21-778: Balligavi a town in Shikaripura taluk Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, India , is today known as Belagami or Balagame. Its ancient names are Baligrama, Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. Dakshina Kedara means Kedarnath of the South. A place of antiquity, it is known for its ancient monuments. Balligavi is located 72 km from Shivamogga city and 21 km from Shikaripura town and 2.3 km from Shiralakoppa in Shikaripura taluk. Balli in Kannada means creeper or vine. Archaeologically, Balligavi dated from
42-705: A celestial attendant of Shiva. The 'Tripurantaka Temple (also called Tripurantakesvara or Tripurantakeshwara) was built around c. 1070 CE by the Western Chalukyas . This temple, which is in a dilapidated state, is in the historically important town of Balligavi (also called Balagamve), modern Shivamogga district , Karnataka state , India . The exterior walls of the temple have erotic sculptures on friezes . These depictions are considered rare in Chalukyan art . Being miniature in size, these are visible only upon close examination. During medieval times, Balligavi
63-517: Is a major town in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka . It is the headquarters of Shikaripur taluk and is known as the land of shivasharanas. Shikaripur is located at 14°16′N 75°21′E / 14.27°N 75.35°E / 14.27; 75.35 . It has an average elevation of 603 m (1978 ft). It lies on tropical forests of Malenadu region. Shikaripura
84-485: Is a quiet town much of whose daily routines revolve around agriculture and the famous 11th century Kedaresvara Temple and Tripurantakesvara Temple . Legend has it that Balligavi was the capital of an Asura king (demon) and hence was called Balipura (city of Bali ). The Pandavas came here while on their Vanavasa (forest sojourn) and installed the Panchalinga (five lingas ); hence the name Panchalingeswara to
105-596: Is an excellent example of a trikuta "triple towers" temple in a transitional Western Chalukya-Hoysala architecture. It is the oldest example of such a combinational style in Karnataka according to reports from the Mysore archaeological department. The temple faces east and has a stepped entrance on three sides. The entrance on the sides is a Western Chalukya idiom. The central shrine has a linga (universal symbol of Shiva) made from black marble ( Krishnashila ). The shrine to
126-476: Is different in its structure and massive in size when compared to most other vimanas. Historical evidence states that during the ninth century, Parantaka I funded covering this vimana with ornamental gold and it retains its glory even today. The Ananda Nilayam vimana of the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala , is a famous example where the gopuram of the main shrine occupies a very special place in
147-482: Is one of the junction to connect north karnataka to Malenadu. And the river kumadvati flows from the town and nearest dams anjanapura and ambligola, nearest tourist places balligavi,udutadi,jogfalls,lionsafori,agumbe,koodachadri,kavaledurga fort,bhadra river project, gajnur dam , sakrebaylu. As of 2001 India census , Shikaripura had a population of 31,508. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Shikaripura had an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than
168-622: Is the tallest structure of the temple, as it is in the shikhara towers of temples in West and North India. By contrast, in large South Indian temples, it is typically smaller than the great gatehouses or gopuram , which are the most immediately striking architectural elements in a temple complex. A vimana is usually shaped as a pyramid, consisting of several stories or tala . Vimana are divided in two groups: jati vimanas that have up to four tala and mukhya vimana that have five tala and more. In North Indian temple architecture texts,
189-429: The vimana are very well decorated with sculptures of Tandaveshwara , Varaha , Uma Narasimha , Bhairava etc. ( avatars of Shiva and Vishnu) and the sukanasi of all three towers still exist. The western shrine is the oldest dating from the 7th or 8th century. Attached to the vestibule that connects the shrines is a well designed open mantapa with two rows of pillars. The outer row of pillars are 16 faced while
210-863: The Satavahana - Kadamba era and the Chaturmukha linga (four faced linga ) here is in that style. The area came under the Banavasi province of the Kadamba Dynasty in 4-5th century AD. Important Kadamba inscriptions like the Talagunda inscriptions, near Balligavi have been collected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The golden age of Balligavi was during the rule of the Western Chalukya Empire during
