Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
Guide: Temple Staff
Visited on May 25th, 2011
1) The central building was built in the 2nd Century AD and dedicated to Lord Shiva
a) It houses a shrine to Shiva
b) Made of stone as is the entire Temple
c) A round platform where dances were performed
i) Columns surrounding the platform have a concave shape which create a mirror image of the dancers, as if they were merging with the ground
d) Nundi, Shiva’s bull sits at the entrance to the temple
i) He is huge! About 10’ by 5’ and 7’ tall
ii) He sits in line with the axis linking the main sanctum with the column at the entrance to the temple complex
e) There are some more primitive drawings in the ground, but they are completely indecipherable from almost 2,000 years of visitors
2) Many buildings have been added over the years
a) two wings to the central temple
b) a courtyard perimeter that houses shrines and sacred objects from temples across India
i) The idea being that by visiting this single temple in Banavasi, a devotee would have been in contact with many sacred sights
ii) A stone carved bed from the era of the Sonda Kings is housed in one of the shrines
(1) It stands as testimate to the incredible stone work which emerged from their period of rule
(2) This was also the time during which the Vishnu Temple was built
(3) The dry stacked stone wall at back exterior wall was built during this time and still stands today
iii) Each shrine follows similar design principles
(1) A main sanctum, unaccessible to the public with only a single flame lighting the deity carvings
(2) Bells hang just in front of the sanctum for the devotees to ring as they approach
(3) four columns stand at the front façade representing the four Vedas of the Hindu religion
(4) the deities vehicle is the only interruption along the axis from the deity to the outside
(5) Drainage systems surround all shrines as it is common practice to pour water to cleanse them
(6) The carvings are beautifully done in stone and some wooden wooden doors
(7) The only exception to this are the Naga shrines.
(a) Here, there are multiple carvings, but no sanctum or vehicle or bells
(8) Most of the other shrines are to shiva
(a) Possible because he is the residing the go
c) Shiva’s female couterpart is housed outside the main sanctum along the axis leading to the outside
i) The seperation of male and female may explain why there are no lingams