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Here is a thread about 1500 to 1600 year old magnificent Shiva temple (Someshwara, with Gujarat link) in Lakshmeshwara, Gadag district, Karnataka.
1) This is a hidden gem as it was not that well known, till the recent restoration effort of Sudha Murthy of Infosys Foundation.
1) This is a hidden gem as it was not that well known, till the recent restoration effort of Sudha Murthy of Infosys Foundation.
2) This Someshwara temple is over 15 centuries old. There is no Linga here.
It is having a Shiva riding Nandi murti, which was brought in from Saurashtra, Gujarat about 900 years ago.
It is having a Shiva riding Nandi murti, which was brought in from Saurashtra, Gujarat about 900 years ago.
3) This temple at #Lakshmeshwara has two types of pillars. Vastu and Reflecting. The reflecting ones are still working after a millennium, and you can see your inverted image. Amazing stone technology of ancient India!
For 12 generations this Wodeyar family is doing puja.
For 12 generations this Wodeyar family is doing puja.
4) You can find iron arranged like a bangle around the pillar in one place! See the video. Imagine the technology of ancients. Looks simple but imagine doing this over a millennium ago.
#Lakshmeshwara
#IncredibleIndia
#Lakshmeshwara
#IncredibleIndia
5) For three days in a year, around Yugadi time, the first rays of sun in the morning, fall directly on Shiva from the eastern entrance (Surya Dwara). Almost 80 meters of distance and scientifically constructed for year-after-year extravaganza.
#HinduTempleArchitecture
#Karnataka
#HinduTempleArchitecture
#Karnataka
6) Amazing intricacies carved into 59 pillars and numerous gopuras of this temple at #Lakshmeshwara.
Ganapati, Lakshmi, Vishnu..
Would you believe if I tell you that there is a piece of 1600 year old wood as a part of stone roof on the southern side?
Wood surviving 16 centuries!
Ganapati, Lakshmi, Vishnu..
Would you believe if I tell you that there is a piece of 1600 year old wood as a part of stone roof on the southern side?
Wood surviving 16 centuries!
7) Special Thanks to Sudha Murthy of Infosys Foundation who got #Someshwara temple restored. On key occasions 1000 people come! It was a place for anti social elements, meat cutting, buffalo herders...
We didn't know the value of our heritage till Smt Murthy opened our eyes!
We didn't know the value of our heritage till Smt Murthy opened our eyes!
8) This Lakshmeshwara is about 1 hour south of Gadag in North Karnataka. About 2 hours west of the world heritage site Hampi.
Make it a point to visit it. We keep talking about so much Hindu heritage lost over centuries. And here is one gem of an architecture restored recently!
Make it a point to visit it. We keep talking about so much Hindu heritage lost over centuries. And here is one gem of an architecture restored recently!
