Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The Interior of the Main Temple - Madhukeshwara temple is facing East direction. This temple was construction in Kadamba style architecture. The main shrine of this temple or the Garba grihahas a very simple structure. The entry to this ancient temple compound gives you a feeling of entering some museum of temples and idols. From ornately carved pillars to a simple-most sanctum sanctorum, each part of this temple is a reflection of the style of architecture followed by the kingdoms that ruled Banavasi and worshipped Madhukeshwara Linga. 

Dual Pillars - Unlike the other temples in South India, Madhukeshwara Temple has two pillars facing the mandapa of the main shrine. One of them is meant to light the lamps and is called Deepastambha. The other one is quite unusual with a stepped pyramidal base. A side of the steps also has an idol of Indra facing the garbhgriha of the main shrine of Madhukeshwara Mandir. The steps, just like the other walls of most temples are covered with the figures of a linga followed by Nandi. 

Basava/Nandi Mandapa - The ardhmandapa (porch) of the temple is followed by a 7 feet tall Nandi (bull) with a tilted head. One eye of the bull looks straight into the sanctum sanctorum at the Shivalinga. The other eye gives a diagonal Drishti (look) through the pillars to the adjacent temple of Adishakti or Parvati. The extensively carved Nandi is surrounded by carved granite pillars none of which are exactly similar.  

Nritya Mantapa - This mandapa is a unique feature and evidence of the age-old Devadasi system. According to a Kannada folklore, a king tried to divert sage Allama from his asceticism by making a Devdasi (dancer) perform in front of him. The dancer named Maye tried her best to seduce Allama but in vain. This saint’s visit to this temple is quite important as he ended up being a guru to Basavanna. He turned out to be a social reformer who became the founder of the Lingayat community. Currently, Lingayat, a community of Shaivites, is an important caste in Karnataka. The architecture of the mandapa with a number of black stone pillars and benches can make you visualize some dancing scenes of the bygone era. 

Triloka Shrine or Shila Mantap - Before entering the Mahamandapa, a little mandap on the left of its entrance is bound to catch your attention. This intricately carved stone Mantapa is a representation of Triloka, the three worlds as per Hindu Mythology. The base is the Patal Lok netherworld (underworld) supported by a snake denoting its important part called ‘Nag Loka’. The middle part consists of the carved figures of various incarnations of Gods on earth. Lord Shiva and Parvati can be seen gracefully sitting on the Kailash Mountain. The shikhara of the mandap has lord Indra with his consort and other celestial dancers and devtas. This charming creation requires your time to admire and understand it. Do not miss out on the figures and carvings on its sides too. 

Adimadhava-Madhusudan Avatara of Vishnu - As you enter the Darshana mandapa, a tall idol of Vishnu can be seen on your right. This uniquely carved idol of the deity is supposed to be the leading deity of the temple after whom it is named. Mythology suggests the manifestation of the Madhusudan avatar of Vishnu was witnessed here. And thus was laid the foundation of the temple. This idol is extremely artistic and the fine sculpting of it can leave you awestruck. 

The Madhu(Honey) Linga - The usual color of a linga is black and at some places, it’s a white marble stone. However, this 64 inches tall linga has a honey-colored stone. Honey is believed to a universal symbol of friendship owing to its sweet taste. Though this belief may be irrelevant in today’s world, the unique color of this shiva linga attracts thousands of travelers to this Banavasi Temple. The linga is covered with a silver face signifying a human form of the otherwise formless Madhukeshwara. The linga can be seen and touched only during the morning rituals. 

Parvati Temple - Goddess Parvati, who is the wife Shiva has her own identity. There are legends praising her shakti or ‘power’ which helped the Trilokas when all the other deities and Gods failed. Shakti followers have a separate sect in India and this temple welcomes both Shiva and Shakti devotees here. During the auspicious Navaratri days, the goddess is decorated in her different forms on each of the 10 days. When we visited, the goddess was in her Katyayini form. The mandapa was full of local ladies chanting the Katyayani Chalisa. This made the only non-commercial temple of south India more divine. The spiritual dose of this scene would leave your heart filled with contentment and your mind with peace.

The Deities on the Wall of the Main Shrine - Most of the shrines in this temple complex have their walls depicting the scene of the sanctum sanctorum of the Madhukeshwara shrine. That is, a shiva linga faced by a Nandi. On the other hand, the mandapa walls of the main shrine can visually be identified as a late construction. They have an intricately carved out series of different deities venerated in this region. It also includes the dashavtar of Lord Vishnu and certain kinds of Lord Ganesh.

The Temple Courtyard - The entrance and the Annadanam Hall: A wide lane bordered by old-fashioned houses leads to the east-facing entrance of Madhukeshwara Temple. The gopuram or the gate is much damaged but the twin elephants on each side welcome the devotees to a huge compound of the temple complex.

Museum of Excavated Artifacts and Inscription - The excavation project of ASI has led to some very important discoveries about Banavasi. Along the left side of the entrance is a small area wherein the artifacts and inscriptions have been displayed for the public. Though you can’t enter inside, you can have a look from the barred railings.

Stone Cot or Raghunatha Cot - This brilliant stone creation is made up of 10 stones joined together to make a bed. King Raghunatha gifted it to the temple. Since then, it is used during the Kadambotsva and other festivals in Banavasi. The idols are carried or displayed on this beautifully carved cot. The ceiling of the cot has a design of a lotus whereas the pillars have various mythological animals carved out of them.

Devtas and Their Consorts - This unusual idea of placing the devtas along with their consorts and vehicles make this temple one of its kind. Moreover, they are also facing a certain direction following the concept of cosmology in Hinduism. There is Indra with Airavat (an elephant), Lord Angi with a goat, Lord Kubera with Nar, Yama riding on his buffalo, Varuna with a crocodile, Vayu with a spotted deer and so on. You can stroll around and can improve your knowledge about the devtas and their vahana. Recognizing them in each of the small temples around the complex. Start from the Stone cot and move clockwise. 

Mahanaga from the 2nd Century - Among all the temples around the complex there a sculpture of a tactfully designed Naga coiled in the shape of horizontal eights. The five hoods resemble more to the petals of a shoe flower. This is supposed to have been gifted by Sivaskanda Nagashri as per the Prakrit inscriptions below the stone. It is believed that the kingdom of Kadamba was also called Nagarakhanda for a brief period and Kadambas, the nagas. There are strange historic shifts in the identity of this place as per the researches by historians.

Narsimha and Krishna Temples - On each side of the main two shrines are the temples of Krishna and Narsimha, the avatars of Vishnu. There are hardly any idols or carvings in these temples. However, some incomplete carving on the walls of the Krishna temple is quite intriguing. 

Lingas and Idols from Around the Country - The kings of the Kadamba and the following dynasties made this temple complex a pilgrim by placing an idol or linga brought from every important pilgrim in India. There are lingas from Rameshwaram, Varanasi, Kedarnath, and Amruteshwara. Other idols include Ayodhya Rama, Vittala from Pandhripur in Maharashtra, Venkateshwara from Tirupati, Sun God from Konark and Chintamani Ganesha. In a way, visiting this temple is like visiting all the important pilgrims of India.