Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple: Karnataka | 16 Jan 2021

The overclouded sky impacted the annual phenomenon called Surya Majjana in Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple (Karnataka).

Location: This temple is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Meaning of the Name:
- The temple derives its name from the combination of topographical features and mythology: gavi (cave), and Gangadhareswara (shiva) means the Lord who adorns the Ganga.
Establishment:
- It is believed to have been built by Kempe Gowda I in its present form.
Architecture Features:
- Celestial Oriented Architecture: Built in Vijaynagar style, it has unique celestial oriented rock cut architecture due to which Surya majjana occurs on Sankranti every year.
  - Surya Majjana:
    - Every year on the Makar Sankranti, the sun rays fall on the Shiv linga located in the cave (gavi) making it shine for ten minutes.
- Two Monolithic Structures:
  - In the forecourt stand two monolithic structures, named Suryapana and Chandrapana - each consisting of a massive disc atop a supporting pillar.
  - They have engravings of sitting bulls on the discs face each other.
- Iconography of Shiva:
  - The compound of the temple is adorned with monolith structures associated with the iconography of Shiva - the trishula (trident) and the damaru (an hourglass-shaped, two-headed drum).
  - In between the two discs there is a brass dhwajasthambha (flagstaff), and a small cubicle housing a statue of Nandi, Shiva’s bull carrier.

Kempe Gowda I

Kempe Gowda I was a feudatory king under Vijayanagar empire.
He founded the city of Bengaluru in 1537 and named it after their family deity’s consort, Kempamma.
He is also credited with the construction of several lakes or keres for the purposes of drinking water and irrigation eg. the Dharmambudhi lake.

Other Sites in Karnataka