![Large open mantapa with lathe turned pillars leading to the sanctum in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Large_open_mantapa_with_lathe_turned_pillars_leading_to_the_sanctum_in_the_Harihareshwara_temple_at_Harihar.JPG)
Harihareshwara Temple is a Hindu temple situated in
Harihar
Harihara ( also called ''Harihar'') is a city in Davanagere District in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Harihara Taluk. Harihara is famous for Harihareshwara temple, also known as "Dakshina Kashi", a ...
,
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
state,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The temple was built in c. 1223–1224 CE by Polalva, a commander and minister of the
Hoysala Empire King
Vira Narasimha II
Vira Narasimha II ( kn, ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ ವೀರ ನರಸಿಂಹ) (r. 1220–1234) was a king of the Hoysala Empire. During his reign the Hoysalas gained much influence in the affairs of the Tamil country. He defeated the Kadavas and P ...
. In 1268 CE, Soma, a commander of King
Narasimha III
Narasimha III (r. 12631292). During his rule over the Hoysala Empire, internal feud between the king and his brother Ramanatha ruling from Kannanur came to the forefront. He also had to face invasions from the Seuna who attacked his regal capit ...
of the same dynasty made some additions.
The temple houses the deity
Harihara
Harihara (Sanskrit: हरिहर) is the fused sattvika characterisation of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) from Hindu theology. Hari is the form of Vishnu, and Hara is the form of Shiva. Harihara is also known as Shankaranarayana ("Shankara" ...
, a fusion of the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
gods
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
and
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
. The image of the deity is a fusion of the right vertical half of Shiva and left vertical half of Vishnu.
[Cousens (1926), p. 93] The image holds in its right hand, the attributes of Shiva and in the left hand, those of Vishnu.
Legend
According to a Hindu legend, a
demon named Guha (or Guhasura) once lived in these parts and a considerable surrounding region, from Uchchangi Durga in the east, Govinahalu in the south, Mudanur in the west and Airani in the north was under his control. Guha successfully appeased Hindu god
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
with his penance and obtained a boon, by virtue of which, it would be impossible for either ''Hari'' (Vishnu) or ''Hara'' (Shiva) to singly kill him. Guha then became a regular tormentor of gods and humans alike. In order to overcome Brahma's boon and eliminate Guha, Vishnu and Shiva together took the form of Harihara (a fusion), came down to earth and killed the demon. The descent of the incarnation on earth is said to be at nearby Kudalur, at the confluence of the rivers
Tungabhadra and Haridra.
[Rice B.L. (1897), p. 522]
Temple plan
![Inner mantapa with lathe turned pillars in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Inner_mantapa_with_lathe_turned_pillars_in_the_Harihareshwara_temple_at_Harihar.JPG)
The temple is constructed in a staggered square ''
mantapa
A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.
Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...
'' (hall) plan, typical of
Hoysala constructions. Therefore, the outer wall of the ''mantapa'' shows many projections and recesses.
[Foekema (1996), p. 22] The wall of the ''mantapa'' is a parapet wall resting on which are half pillars that support the outer ends of the roof (
cornice).
[Foekema (1996), p. 24] The ceiling of the open ''mantapa'' is adorned with artistic decoration such as lotuses. The ceiling is supported by
lathe turned full pillars. The material used for the temple is
soapstone
Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is composed largely of the magnesium rich mineral talc. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occur in the ...
(also called potstone).
[Kamath 2001, p. 136] The original tower over the shrine (
Vimana
Vimāna are mythological flying palaces or chariots described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics. The "Pushpaka Vimana" of Ravana (who took it from Kubera; Rama returned it to Kubera) is the most quoted example of a vimana. Vimanas are also men ...
) is missing and has been replaced in modern times with one of brick and mortar.
Preserved within the temple premises are several old-
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
inscriptions and
hero stone
A hero stone (Vīragallu in Kannada, Naṭukal in Tamil) is a memorial commemorating the honorable death of a hero in battle. Erected between the second half of the first millennium BC and the 18th century AD, hero stones are found all over Ind ...
s.
Gallery
File:Ornate lintel, door jamb and ceiling relief at entrance to inner mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar.JPG, Ornate lintel, door jamb and ceiling relief at entrance to inner mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar
File:Ceiling relief in outer mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar.JPG, Ceiling relief in outer mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar
File:Ornate door jamb relief at entrance to inner mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar.JPG, Ornate door jamb relief at entrance to inner mantapa in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar
File:Old Kannada inscriptions dated c.1171 (l) and c.1223 (r) in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar.JPG, Old Kannada inscriptions dated c.1171 (l) and c.1223 (r) in the Harihareshwara temple at Harihar
File:Harihareshwara.JPG, Image of the Hindu god Harihara in the sanctum
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1224
13th-century Hindu temples
Hindu temples in Davanagere district