Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Shri Kopeshwar Temple was constructed in Chalukyan style of architecture and the sanctum is conical. The Shikhara (Nagara style conical-roofed-superstructure) above the Garbagriha appears a latter addition. This temple as Swarga mandap and temple built using Stones. This mandap is round in shape and is constructed with the support of 48 well carved rounded stone pillars which are placed in three circles.Each of the 48 pillars has been carved in different shapes round,square,hexagon and octagon.Another unique feature of Swarga Mandap is that a part of the circular ceiling in the middle (with a radius of 13 feet) is open to the sky. Each pillar has Kirtimukh carved on it,each in a different style with different motifs.Some of the motifs include Peacocks,Crocodiles,Dancers,Vahanas like Garuda,deities like Vishnu,Shiva,Sadhus,Fruits and Flowers.Polish on black basalt stone shines like a mirror. It has 108 stone carved pillars in the interior and 92 elephant carvings on its exterior. The walls are beautifully carved with Gods and Goddess.

Swarg Mandap - When we enter the Svarga Mandapa, it is open to the sky with a circular opening. Looking at the sky one gets mesmerised and gets a feeling of looking at the heavens, justifyies the name Svarga Mandapa. At the periphery of the Svarga Mandapa we can see beautifully carved idols of Lord Ganesh, Karthikeya swami, Lord Kubera, Lord Yamraj, Lord Indra, etc. along with their carrier animals like peacock, mouse, elephant etc. If we stand at the center of the Svarga Mandapa we can see idols of Lord Brahma on the left hand side wall of the entrance of sabha mandap. In the center we can see the Lord Shiva Kopeshwar shivling situated in the Girbh Gruha & towards right hand side wall we can see the beautifully carved idol of Lord Vishnu. So at one glance we can see the Tridev 'Brahma Mahesh Vishnu'. A stone pedestal mounted east of the temple's southern door has a carved inscription in Sanskrit, written in Devnagari script . It mentions that the temple was renovated in 1136 by Raj Singhadev of yadav dynasty.

Inscriptions : The temple has 12 inscriptions,11 of which are in old Kannada script while one is in Devnagari.However,none of these inscriptions tell us about who built it and when. One of them dating to 1204 by Yadava Kings of Deogiri do mention the renovation of the temple, implying that the temple existed well before 12th C.E. Apart from the legend, the name might have originated from the ancient name of the town, which was "Koppam". The town witnessed two major battles. The first one took place in 1058 CE between Chalukya king Ahavamalla and Chola king Rajendra. The Chola king Rajadhiraja was killed during the battle, and coronation of second king, Rajendra Chola took place right on the battlefield. The second battle took place between Shilahara king Bhoj-II and Devagiri Yadav king Singhan-II, during which king Bhoj-II was captured by Yadavas and was kept captive on the fort of Panhala. This event is recorded in the 1213 CE inscription near the south entrance of the temple. This battle brought rule of Kolhapur branch of Shilaharas to end. There are about a dozen inscriptions on the inside and outside of this temple, out of which only a couple of inscriptions are in good condition now. These inscriptions reveal names of few kings and their officers. All these inscriptions except one are in Kannada language and script. The only Devanagari inscription in Sanskrit language is by Singhan-II and is located on the outer wall near South entrance of the temple.