Madiwala Machayya Aikyasthala, Karimane

The research on Aikyasthalas of Shivasharanas of XII Century commenced more than a decade and half ago but there wasn't much progress. Only a handful of locations had been found and the research had stalled. Somehow the research revived with a short burst of activity, few more Shivasharanas graves were located and a total of 11 places have been marked in Shivasharanara Aikysthalagala Nakshe on Google Maps. As and when new locations are discovered they will be added to the Nakshe. Now, the most recent discovery is the topic for this blog post- Madiwala Machideva's Aikyasthala at Karimane near Muragod in Belagavi district.

This two storied structure houses two graves, one of them is said to be Madiwala Machideva's. People of Karimane call is as Mata meaning a monastery. Karimane village is situated on the lower slope of a hillock.

A villager told me that Madiwala Machideva was injured in a battle with Kalyana king Bijjala's soldiers near Murgod. Machideva's followers rescue him and leave the battle scene furtively. Then they find a thicket on the slope of a hill in which they hide. Machideva succumbs to his injuries and his followers bury the body in the thicket itself and mark the spot by planting saplings. Many years later a structure was raised over the grave.

A few ancient sculptures have been preserved here. We have an idol of a goddess, a memorial stone, an inscription slab and two more pieces of sculptures. The memorial stone is of the standard format- the lower two tiers depict battle scenes, the third one shows the hero attaining martyrdom and the uppermost is the scene of merging with Ishwara. People here, like most other places, neither have info about the martyr's past nor what the inscription says.

This is the northern side of the east-facing temple. The design is simple but it's elegant and functional. In our ancient culture, religious structures' facade have odd number of arches. Hence the four pillars forming three arches.

The arches enclose a small hall with a wooden ceiling. On the east facing wall are two doorways, one each for the two sanctums.

Another view of the hall and sanctum entrances. On the wall are two imitation swords. Machideva is shown wielding a sword, like a few other Shivasharanas like Gangambike. Even though Shivasharana's are peaceful by nature, they took up arms to defend themselves from persecution by those opposing social equality.

A nicely done idol of Madiwala Machideva stands on a pedestal at Karimani entrance. The washerman community in Karnataka considers him as their leader.

After the short tour of Karimani, we head towards Chachadi village to see the fortified house of Chaachadi Desai.

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