GAVI GANGADHARESHWARA – BANGALURU

In the heart of the city of Bangaluru is a Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva as Gavi Gangadhareshwarar. In earlier times this place was known as Gavi puram the land of Caves.

The temple construction dates back to 9th century, in all probability an edifice of the Chola or Ganga dynasty, but as such there would have been some structure before this date, as both Gautham and Bharadwaj Muni had prayed to Lord Shiva from here.

The temple was further renovated by the architect and establisher of Bangaluru city, NADHAPRABHU HIRIYA KEMPE GOWDA 1 a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire, during his reign in the 16th century.

The entire structure of the Temple is on a cave in a hill lock. The Shrine had a 30ft wide open entrance with a height of 7 feet, leading to a mandapa,which seems to have been given extensions.

This Mandapa is in a court yard, which treasures Stone edifice of the TRISHUL & DAMRU on pillars on both sides of the compound. Apart from these are two massive Stone discs on pillars facing each other with the small but elongated Bali Peetham, Dhwaja Sthambam and the Nandi Mandapam with a small but beautiful Nandi.

The stone discs alighted on Pillars are like Gongs, called Suryapana and Chandrapana and are supposed to toll at the end of the Kaliyuga as narrated by a local. During the Summer and winter solstices the shadow of each gong falls on the other. During certain period the dhwaja Sthambam shadow also meets the vertical line on the Discs.

On entering the outer Mandapa one has to take a few steps down to the mukhadwaram of the cave. Inside the tallest space is that of 7 feet near to the entrance and shrinks in size as you keep nearing the Garbha Griha.

On the sides of the entrance to the Garbha Griha are Lord Ganesh and Karthikeya almost like Dwarapalakas.The Garbha Griham is in continuation of the Mukha Mandapam, it is also a square space devoid of any artwork signifying the presence of the lord only. On the entrance is a Huge Nandi sitting, facing Lord Shiva in the sanctum.

Outside the Garbha Griha there is a small passage for circumambulation of the Lord again cut in rock. In the Sanctum a small but steady stream of water keeps flowing, making it significant to the name of GANGADHEESHWARA.

To the right of the Lord’s Sanctum is a small shrine of the 4 ft tall Goddess Parvathi standing, showering her benevolence. Past her is the inner praharam, cave like, with a maximum height of not more than 4 ft and shrinking at places. The Praharam consists of many Idols, Bhairava,Dakshinamoorthy, including that of the Saptha Mathrikas and Sridevi and Bhudevi. A navagraha is installed at the end of the inner prahara.

There is an idol of Agni which has two heads, seven hands and three legs a unique feature.

The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple faces south-west and hence is not aligned to any of the cardinal directions. It is one of the first few clues that depict the temple’s astrophysical relevance. Since the Lingam is not facing the east as usual,the Avudayar or Pindika of the Shiva linga is positioned to the left side, instead of the usual right side.

The temple compound was extended over a period of the last 2 centuries towards the western side. The outer compound currently has a passage for circumambulation which goes behind the temple and goes to the roof on the rock surface. On the Roof top one can see the Two Vimanas and complete the same by taking a few steps down from the eastern side.