Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple

About

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is a 9th-century monument dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the oldest inscriptions, it was built during the Nolamba Dynasty. They were installed by the ruler of Nolamba, Nolambadiraja, and Govinda III, the emperor of Rashtrakuta. There are also copper plates of Jayateja and Dattiya, who were the Bana Rulers in the early 9th-century. Later on, the temple came under the control of various dynasties that ruled South India after the Nolamba Dynasty; some of them being the Ganga, Chola, Hoysala, and the Vijayanagara Dynasties. The rulers of the Mysore Kingdom and the Chikaballapura chiefs controlled or ruled the region in the post-medieval era. The British took over the area in 1799 after the death of Tipu Sultan.

The temple complex was built in the 9th-century and is an illustration of the Dravidian/ Hoysala type of architecture. The complex has two main shrines, the Arunachaleswara and Bhoga Nandeeshwar. Aunachaleswara was built by the Gangas belonging to Talakad and is situated to the south of the complex, while the Bhoga Nandeeshwar was constructed by the Cholas and is located to the north. Bhoga Nandeeshwar shrine has a sculpture that is believed to be built in the honor of the Chola King, King Rajendra.

There is another small shrine dedicated to Uma-Maheshwara. This shrine has a Kalyan mantapa, or a marriage alters which is supported by intricately carved black stone pillars. These pillars have reliefs that depict mythological stories about Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, the Fire God, Lord Brahma.

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The shrines have pilasters on the outer walls, and the stone windows are decorated with Hindu deities. The two major/ main shrines have a sanctum, a mantapa, a Sukanasi, Shikharas, a large lingam, and a pavilion each with a sculpture of Nandi facing in the direction of the shrines. A granite pillared hall lies in between the two major shrines. The pillars possess relief structures of maidens attending the Gods and the Goddesses. It is believed that the Arunachaleswara temple represents the childhood stage of Lord Shiva while the Bhoga Nandeeswara shrine represents the youth of Lord Shiva.

The third shrine, the Uma-Maheshwara shrine, represents the third stage – the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There are also two smaller shrines devoted to Devi who is considered as the female form of divinity.