Balligavi

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Balligavi| skyline = Kedaresvara Temple at Balligavi Shivamogga.jpg
skyline_caption = Kedaresvara temple at Balligavi
type = village| latd = 14.3939 | longd = 75.2439
locator_position = right | state_name = Karnataka
district = Shimoga District
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Balligavi a town in Shimoga district of Karnataka state, India, is today known as Belagami or Balagamve. Its ancient names are Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. "Dakshina Kedara" means Kedarnath of the South. A place of antiquity, it is known for its ancient monuments. It is also famous as the birth place of the great Virashaiva saint Allama PrabhuAccording to the Karnataka state Gazetteer, cite web|title=Allama Prabhu: His Life, Legacy And Personality|url=http://www.shivayoga.net/literature/sharanas/allamaprabhu.html|author=H.H.Mahatapasvi Shri Kumarswamiji|publisher=Shivayogi.net|work='Prophets of Veershaivism'|accessdate=2006-11-27] and is closely associated with Vachana poetess Akka Mahadevi who was born in nearby Udugani.cite web|title=Karnataka Tourism-Religion-Veerashaiva pilgrim sites|url=http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/tourguide/|author=|publisher=www.Karnataka.com|work=|accessdate=2006-11-27] She was a contemporary of Allama Prabhu and Basavanna, the founder of the Virashaiva movement. Balligavi is also the birth place of Shantala Devi, queen of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana.cite web|title=Balligavi-An important seat of learning|url=http://www.chitralakshana.com/balligavi.html|author=U.B.Githa, Research associate|publisher=Chitralakshana|work=©Chitralakshana.com 2002|accessdate=2006-11-27] Many famous Hoysala sculptors like Dasoja, Malloja, Nadoja, Siddoja hailed from here. Today, Balligavi ("Balli" in Kannada means creeper or vine) is a quite town much of whose daily routines revolve around agriculture and the famous 11th century Kedaresvara Temple and Tripurantakesvara Temple. Balligavi is located 72 km from Shimoga city and 12 km from Shikaripura town in Shikaripura taluk.

Legend

Legend has it that Balligavi was the capital of a "Asura" king (demon) and hence was called "Balipura" (city of Bali). The Pandavas later arrived here while on their "Vanavasa" (forest dwell) and installed the "Panchalinga" (five "lingas") and hence the name Panchalingeswara to the well known temple here. "Linga" is the universal symbol of Shiva. Archaeologically Balligavi dates from the Satavahana-Kadamba era and the "Chaturmukha" "linga" (four faced "linga") here is in their style. The earliest inscription mentioning the name Balligavi is a 685 CE Badami Chalukya inscription.

Golden age

The golden age of Balligavi was during the rule of the Western Chalukyas, during the 10th century - 12th century.cite web|title=A glimpse of the lost grandeur
url=http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/jan252005/spt7.asp|author=Raghavendra Chandragutti|publisher=Deccan Herald|work=Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, January 25, 2005|accessdate=2006-11-27] Balligavi during these times had six mathas (monasteries), three "Puras" (extensions), five "Vidyapeethas" (places of learning), seven "Brahmapuris". The mathas belonged to devotees of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Jainism, Buddhism, Lord Brahma. The Kedareshwara matha belonging to the Kalamukha sect (devotees of Shiva), and Kodiya matha was well known and had the patronage of the Hoysala Kings marking the place as one of religious activity. Records also indicate that an ancient University existed here.cite web|title=Balligavi-An important seat of learning|url=http://www.chitralakshana.com/balligavi.html|author=U.B.Githa, Research associate|publisher=Chitralakshana|work=©Chitralakshana.com 2002|accessdate=2006-11-27] The town also had 54 temples and supported 60,000 residents during that time.cite web|title=A glimpse of the lost grandeur
url=http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/jan252005/spt7.asp|author=Raghavendra Chandragutti|publisher=Deccan Herald|work=Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, January 25, 2005|accessdate=2006-11-27] Earlier to the Chalukyas, the area came under the Banavasi province of the Kadambas. Important Kadamba inscriptions like the Talagunda inscriptions, near Balligavi have been collected by the Archaeological Survey of India.The Talagunda inscription gives the most plausible explanation to the birth of the Kadamba kingdom and the reasons surrounding the coronation of Mayurasharma as the founder of the kingdom, Dr. S.U. Kamath, "Concise history of Karnataka" pp 30]

Kedaresvara temple

This is an excellent example of a "trikuta" (triple towers) temple in transitional Western Chalukya - Hoysala architecture.Most Hoysala temples are either "ekakuta" (one tower), "dvikuta" (two tower) or "trikuta", " A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Gerard Foekema, pp 25] 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 the south has a "linga" called Brahma and the shrine to the north has a statue of "Janardhana" (Vishnu). The temples 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 Hoysala Vinayaditya. The Hoysala emblem depicts Sala, the mythical founder of the empire fighting a Tiger, according to historians C. Hayavadhana Rao, J. D. M. Derrett, B. R Joshi, Sala was a mythical founder of the empire, "A Concise history of Karnataka" pp 123, Dr. S.U. Kamath, cite web|title=History of Karnataka-Hoysalas and their contributions|url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm|author=Arthikaje, Mangalore|publisher=© 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com, Inc|work=|accessdate=2006-11-27] The superstructure (tower) of the "vimana" (shrine) are very well decorated with sculptures of "Tandaveshwara", "Varaha", "Uma Narasimha", "Bhairava" etc. (forms or avatar of Shiva and Vishnu) and the "sukanasi" of all three towers still exist.The "sukanasi" is the tower on top of vestibule connecting hall and shrine and this is where the hoysala emblem is located, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 22] 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 the inner row of pillars are lathe turned with bell shaped mouldings, a style popular with both Western Chalukys and Hoysalas.This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples, "A Concise History of Karnataka", pp 117, Dr. S.U. Kamath] 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 a celestial attendant of Shiva.

Notes

References

* Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples", 1996, Abhinav, ISBN 81-7017-345-0
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, "Concise history of Karnataka", 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
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External links

* [http://www.india9.com/i9show/40503.htm Balligavi, India9.com]
* [http://www.hindu.com/br/2004/11/16/stories/2004111600451400.htm "Vachanas of Akka Mahadevi"] , Article in "The Hindu", November 162004