Jalasangvi Kalmeshwar Temple, Karnataka

Address

Jalasangvi Kalmeshwar Temple SH 75, Jalasangvi, Karnataka 585353

Diety

Kalmeshwar

Introduction

Jalasangvi or Jalasangi, a small village in Karnataka’s Bidar District, is an important place of Kalyan Chalukya art and architecture. The Ishwara temple there, built by the Later Chaluklyas who ruled from Kalyan (now Basavakalyan) from the 10th century CE to 13th century CE, is in a fairly well-preserved condition. It has remarkable ruins sculptures of Apsaras decorating the temple’s outer walls. Their features, postures and carvings are fascinating from the point of development of sculptural art. Apsara sculptures are found in almost all temples of the region.

Puranic Significance

The Kalyan Chalukya period witnessed a prolific development of temple architectural activities. The kings not only inherited traditions from their predecessors, but also contributed to the development of rich architecture and sculpture. Karnataka’s Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur and Yadgiri districts (entire North Karnataka) have a good number of temples built during the Kalyan Chalukya regime. The Jalasangvi Ishwara temple (circa 1,110 CE) was built during the reign of Vikramaditya VI (1076-1226 CE). He was a great patron of art and culture. His period witnessed temple constructions in a prolific manner. The period was rich in literature and philosophical compilations. Kashmiri poet Bilhana was in his kingdom and wrote Vikramankadeva Charitam. Vijnaneshwara, who compiled Mitakshara (a Hindu law code), also lived in his kingdom.