Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple

By -

Bangalore, officially recognized as Bengaluru, serves as the capital city of Karnataka state in India. It holds the moniker 'Silicon Valley of India' due to the substantial presence of major IT companies. Bangalore is renowned for its agreeable climate and boasts a plethora of tourist attractions, encompassing parks, gardens, temples, and more. In this article, we will delve into the intriguing and picturesque Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, located in the Gavipuram area.

 Legend:

Legend has it that sages Gautama and Bharadwaja undertook severe penance dedicated to Lord Shiva at this sacred site.

 History:


Historical accounts suggest that this cave temple's construction dates back to the 9th century CE. Though conclusive records are lacking, local lore attributes the temple's revival and expansion in the 16th century CE to Kempe Gowda, the esteemed founder of Bangalore. This refurbishment was initiated after his release from a five-year confinement by Rama Raya.
Temple Layout:



Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple takes the form of a cave temple, housing the principal deity, Lord Shiva, who is venerated as Gangadhareshwara. The central deity is represented in the form of a Shiva Linga.

Within the confines of the cave shrine, several other significant images are housed. Notably, there is an exceptional depiction of Agni, the fire god, portrayed with two heads, three legs, and seven hands. Another striking icon is that of Shanti Ganapati, exhibiting twelve arms. Additional deities found within the cave's sanctum include Durga, Parvati, the Sapta Matrikas, Sri Devi, and Bhoo Devi.

Drawing attention in the temple complex are four substantial granite pillars situated in the courtyard. Two of these pillars bear discs symbolizing the Sun and Moon, while another pillar features the image of a trident, and the fourth displays a damaru, a small two-headed drum. In total, the courtyard incorporates 14 pillars constructed in alignment with the Vijayanagara architectural style.

Happy travelling.



Location: Gavipura, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560019, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine...
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimisham...
Read more

Hastinapuram Navapashanam Murugan Temple

By -
Image
Navapashanam is an amalgam of nine poisonous herbs. It is said to act as a remedy for all types of diseases. It is believed that the Siddhas knew the secret formula to prepare this medicinal potion.  The sculpture of Murugan from the famous Palani is claimed to be made of Navapashanam. Similarly, there is a lesser-known temple near Chennai, which has a Navapashanam Murugan. In Hastinapuram near Chrompet in the southern outskirts of Chennai, in a congested lane called Masjid Street, this tiny temple of Bala Murugan is situated. Murugan, made of Navapashanam, is the presiding deity.  Jalakandeeswara Linga, Meenakshi, and the Siddha who found this temple are the other Murtis found in the temple. Happy travelling.
Read more