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The document summarizes the history and details of the Halasuru Someshwara Temple in Bangalore, India. It is one of the oldest temples in the city dating back to the Chola period and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Major renovations and additions were made during the Vijayanagara Empire under King Hiriya Kempe Gowda II. According to legends, kings from local dynasties discovered treasures and were instructed in dreams to build the temple. The temple architecture follows Vijayanagara style with a square inner sanctum surrounded by halls with detailed sculptures.

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Manasa Krishna
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29 views

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The document summarizes the history and details of the Halasuru Someshwara Temple in Bangalore, India. It is one of the oldest temples in the city dating back to the Chola period and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Major renovations and additions were made during the Vijayanagara Empire under King Hiriya Kempe Gowda II. According to legends, kings from local dynasties discovered treasures and were instructed in dreams to build the temple. The temple architecture follows Vijayanagara style with a square inner sanctum surrounded by halls with detailed sculptures.

Uploaded by

Manasa Krishna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social Connect and Responsibility – 21SCR36 2022-23/ODD

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Plantation and adoption of tree

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Heritage Walk and Crafts Corner
1.HERITAGE WALK TO Halasuru Someshwara Temple

INTRODUCTION:-

Halasuru Someshwara Temple is located in the neighborhood of Halasuru in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
It is one of the old temples in the city dating back to the Chola period, it is dedicated to the Hindu god
Shiva. Major additions or modifications were made during the late Vijayanagara Empire period under the
rule of Hiriya Kempe Gowda II.

Someshwara temples were built by the Chalukyas of Kalyani in Karnataka. During that period we see
Tamil inscriptions as a few Mudaliars (Tuluva Vellala) were settled. These Mudaliars, originally Tulu
speaking, had settled in parts of TN especially Arcot.

HISTORY OF HALASURU SOMESHWARA TEMPLE:-

The first British military station was set up in Halasuru in 1807. There used to be a jackfruit orchard
near the Ulsoor Lake, and the Kannada name for jackfruit being 'Halasina Hannu', the area came to be
known as Halasuru. During the British rule, the name was anglicised to 'Ulsoor'.

The Shiva temple -Someshwara is another name for Shiva -is, however, one of the oldest temples in and
around the city and is believed to be in existence since the Chola period. That dates it to a millennium
ago. “The original garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) dates back to the Chola era.

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In the "Gazetter of Mysore" (1887), Benjamin Lewis Rice describes a legend behind the consecration of
the temple. Kempe Gowda, while on a hunt, rode far away from his capital Yalahanka. Being tired, he
rested under a tree and fell asleep. The local deity Someshwara appeared to him in a dream and instructed
him to build a temple in his honor using buried treasure. In return the chieftain would receive divine
favor. Kempe Gowda found the treasure and dutifully completed the temple.

According to another version of the legend, King Jayappa Gowda (1420-1450 CE) from a minor dynasty
of the Yelahanka Nada Prabhus was hunting in a forest near the present Halasuru area, when he felt tired
and relaxed under a tree. In a dream, a man appeared before him and told him that a linga (universal
symbol of the god Shiva) was buried under the spot where he was sleeping. He was instructed to retrieve
it and build a temple. Jayappa found the treasure and initially built the temple out of wood.

Another account attributes the temple to the Chola Dynasty with later renovations made by the Yelahanka
Nada Prabhus.

Temple plan

According to Michell, the temple plan follows many of the basic elements of Vijayanagara architecture
though at a lower scale. The temple has a square sanctum (garbhagriha) which is surrounded by a narrow
passageway. The sanctum is connected to a closed mantapa (hall) whose walls are decorated with
pilasters and sculptures in frieze. The closed mantapa is connected to a spacious open mantapa consisting
of four large projecting "bays" (area between four pillars). The piers leading to the sanctum and those
facing outward from the open mantapa are the standard Yali (mythical beast) pillars. The eastern gopuram
is a well executed, typical 16th century structure.

The brahma samba is lactated in the east direction of the temple which is about 18 feet in height and has
the base radius of 2 feet. There are several notable sculptures and decorative features in the complex. An
impressive pillar (kambha or nandi) pillar) stands near the tall tower over the entrance gate (gopura). The
tower itself exhibits well sculptured images of gods and goddesses from Hindu mythology. The open
mantapa consists of forty eight pillars with carvings of divinities in frieze. To the north is the navagraha
temple (shrine for the nine planets) with twelve pillars, each pillar representing a saint (rishi). The

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entrance to the sanctum exhibits sculptures of two "door keepers" (dvarapalakas). Other notable works of
art include sculptures that depict King Ravana lifting Mount Kailash in a bid to appease the god Shiva,
Durga slaying Mahishasura (a demon), images of the Nayanmar saints (Tamil Shaivaite saints),
depictions of the Girija Kalyana (marriage of Parvati to the god Shiva), the saptarishis (seven sages of
Hindu lore).[2] Recent excavations at the temple site has revealed the existence of a temple tank (kalyani)
which could be 1200 years old.

Gallery:-

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SUMMARY:

It is one of the old temples in the city dating back to the Chola period, it is dedicated to the Hindu god
Shiva. Major additions or modifications were made during the late Vijayanagara Empire period under the
rule of Hiriya Kempe Gowda II. Someshwara temples were built by the Chalukyas of Kalyani in
Karnataka.

CONCLUSION:

Bangalore has some of the beautiful historical temples which are lost in the bustling IT city of Bangalore
as we know today. Someshwara temple looks impressive and that are rich in culture and history. The
architecture and artistry in the building and carvings are magnificent. The gate to the temple is really
beautiful.

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