Kalmeshwara Devasthana, Balambeed

July 26, 2019
Our day started with an early morning drive from Haveri to Naregal where we saw the unique sloped roof temple- Sarveshwara Devastana. The next place on our itinerary for the day was Balambeed, the village of two ancient temples - Kalmeshwara and Rameshwara. Both temples are situated on the village outskirts, close to each other, a small water tank separating them. The former is east-facing and the latter is south-facing. We first went to Kalmeshwara Gudi.

The temple premises is small, since its a protected monument it has a wall around it. I guess the priest is the caretaker as well. See how tidy the yard is. We were happy to be seeing this simple beauty but the entrance was locked. We saw a man cultivating the neighboring paddy field, asked him who could unlock the temple door. He pointed out towards a group of houses.. the house behind the house behind the house next to the tree. What! We decided not to venture into the lanes hunting the priest.

From this angle, the temple facade is wide enough to conceal the rear part. This seems to be Chalukyan. The board planted at the entrance reads as follows:
The Kalmesvara temple is built in 11th 12th century, faces east. This temple on plan has a Garbhagriha, an Antarala, a Navaranga and a Sabhamantapa. The Garbhagriha houses a Linga. Above the doorframe of the Antrala ar ethe reliefs of Brahma, Mahesvara and Vishnu. The Navaranga has five Devakoshtas. Among them two have the friezes of Saptamatrikas, one has the figure of Ganesha and in another the image of Karthikeya. The Navaranga has lathe-turned and polished pillars. These pillars have delicate carvings besides the major bell-moulding in the centre. The open Sabhamantapa has 16 pillars. In front of the Sabhamantapa is the Mikhamantapa. The wall built above the Adishthana is plain and simple. The Garbhagriha has a two storeyed tower above, provided with Sukanasi.

The inscriptions of this place refer to this temple as Boladevaragudi. An epigraph of 1123 AD states that Mahaprabhu Bamagavunda got the Brahmesvara temple built at the village Ballareya Beedu. From this it becomes clear that the present Kalmesvara was named as Brahmesvara. Another inscription of 1165 AD records the grant of taxes to Brahmesvara temple attached to Chikkesvara temple of Ballareya Beedu.

From the description we understand that Balambeed was originally known as Ballareya Beedu.

The temple is relatively well preserved, given the Shikhara is still intact.

The side wall. This is typical Chalukyan architecture, no doubt about that.

I poked my Canon through the gap between the railings in the door to get this shot. The overall design is standard.. the Mantapa and perforated screen for the vestibule.

The temple doorframe has some interesting designs.. the floral motif and 3D geometric forms.

This is something new to me. Can't recall seeing this form anywhere else. What a pleasant combination. Perhaps, one might something similar in Roman architecture.

A look at the Shinkhara. All those rectangle faces placed so precisely. Amazing creation! Sadly part of the Shikhara is damaged.

This too is something unique.. I mean the pentagon form. Can't remember seeing such a form elsewhere. Designers and builders have used cubes and cuboid form extensively in this temple.

The Garbhagriha drain, simple and purely functional.

View if the lower part of the side wall. Wondering what purpose this design has besides aesthetics.

Our tour of this temple ends with this pair of inscription slabs. The inscription is in Kannada. Wondering why mud has been smeared on the slab. Probably idols of oxen made of mud were placed on the slab which eroded due to rainwater. Anyway, the temple premises is well kept. thanks to whoever's responsible for it.

Just across the road is the other temple. The fields are green but this region hasn't received sufficient rains hence the water tank is dry. The weeks following our visit recorded heavy rains and most ponds and lakes filled up.

..off we head towards Rameshwara Devastana.
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