Trikuteshwara

Trikuteshwara Temple Complex at Gadag near Hubli-Dharwad(North Karnataka)

The beautifully-carved Trikuteshwara temple [cite web
url=http://www.templenet.com/Karnataka/trikgada.html
title=Trikuteshwara Temple at Gadag near Dharwar(Karnataka)
publisher=
accessdate=2008-08-18] is located in the town of Gadag, 50 km south east of Hubli in Karnataka, India. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, and has three lingams mounted on the same stone. There is a shrine dedicated to Saraswathi in this temple and it has nicely carved columns. The temple dates back to the Kalyani Chalukyas who ruled this region from around 1050 to 1200 CE, during which time about 50 temples were built.

The Badami Chalukyas were exponents of early architectural achievements in Deccan. Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal were their centers of art. They were succeeded by the Rashtrakutas and the Kalyani Chalukyas.

Boasts of ornate pillars with intricate sculpture. The sanctum enshrines three Shivalingams. The temple has beautifully chiseled stone screens and carved figurines. There is a shrine to Saraswati within the Trikuteshwara temple complex, with exquite stone columns.

The oldest complex Trikuteshwar temple.I was astonished to have the glimpse of the temple. The temple dates back to the Kalyani Chalukyas who ruled this region from around 1050 to 1200 CE, during which time about 50 temples were built. This temple architecture was planned by the greatest architect of time Amara Shilpi Jakanachari. The temple complex is faboulus. As we walked into the temple,we felt as though we entered a centralized AC building.

Inclined slabs that serve as balcony seats are decorated with figurative panels, and are overhung by steeply angled eaves. Inside the hall, the columns have figures arranged in shallow niches. The east Sanctorium with three lingas representing Brahma,Maheshwara and Vishnu. while the one to the south is dedicated to the goddess Saraswati.

Saraswathi temple. It has been vandalised by some miscreants in the early age and hence pooja is not offered here. But the architecture is just Superb. Just by the side is another temple dedicated to three devis- Saraswathi, Gayathri and Sharada. Only the statues are of the new age but the temple is in old architecture.

A number of late Chalukyan monuments (11th-12th centuries) in the city indicate its historic past. Other temples in Gadag are those dedicated to Someshwara and Veera Narayana. In the middle of the city stands the Someshvara Temple. Though abandoned and now in a dilapidated state, its intricate carvings are fairly well preserved. The doorways to the hall have densely carved figures and foliation.

ee also

* Gadag
* Lakkundi
* Hubli
* Annigeri
* Sudi

External links

*http://experts.about.com/e/t/tr/trikuteshwara.htm
*http://www.indiantemples.com/Karnataka/trikgada.html
*http://www.indiantemples.com/Karnataka/kalyani_chalukya.html