshvara. Both these shrines are similar to the main shrine. The superstructures over the shrines follow dravidian style with stupi and kalasa at its top. The superstructure over the western shrine is of four tiers while northern and southern shrines are of three tiers.

The exterior of the shrines are decorated with pillars & pilasters topped with nagara & dravida shikara turrets, niches, Mahishasura Mardini, Adi Varaha, Nataraja, Somanatha, Kirata Moorthy, Ganesha, Ugra Narasimha, Yoga Narasimha, Surya, Indra, Yama, dancers and musicians. Kaleshvara temple is another trikuta shrine situated to the north of the Someshvara temple. This shrine is referred as Chikkeshvara temple in the inscriptions. Though, it is a trikuta shrine, only two shrines have survived currently.