Bhoga Nandeeshwara

Bhog Nandeshwara temple is one of the oldest temples of Karnataka. It is located at the foot of Nandi hills in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. Many don’t know this place existed in spite of having visited the Nandi hills on top.

We took a small deviation – right turn instead of the left to climb the hills –and stood before the temple path outlined with pillars of great architectural. The temple premises was huge, well maintained, clean and calm.

The temple path is outlined with pillars on raised platform. It is known or believed that five dynasties built the temple over a period of 700 years or more - The Cholas, the Hoysalas, the Gangarasas, the Pallavas and the Vijayanagara empire. You can see carved parrots on the pillars, hundreds of them.

The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

A small intervening shrine "Uma-Maheshwara" shrine has a kalyana mantapa ("marriage alter") in black stone depicting the third stage, Shiva's marriage to the goddess Parvati. Hence most newly weds visit this shrine to seek blessings for a happy life. This place leads to the top, called Nandi hills which represents the final "renunciation" stage in the life of Shiva. The temple on top is devoid of any festivities.

Among the black intricately carved pillars of birds, animals and human forms, there were carvings of stone in grey and brick red too.

Beyond the compound of the temple is a large stepped temple tank (or pushkarni). People light lamps on festivals and leave them into the waters. The tank or pond is also called as Shringi Teertha. This is a large square pond with varandah on 3 sides and the entrance on the fourth side. The walls of the varandah have fine stucco figures on top and Pennar river flowing from the pond at the bottom.

Outside the temple, was a mosque with few people lazying around in the compound or afternoon siesta. Just like many others, I wondered why there was a mosque next to every important Hindu temple. Temple were centuries old and mosques were newly constructed. Do visit the temple and seek blessings of the Lord for a happy peaceful life.