Moole Shankareshvara Temple, Karnataka

Address

Moole Shankareshvara Temple, Turuvekere, Bediswaste, Karnataka 572227

Diety

Shankareshvara

Introduction

The Shankareshvara temple (also spelt “Shankareshwara” or “Sankaresvara”), dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva is located in Turuvekere, a small town in the Tumkur district, Karnataka state, India. Turuvekere, founded as an Agraharam town (a place of learning) in the 13th century is located about 77 miles from the state capital Bangalore. The temple was built around 1260 A.D. during the rule of the Hoysala Empire King Narasimha III. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple has all the basic elements of a standard Hoysala temple and comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha) which is connected to a closed hall by a square vestibule (sukhanasi). The entrance into the hall from the outside is through a porch (mukhamantapa). Typically, a closed hall in a Hoysala temple has no windows. The porch consists of an awning supported by two decorative half pillars with two parapets on both sides. The shrine has a tower (shikhara). The ceiling of the closed hall is supported by four lathe turned pillars. This is a norm in all Hoysala temples. These pillars divide the ceiling into nine highly decorated bays. The porch with its half pillars also serves the purpose of an open hall with a single bay ceiling. The temple surrounded by small plants.