Hiriyur Teru Malleshvara Temple – Karnataka

Address

Hiriyur Teru Malleshvara Temple – Karnataka

T T Road, Doddakalla Sandhra,

Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District,

Karnataka 577598

Moolavar

Teru Malleshvara

Introduction

• Location: Hiriyur Town, Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India.
• Deity: Lord Shiva (Teru Malleshvara)
• Famous As: Dakshina Kashi
• Access: All buses from Bangalore traveling towards Hubli, Belgaum, Davanagere, and Bellary pass through Hiriyur.

Puranic Significance:

• The temple was constructed around 1466 CE during the reign of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.
• Belavadi Hema Reddy Mallamma, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, lived in Hiriyur. She made an annual pilgrimage to Varanasi on foot, a journey she undertook with great devotion. As she grew older, Mallamma prayed to Lord Shiva, expressing her inability to continue the journey.
• Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared in her dream, assuring her that she need not travel to Varanasi to seek his presence. He promised to reside in Hiriyur, manifesting in a cylindrical grinding stone (referred to as Oralukallu) used in households.
• Mallamma devotedly worshipped this stone, which became known as Teru Malleshwara, signifying Lord Shiva’s presence in it.

Special Features:

• Temple Orientation: The temple is oriented towards the west, with a five-tiered rajagopuram (monumental entrance tower) located on the southern side.
• Outer Prakaram (Courtyard):
  • Features include Nandi (the sacred bull), Balipeedam (sacrificial altar), and Deepa Sthamba (lamp post), all facing towards the sanctum.
  • Deepa Sthamba: Approximately 45 feet tall, with a pavilion at the top housing a Nandi idol and eight large iron lamps (two in each direction), which are lit once a year.
• Temple Structure:
  • The temple comprises the sanctum, antrala, navaranga, and mukha mandapa.
  • Mukha Mandapa: Features entrances on three sides. The ceiling is adorned with murals depicting scenes from the Shiva Purana and the Ramayana.
  • Navaranga: Contains metallic idols of Chandramouleswara and Uma Maheshwara, seated on Nandi.
  • Antrala Entrance: Guarded by dvarapalas (door guardians), and the lintel of the doorway features an image of Ganesha.
• Presiding Deity: The sanctum enshrines Teru Malleshvara in the form of a Linga, a sacred representation of Lord Shiva.

Festivals:

• Teru Malleshvara Jatra: An annual festival celebrated for a week, starting from the full moon day in the month of Magha (January-February).

References

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2022/04/teru-malleshvara-temple-hiriyur-karnataka.html

Century/Period

1466 CE

Managed By

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Nearest Bus Station

Hiriyur.

Nearest Railway Station

Chitradurga

Nearest Airport

Bengaluru

Location on Map

lightuptemple