Shiva temple of Narayanpur, near Basava Kalyan

October 4, 2014

Narayanpur village is about 6 kms from Basava Kalyana. This village is known for its Shiva temple built in XI century by Chalukyan rulers.

This description in Kannada has been borrowed from BasavaKalyan City Municipal Council website:
ನಾರಾಯಣಪೂರ ಶಿಲ್ಪಕಲೆ: ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರ ಆರನೇ ವಿಕ್ರಮಾದಿತ್ಯ ಅನೇಕ ದಿಗ್ವಿಜಯಗಳು ಸಾಧಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಖಶಾಂತಿ ನೆಲೆಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು. ಧರ್ಮ ಸಹಿಷ್ಣತಾವಾದಿ ಆದ ಇವನು ಅನೇಕ ಅದ್ಭುತ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾರಾಯಣಪೂರ ಶಿವದೇವಾಲಯ ಕೂಡ ಒಂದು. ಇದು ಬಸವಕಲ್ಯಾಣದಿಂದ ೬ ಕಿ.ಮೀ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಈ ದೇವಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ೮ ಕಂಬಗಳಿವೆ. ಬೃಹತ್ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಮಂಟಪ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸುಂದರ ಶಿಲಾಬಾಲಿಕೆಯರ ಕೆತ್ತನೆಯ ವಿಗ್ರಹಗಳು ನೋಡುಗರ ಮನ ತಣಿಸುವದು ದ್ವಾರದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಂದು ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ಶಿಲಾ ಶಾಸಕ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ನೋಡಲು ಸಿಗಬಹುದು. ಬಸವಕಲ್ಯಾಣದಿಂದ ೨ ಕಿ.ಮೀ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿವಪೂರ ಗ್ರಾಮವಿದೆ. ಈ ಗ್ರಾಮ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾದರು ಶಾಂತಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಸರು ವಾಸಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿಯಯಿದ್ದು ದಂಡೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಶಾಲ ಬಾವಿಯಿದ್ದು ಅದರ ಕಟ್ಟೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿಶಾಲ ದೇವಾಲಯವಿದೆ. ಇದು ಸಿದ್ದೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯವೆಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ. ಇದರ ಸುತ್ತಲು ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ವಾತಾವರಣ ವಿದ್ದು ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಣೆಯ ಸ್ಥಳವಾಗಿದೆ

The temple must have been in real bad condition before some restoration work happened. Appreciate the efforts of the authorities to preserve this monument. The temple is situated inside the village, houses surrounding it completely. There's little open space around the temple. At the entrance are various sculptures including a hero-stone and a slab with Kannada inscription.

A pair of very complicated sculptures at the temple entrance. Notice the shape originating from the mythological creature's mouth.. it takes the form of a Shankh and within it is a Chakra also. On the left are Vishnu and Garuda. 

 This piece is damaged. Here we can see Shankh and Chakra again. To the right is Ugra Narasimha slaying Hiranya Kashipu.

A slab with Kannada inscription and a hero-stone having 9 layers, Shiva Lings in the top two panels.

The temple interior has 8 columns. The Garbhagudi door-frame seems to have 9 steps. Surely this was a grand temple during its hey days.

Remnants of a tablet with Kannada inscription.

This is the rear portion of the temple. The design is different compared to Badami Chalukya temples. This temple design is similar to Kalmeshwar temple of Jalasanghi. Its is said that Hoysalas adopted this design of multiple layers into their temple designs.

An elephant in action- its holding an uprooted tree and a man in its trunk. This reminds me of elephant sculptures at Banavasi near Sirsi.

Pieces of sculptures embedded into a recently constructed wall. A young noble man and a warrior.

 A our armed Ganesha and his vehicle Mooshak. A sexy young woman holding a fan in her raised hand.

Sculptures placed in a corner.

A modern Navagraha Mantapa next to the temple.

Stones throw from the temple is ruins of an ancient structure. No idea if its a temple or a mantap.

 The Kannada description mentions a village called Shivapur, about 2 kms from BK. At Shivapura are ancient well and temple named Siddeshwara Gudi. I was not aware of this temple :( Well, some other time. We return back to BK and head towards Bhalki.

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