Shree Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple

Address

Shree Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple, SH 74, Nandi, Chikkaballapura, Karnataka- 562103 India

Diety

BhohaNandeeshwara

Introduction

The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bangaloreis located in Nandi village, at the base of Nandi Hills. The Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state, India. It is dedicated to Shiva.The original temple in the complex, identified as one of the oldest temples of Karnataka, dates back to the early 9th century. The earliest inscriptions referring to the construction of the temple for Shiva, according to the Archaeological Survey of India.The simple Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple on top of the hill is famous for the huge statue of the bull in front of the temple.Nandeeshwara temple, a magnificent, large complex housing not one, but three temples in all. and was afterward renovated consecutively as in the Dravidian style of construction. The hills offer many places of interest amidst pristine forests, including the Nandi fort built by Tipu Sultan.

Puranic Significance

The temple was initially constructed during the 9th century AD by Bana Queen Ratnavali, in the Dravidian style of construction. The main temple was renovated repeatedly throughout the consecutive five dynasties under Chola, Hoysala, Pallava and Vijayanagara kings. This big temple houses three temples within the temple complex, viz., Arunachaleswara, Uma Maheshwara and BhogaNandeeshwara (Bhoganandishwara).The other portion of the temple houses a large indoor water pond, called SringeriTeertha and has rock cut steps..Traditionally Arunachaleshwara is said to represent the childhood of Shiva, BhogaNandeeshwara the Youth, and Yoga Nandeeshwara on the Hill top, the final renunciation stage.

Special Features

• BhogaNandeeshwara Temple The main temple, the BhogaNandeeshwara has a majestic Shiva Linga in the Sanctum. This temple is said to have been built by the Cholas. There is a figure of a Chola King in this temple, believed to be of RajendraChola. The pillars are covered in beautiful carvings. The Nandi Idol in front of the Sanctum in this temple is even more attractive than the one in front of the Arunachaleshwara Temple There are two additions to this temple built by the Vijayanagara rulers – the KalyanaMandapa and the TulabharaMandapa. • The Arunachaleshwara Temple The Arunachaleshwara temple, built by the Gangas, has a unique form of Lord Ganesha called SimhaGanapathi or UgraGanapathi. In front of this temple is a Nandi idol made of granite • Uma Maheshwara Temple Built by the Hoysalas, this temple has the presiding deities of Uma and Maheshwara in the Sanctum. The KalyanaMandapa is surrounded by four pillars each of which have a divine couple depicted on them – Shiva and Parvati, Brahma and Saraswathi, Vishnu and Lakshmi and Agni Deva and Swaha Devi. The pillars and walls are covered with intricate carvings typical of the Hoysalas. The structures are covered in figures of parrots, animals, creepers and divine figures.