Balligavi Kedareshvara Temple, Karnataka

Address

Balligavi Kedareshvara Temple, SH1, Shivamogga, Balligavi Karnataka 577428

Diety

Kedareshvara

Introduction

The Kedareshvara temple (also spelt Kedareshwara or Kedaresvara) is located in the town of Balligavi near Shikaripura in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state, India. Dotted with centres of learning Balligavi was an important city during the 11th – 12th century Western Chalukya rule. The term Anadi Rajadhani (ancient capital) used in medieval inscriptions to describe this town tells a tale of great antiquity. Art historian Adam Hardy classifies the style involved in the construction of the temple as “Later Chalukya, non mainstream, relatively close to mainstream”. He dates the temple to late 11th century, with inscriptional evidence of additions made up to 1131, by the Hoysalas during their control over the region. The building material used is soapstone. The sculptures are in dilapidated condition. The Archaeological Survey of India classifies the style of architecture as distinctly Hoysala. The Hoysala ruling family was during this period a powerful feudatory of the imperial Western Chalukya Empire, gaining the trappings of independence only from the period of King Vishnuvardhana (1108-1152 A.D). The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India

Special Features

The cella (garbhagriha) in the shrines to the west and south contain the Shivalinga (the universal symbol of the Hindu god Shiva) and the cella to the north has an image of the god Vishnu. The temple is connected with the legend of demon Bali according to some lithic records. In its heyday, the temple attracted a large number of followers of the Kalamukha sect of Shaivism. A four faced image of the god Brahma, which at one time may have been inside the temple, is on display in a museum within the temple complex