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 ...
,
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 ...
. This temple was built in the 12th century AD around the same time as the Chennakesava Temple at
Somanathapura
Somanathapura, also spelled Somanathpur, Somnathpur, or Somanathpura, is a town and Grama Panchayat in Tirumakudalu Narasipura, Mysore district in the state of Karnataka in India.
Before the Krishna Raja Sagara dam project was conceived by Sir M.Visvesvaraya in 1909, the temple complex was located in the village of Kannambadi. The KRS Dam project meant that Kannambadi and other surrounding settlements would be submerged. The then king of Mysore, Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV ordered the construction of a new village for the residents of
Kannambadi
Kannambadi was a village near Mysore in the Mandya district that was chosen as the site of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam in 1910. The dam is therefore called ''Kannambadi Katte'' in Kannada.
When the dam was completed, Kannambadi village becam ...
and aptly named it Hosa Kannambadi (New Kannambadi).
However, the Venugopala Swamy temple complex and 2 other temples namely Kenneshwara (Ishwara) temple and Kalamma (A local deity) temple had to be abandoned.
By 1930, the first phase of the dam was completed and all three temples were submerged.
The main idol of Venugopalaswamy, Lord Krishna playing on flute as a cow-herd, was shifted to a new temple in the rehabilitated village before the submersion.
Architecture
The original temple complex was massive, with an area of around .
The complex was a symmetrical building enclosed by two 'prakaras' and the outer gate (Mahadwara) had verandahs on both sides, flanked by the yagasala and the kitchen. This was enclosed by the second mahadwara, which led to the inner enclosure and was akin to the
Somanathapura
Somanathapura, also spelled Somanathpur, Somnathpur, or Somanathpura, is a town and Grama Panchayat in Tirumakudalu Narasipura, Mysore district in the state of Karnataka in India.garbhagriha
A ''garbhagriha'' or ''sannidhanam'' is the ''sanctum sanctorum'', the innermost sanctuary of a Hindu and Jain temples where resides the ''murti'' (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. In Jainism, the main deity is known as the ''M ...
(sanctum sanctorum), a vestibule, a middle hall and a mukhya mantapa (main hall). The cell opposite to the entrance had a figure of Kesava (Lord
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
) and the south cell, containing the figure of Gopalakrishna, was a later addition.
Submersion and restoration
When the KRS dam was conceived in 1909, the temple was condemned for submersion. By 1930, the entire erstwhile village of Kannambadi was completely buried underwater.
However, the temple would resurface whenever the water levels in the reservoir dropped, typically during drought years. This was most evident around the year 2000.
For more than 70 years the temple lay underwater, when the Khoday Foundation under the guidance of liquor baron and philanthropist Mr. Sri Hari Khoday took up the task of relocating and restoring the temple.
It was initially planned to shift the entire complex to Madhuvana Park in
Mysore
Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...
. However, protests from the villagers of Hosa Kannambadi convinced the foundation to shift it to a place near the rehabilitated village.
The cost of the project was estimated to be around 2.5 crore.
The new site is about one km to the north of the original site; the backwaters would touch the outer walls of the temple if the water level of the KRS touched 124.80 ft, its maximum capacity. It is 9 km by road from
Brindavan Gardens
The Brindavan Gardens is a garden located 12 k.ms from the city of Mysore in the Mandya District of the Indian State of Karnataka. It lies adjoining the Krishnarajasagara Dam which is built across the river Kaveri. The work on laying out t ...
.
The in-house architects of the group had shot the original temple on video, taken over 16,000 photographs, and marked each and every slab used in the construction of the original temple.
Each and every temple stone was removed and reconstructed at Hosa Kannambadi with trained artisans and sculptors, with half a dozen experts from Tamil Nadu also involved in the reconstruction.
As of December 2011, the temple restoration has been completed, but is awaiting an official inauguration. It however has become a tourist hotspot considering its tale of submersion and relocation.
Gallery
File:Venugopalaswamy temple inscription.jpg, An inscription written in halegannada seen at the entrance
File:Outer wall of the Venugopalaswamy temple.jpg, Outer wall of the Venugopalaswamy temple
File:Venugopalaswamy temple East.jpg, Entrance to the complex from the East
File:Venugopalaswamy temple East side.jpg, A View of the KRS reservoir from the temple entrance
File:Deepa Sthambha.jpg, Deepa Sthambha (Lamp Post) used to light up the entrance at night
File:Structure of the Venugopalaswamy temple.jpg, Typical Hoysala architecture of the Venugopalaswamy temple
File:Venugopalaswamy temple Gopura.jpg, Venugopalaswamy temple Gopura
File:Venu Gopala Swamy Temple.jpg, Venu Gopala Swamy Temple from the front
File:Venugopala swamy temple front.jpg, Venu Gopala Swamy Temple from the front
File:Sunset overlooking KRS.jpg, Sunset overlooking Krishna Raja Sagara as seen from the Venugopala Swamy temple