Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli – The Temple

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli – The Temple

The temple is facing towards east with a mahadvara. The temple is built on a jagati (platform) that closely follows the plan of the temple. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, navaranga and mukha mandapa. The temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west. The western shrine houses Kesava, northern shrine houses Lakshmi Narasimha and southern shrine houses Venugopala.

The central shrine (western shrine) is the most prominent one. This shrine has a antrala (vestibule) that connects the shrine to the navaranga. The vestibule has a superstructure called sukhanasi. It looks like a shorter extension of the main tower. The superstructure on top of the vestibule (forming the nose) has only two tiers of decorative roofs. The central shrine is square and pancharatha on plan.

The superstructure (shikara) over the sanctum is of three tiers and is even more ornate than the walls. The central shrine has three devakoshtas at north, south and west housing the images of Sarasvati, Durga and Harihara respectively. The other two shrines are located in navaranga. These two shrines have miniature towers and directly connect to the navaranga without sukanasi.

These two shrines are also pancharatha on plan. The ceiling of the navaranga is supported by four lathe turned pillars. The temple actually looks like an ekakuta temple because the two lateral shrines are simple extensions of the wall of the mantapa. Their towers are a later addition. The mukha mandapa was added at later stage. The eaves runs around the sanctum where the superstructure meets the wall of the shrine.

The eaves projects about half a meter from the wall. Miniature decorative towers can be seen below this eaves. Second eves can be seen below this decorative towers. Friezes of Hindu deities and their attendants can be seen below the second eaves. The sculptures in the panels are mostly attributed to two well-known Hoysala sculptors, Baichoja and Mallitamma. 

A set of six moldings can be seen below the frieze which forms the base of the wall. The six moldings at the base of the wall is divided into two sections. The first horizontal molding from the jagati contains procession of elephants, second contains horsemen, foliage on the third. The second horizontal section starts with depictions from the Hindu epics and puranic scenes, then with friezes of yalis and final with friezes of swans.

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli, Karnataka

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli, Karnataka

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Nuggehalli Village in Channarayapatna Taluk in Hassan District, in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The Temple was built in 1246 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, commander of King Vira Someshwara of Hoysala Dynasty. Nuggehalli was earlier called as Vijaya Somanathapura, an agrahara founded by Bommanna Dandanayaka.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/lakshmi-narasimha-temple-nuggehalli-temple.html

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 metres from Nuggehalli Bus Stand, 20 Kms from Channarayapatna, 20 Kms from Channarayapatna Railway Station, 32 Kms from Tiptur, 48 Kms from Hassan, 105 Kms from Mysuru, 142 Kms from Bengaluru and 161 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. The temple is situated on the Tiptur – Channarayapatna Road.

Location | Photos

Kuraiya Bir Temple, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh

Kuraiya Bir Temple, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh

Kuraiya Bir Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Deogarh Village in Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India. This temple is situated inside a forest area near Deogarh. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east and built over a low raised platform. The Temple consists of sanctum and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters. The pillars has bell and chain design. The sanctum has two storey tower. The second storey has windows on all four sides at the bottom portion of the storey.

The window is fronted by two pillars supporting the overhanging lintel. The second storey looks like a separate shrine on top of the sanctum. The sanctum doorway has five bands of decoration and Ganga & Yamuna at the bottom of the door jambs. There are niches on three sides of the sanctum however only the western niche is enshrined with a sculpture of Kartikeya riding over a peacock.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 11 Kms from Jakhalaun Railway Station, 27 Kms from Lalitpur Junction Railway Station, 29 Kms from Lalitpur, 33 Kms from Lalitpur Airport, 126 Kms from Jhansi, 221 Kms from Khajuraho, 227 Kms from Bhopal Airport and 237 Kms from Bhopal. Lalitpur Railway Station has very good rail connections with major Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Saugor, Puri, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Damoh and Jhansi. Nearest Airport is located at Lalitpur. Nearest major Airports are located at Khajuraho and Bhopal.

Location

Varaha Temple, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh

Varaha Temple, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh

Varaha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Deogarh Village in Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is believed to be built in 7^th century CE. The Temple is situated in the south west corner of the fort in Deogarh Hill and located at about 2 Kms from the Jain temple complex. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east and built over a raised platform. The temple consisted of a sanctum and an entrance porch. Only the door frame, a pillar of an entrance porch and few architectural fragments remains currently. The main idol enshrined in the sanctum is kept in the sculpture shed. The main idol is a stone image of Varaha lifting Prithivi on the left arm and right arm is resting on the thigh.

His consort Lakshmi in standing posture can be seen on the left side holding the lotus flower. A naga couple in worshipping posture can be seen below. Mutilated sculptures of Garuda, Vishnu, bas relief panels of Lord Vishnu, Seshayi Vishnu with his consort  Lakshmi,  Nara Narayana and Gajendra Moksha belonged to this temple are kept in Deogarh Sculpture Shed.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 15 Kms from Jakhalaun Railway Station, 31 Kms from Lalitpur Junction Railway Station, 33 Kms from Lalitpur, 37 Kms from Lalitpur Airport, 129 Kms from Jhansi, 225 Kms from Khajuraho, 231 Kms from Bhopal Airport and 241 Kms from Bhopal. Lalitpur Railway Station has very good rail connections with major Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Saugor, Puri, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Damoh and Jhansi. Nearest Airport is located at Lalitpur. Nearest major Airports are located at Khajuraho and Bhopal.

