Govindanahalli Panchalingeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Address

Govindanahalli Panchalingeshwara Temple, Govindanahally, Karnataka 571423

Diety

Panchalingeshwara Amman: Parvati

Introduction

The Panchalingeshwara Temple situated at Govindanahalli which is about 4 kms from Kikkeri, Karnataka. It is the only Panchakuta temple which is constructed by the Hoysalas during AD by the famous sculptor Ruvari Mallitamma. The Panchalingeshwara Temple has 5 shrines -Tatpurusheshwara, Aghoreshwara, Ishanyeshwara, Vamadeveshwara and Sadyojateshwara.

Puranic Significance

According to art historian Gerard Foekema, the Panchalingeshwara temple is a rare example of a panchakuta (lit, five shrines with five towers) construction in Hoysala architecture. The temple is facing East direction and the whole temple complex runs parallel to North South Direction with each kuta facing East Direction. There are two Sukhanasi entrance to the temple and each of the these sukhanasi’s house the Nandi which are beautifully carved. The Dwarapalakas at the entrance are with notable workmanship and resemble the Dwarapalakas present at Halebeedu but smaller in scale. The entire wall facing the East is decorated with perforation so that there is enought lighting within the temple complex. Enter the temple, we can find three Nandi’s present inside the temple and five Lingas. Apart from the Lingas, one can find the entire family of Shiva with Parvathi, Subramanya and Ganesha on the doorway of Sri.Agoreshwara diety. On the outer walls of the Garbha Griha one can find Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardhini, Shiva Parvathi idol housed in smaller Gopuras and each of these Gopuras are of different shape and size. Also one can find the twin snakes, the male snake bearing seven heads and the female snake bearing five heads, this is quite unique as this kind of pair is available only here. The Dashavathara of Vishnu being sculpted on the upper railings with Mandakini figures being carved on the junction between the pillar and wall. The other notable idols around the temple are the Vishnu Avataras, Shiva, Parvathi, Brahma, Ganesha and the dancing Saraswathi is extremely rare to spot in the Hoysala temples. One can also note the various Gopuras being sculpted around the temple and each Gopura is unique and there is no repetition at all. The view of the temple from the North West Corner and North East Corner is the best to get the view of Pancha Kuta.