Naganatheshwara Temple

Overview

The Nageshwara (Nageshwara, Pancha Lingeshwar) temple complex is located in Begur, a small town within the Bangalore district of Karnataka state, India. It is also spelt Nageswara and called Naganatheshwara locally. From inscriptions, it is understood that Begur was once called Veppur, and Kelele. Two shrines within the temple complex, the Nageshwara and Nageshwara swami were commissioned during the rule of Western Ganga Dynasty Kings. The remaining shrines were constructed during the rule of the Chola Dynasty over the region.

About The Temple

The Nageshwara temple has a square sanctum (garbhagriha), a vestibule (antarala) that connects the sanctum to a "great closed hall" (maha-mandapa or navaragna) which leads to an open hall (agra-mandapa). The entrance to the open hall is through steps with balustrade in the south-western and north-western corners. The open hall has six pillars, with an image of Nandi (vehicle of Shiva) placed on a platform shaped like a lotus (padma-pitha) in the outer bay. The white granite pillars are simple in design. It has a square base (pitha), plain lower part and octagonal in the centre. Many parts of the temple, including the open and closed halls appear to have been subjected to renovation in later periods. The sanctum has a lingam, the universal symbol of the god Shiva.

The ceiling in the closed hall (navaranga) has the characteristic Western Ganga artistic touch, the eight panel sculptures in a square grid (called the ashta-dik-palaka) which includes an image of four handed Uma-Maheshvara (the god Shiva with his consort Parvati). The ceiling of the open hall also has the grid sculptures with a seated image of Shiva and Parvati in the centre. Other sculptrs kept in the hall include Mahishasuramardini (a form of the goddess Durga), a unique two handed Ganesh, and Kalabhairava (a form of Shiva). The vertical doorjamb (sakha) has the typical carvings of creepers with ganas (attendants of Shiva) in loops with lotuses at the terminations. On top of the doorjamb, at the centre of the lintel, is an image of Gajalakshmi with elephants on either side.

Festivals

Maha Shivarathri and the car festival Bramha Rathotsava in April are celebrated.

Accessibility

Airport

Bangalore is the closest airport.

Railways

Bangalore Yashwanthpur is the nearest railhead.

Road

Bangalore is well connected by state and private owned buses.

Temple Address

Pancha Lingeshwar Nageshwara Temple/ Nageshwara Temple,
Begur,
Bangalore urban,
Karnataka.