231-538: The sanctum sanctorum' s roofs are as famous as the temple complex itself. The Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur and the Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram , both 11th-century constructions of the Imperial Cholas , have massive and high vimana s, which is atypical in the south. These perhaps were intended to compete with the height of northern sikhara . At this time the usual gopuram
SECTION 10
#1732772399078252-470: The 10th-12th centuries. The earliest inscription mentioning the name Balligavi is a 685 CE Badami Chalukya inscription. Balligavi during these times had six mathas , three pura s "extensions", five vidyapitha s "places of learning", and seven Brahmapuris . The mathas belonged to Shaivas , Vaishnavas , Jainas and Buddhists . The Kedareshwara matha belonging to the Kalamukha Shaivas and
273-642: The Kodiya matha was well known and had the patronage of the Hoysala emperors , marking the place as one of religious activity. Records also indicate that an ancient University existed here. The town also had 54 temples and supported 60,000 residents during that time. Several Inscriptions reveas that it was very prominent and stronghold capital of the Vira Bananju warrior merchant community, i.e. modern day Banajigara or Banajiga or Balija community. Today, Balligavi
294-401: The inner row of pillars are lathe turned with bell shaped mouldings, a style popular with both Western Chalukys and Hoysalas. The ceiling of the mantapa is flat and the inner ceiling is well carved with lotuses in them. The central ceiling has the carving of Tandaveshwara (dancing Shiva) with eight dikpalakas (guards). The entrance to the shrine which faces east has a Nandi , the bull and
315-570: The national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 75%, and female literacy was 67%. In Shikarpur, 12% of the population were under 6 years of age. Vimana (architectural feature) Vimana is the structure over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum in the Hindu temples of South India and Odisha in East India. In typical temples of Odisha using the Kalinga style of architecture, the vimana
336-402: The outer most wall having four gopura , one each on every side, situated exactly in the center of each wall. This will continue to next tier depending upon the size of the temple. The sanctum sanctorum and its towering roof (the central deity's shrine) are also called the vimana . Generally, these do not assume as much significance as the outer gopuram , with the exception of a few temples where
357-412: The south has a linga called Brahma and the shrine to the north has a statue of Janardhana ( Vishnu ). The temple's outside plan is in "staggered-square" style with many projections and recesses which is a Hoysala design. The outer walls of the open mandapa (hall) have carvings of women wearing fine jewellery. Two Hoysala emblems were added in 1060 CE by Vinayaditya . The superstructure (tower) of
378-608: The superstructure over the garbhagriha is called a shikhara . However, in South Indian Hindu architecture texts, the term shikhara means a dome-shaped crowning cap above the vimana . A typical Hindu temple in Dravidian style have gopuram in the four cardinal directions i.e. East - main entrance, North and south - side entrances, West - only opened on auspicious days where it is believed we will go directly to Heaven. The temple's walls are typically square with
399-616: The well known temple here. Linga is the universal symbol of Shiva . Balligavi is also the birthplace of the great Virashaiva saint Allama Prabhu and is closely associated with Vachana poet Akka Mahadevi who was born in nearby Udugani (also known as Udutadi). She was a contemporary of Allama Prabhu and Basavanna , the founder of the Virashaiva movement. Balligavi is also the birthplace of Shantala Devi, queen of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana . Many famous Hoysala sculptors like Dasoja, Malloja, Nadoja, Siddoja hailed from here. This
420-469: Was a relatively small structure over a gateway, and the development of the very tall gopuram of later centuries was perhaps influenced by these Chola vimana . This trend was well underway in Vijayanagara architecture , and has remained the case subsequently. The kanaka-sabai (Golden Stage) at Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram , is another example. This shrine is entirely covered with golden plates, but
441-571: Was a seat of learning to multiple religious faiths and was home to many monuments and structures built by the Chalukyas. More than 80 medieval inscriptions have been discovered in Balligavi and belong to the Hindu ( Shaiva , Vaishnava ), Jain and Buddhist traditions. These inscriptions describe, among other things, the building of temples. Shikaripura Shikaripur or Shikaripura
SECTION 20
#1732772399078#77922