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Caption: BHOGA NANDEESWARA Blending history with divinity
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Caption: Just 30 kms from Bengaluru’s heaving international airport, tucked away at the foot of the Nandi hills is the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple. The oldest Parts of this temple, which is dedicated entirely to The Hindu lord shiva - the Destroyer in the religion’s holy trinity, date back to 806 AD. Since then the temple has been archaised by 4 other ruling dynasties resulting in A beautiful confluence of architecture built over 7 centuries making this temple a true testament to harmony and mutual respect.
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Caption: The temple complex centres around twin main shrines each with intricately carved towering shikharas - these pyramidal and tiered towers.
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Caption: The main shrines are surrounded by smaller ones, dedicated to goddess Parvati, lord shiva’s consort
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Caption: The temple is filled with pillars, carved to record religion, history and mythology. My favourite of these are the sculptures of the Yalis - the mythological part lion, part elephant, part bird creatures, who my grandma used to assure me were protectors of the temple.
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Caption: Legend has it that each twin shrine depicts a phase in lord shiva’s life - this one ‘Arunachaleshswara’ his childhood
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Caption: Linking the shrine of Lord Shiva’s childhood to that of his youth is this ‘Uma-Maheshwara’ - a shrine recording lord shiva’s marriage to goddess Parvati.
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Caption: This eponymous Bhoga nandeeshwara shine dedicated to Lord Shiva’s youth
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Caption: Walking around the temple complex it was reassuring to know that while this young priest had a line to the gods, he still needed to be on his mobile to have a line to his fellow humans
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Caption: The entrance to the Pushkarani, the temple tank
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Caption: This tank is believed to be source of the mythological pinakini river, said to be shaped like Lord Shiva’s bow of choice.
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Caption: the only painted structure in an otherwise bare stone temple. Its doors remained firmly closed throughout my hours here, enticing me to plan a next visit to explore.
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Caption: Checking that you got that all important photo to post on social.media. Because if you do not post about it did you even go?
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Caption: Cravings for days
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Caption: The wooden ratha (chariot) of the gods and goddesses.
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Caption: Thank you @Mezen for recommending this lovely slice of history and mythology!
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