Location

Kaleshwari Group of Monuments, Lavana – History

Kaleshwari Group of Monuments, Lavana – History

Lavana was an ancient settlement called as Lavaneshwari in ancient times. The temples and ruins in the Kaleshwari group of monuments are traditional associated with the characters of Mahabharata. The original Shiva temple with its sanctum & sabha mandapa was built in the 10^th century CE. The temple fell into ruins later. The Kund (reservoir) was constructed in the 11^th  or 12^th century CE.

The twin stepwells were built in the 14^th to 15^th century CE. This was followed by the construction of Bhim Chauri in the 14^th to 15^th century CE, Arjun Chauri and Hidimba temple was built in the 15^th to 16^th century CE on the nearby hillock. All these temples are in ruins now. It is said that Mala Rana, the prince of Lunavada State, restored the Kaleshwari temple in 1549 but the inscription is worn out.

The original Shiva temple was rebuilt in reduced size and is now known as Ghummatwalu Mandir. The Shikar Madhi was built by Vakhat Singh from ruins of ancient structures in the first half of the 18^th century. The ruins were restored in the 2000s by the State Archeology Department of Gujarat and are promoted as a tourism spot.

Kaleshwari Group of Monuments, Lavana – The Group of Monuments

Kaleshwari Group of Monuments, Lavana – The Group of Monuments

The Kaleshwari group of monuments consists of nine state protected monuments maintained by the State Archeology Department of Government of Gujarat. The monuments include intricately carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a kund, structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site. The ruins are located at the foothills and on the hillock.

The Kaleshwari group of monuments are;

Kaleshwari Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/kaleshwari-temple-lavana-gujarat.html

Arjunchori:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/arjunchori-lavana-gujarat.html

Bhimchori:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/bhimchori-lavana-gujarat.html

Ghummatwalu Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/ghummatwalu-temple-lavana-gujarat.html

Hidimba Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/hidimba-temple-lavana-gujarat.html

Shikar Madhi:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/shikar-madhi-lavana-gujarat.html

Hidimba Kund:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/hidimba-kund-lavana-gujarat.html

Sasu ni Vav:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/sasu-ni-vav-lavana-gujarat.html

Vahu ni Vav:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/06/vahu-ni-vav-lavana-gujarat.html

Sculpture Gallery:

There is a sculpture gallery housing well preserved sculptures found in the Kaleshwari Group of Monuments.

Sasu ni Vav, Lavana, Gujarat

Sasu ni Vav, Lavana, Gujarat

Sasu ni Vav is an ancient stepwell located in Lavana Village in Khanpur Taluk in Mahisagar District of Gujarat, India. This stepwell is considered as part of the Kaleswari group of monuments. The stepwell is called as Mother in Law’s stepwell in English. The stepwell is one of the protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

There are two stepwells namely Sasu ni Vav and Vahu ni Vav to the north-west of Kund. As per legend, they were built by a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law. It is said that the mother-in-law denied water to her daughter-in-law from her stepwell, so the daughter-in-law built her own stepwell. She built a longer but narrower stepwell which offended her mother-in-law, so she cursed the water with impurity.

History

These stepwells were built in the Nanda style since it has only one entrance. These stepwells are believed to be built in the 14^th or 15^th century CE and are richly decorated with intricate sculptures. Their iconography is found similar to the Rani ki Vav. Hence, these stepwells can be dated to 10^th century CE also.

The Step Well

Sasu ni Vav is broader and four storied while Vahu ni Vav is narrower and two storied. The stepwell is constructed on east – west axis such that the water well lies at the western end. The structure is built with sandstones. The stepwell has four kutas (pavilion towers) and four mandapas supported by four pilasters without any pillars. The pilasters have monolithic shafts and are of Ruchaka type. There are about 40 pilasters overall. Each pilaster has three brackets at the top in orthogonal axes.

There are two brackets on the upper periphery of the circular hollow shaft of the well at the end of the trail. There are niches on both side walls of the mandapa with sculptures of water gods and deities in each mandapa. Notable sculptures are Lajja Gauri, Shitala, Navagrahas, Dasavathara, Seshayee Vishnu, Saptamatrikas, Saptharishis, Vaishnavi, Makara and snakes etc. The walls on both sides along the downward progression were totally devoid of any ornamentation.

Connectivity

The stepwell is located at about 700 metres from Lavana Bus Stop, 16 Kms from Malpur, 18 Kms from Khanpur, 26 Kms from Lunavada, 36 Kms from Modasa Railway Station, 37 Kms from Modasa, 134 Kms from Ahmedabad Airport and 144 Kms from Ahmedabad. Lavana is situated on Lunavada to Modasa route. The stepwell is well connected to Lunavada by buses.

Location | Photos