DISCOVER TRADITIONS, DISCOVER TEMPLES

Monumental negligence

SHIVAKUMAR G MALAGI, stresses that the negligence of this temple is criminal.

For generations, temples have played an important role in defining human history. They stand as symbols of faith and festivities. From places of education and distribution of justice, temples gradually became hideouts for feudalistic elements and Devadasis. However, its rich architecture has records of how our culture and philosophical ideas evolved.

This temple is situated at the east end of Kamalapur, a village 5 kms away from Hampi and 3 kms from Hampi Kannada University.

Known famously among residents of the village as Chikkahudevu, the temple is identified by historians of Kannada University as a Shiva temple.

Like many other temples in the locality, identifying exactly to which sect the shrine belongs is a difficult task. The fact that the sanctum sanctorum has no idol only adds to the confusion. The temple complex comprises of Garbhagudi (sanctum sanctorum), Antharala (the room next to the sanctum), Ardhamantapa and Sabhamantapa (that has three exits).

A blend of Shaalaakuta and Dravidakarnakuta styles, the temple's 10-metre high Gopuram which is built on top of the Garbhagriha to install the Kalasham. Both its outer and inner walls have pictures from mahakavya's, purana's, and some inscriptions. Another small temple, built on the left of the main temple in the same complex, seems like a replica of the goddess temples of Vijayanagar empire. It has sixteen artistically carved stone pillars that has some of the magnificent figures of Kamasutra. The temple's mahagopuram (main entrance) faces north. The three storied structure is also the replica of the main entrance at Hampi's Virupaksha temple. Despite its unique architectural features, the temple is certain to disappear for good from the landscape and from the consciousness of those living in its vicinity.

Apart from the rusted and skewed signboard, there's little evidence that the temple is maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

In fact, considering that the weeds and overgrowth of grass which has contributed a lot to the ruin of the structure, one realises that maintenance is something the temple badly needs. There are also traces of the structure being affected by years of exposure to natural elements.

The temple may have been a revered place of worship in the past, but now it has been reduced to mere grazing ground for cattle, owned by farmers in the adjoining villages.

Largely ignorant about the importance of the monument, local residents have left it to its fate. Indeed, the monument makes us wonder whether we should be proud of our history or feel embarrassed about the large scale ignorance of our citizens about it.