JOIN USSituated amid the bustle of narrow markets of Bengaluru is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Someshwara Temple of Halasuru. Its location is interesting due to the temple's proximity to a church and mosque in the area. This is reflective of the cosmopolitan culture of the city where diverse communities live and practice their rituals harmoniously.
The temple was originally built between 12th and 13th century by the Cholas and was later modified by Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bengaluru in the 16th century. And, the architectural styles of the various dynasties that ruled here - Cholas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagar kings - are reflected in different parts of this old shrine. The majestic Rajagopura at the entrance is in the Dravidian style of the Cholas, on which we can see innumerable colourful statuettes.
Legend has it that, Kempe Gowda, while hunting at night was separated from his men and he decided to rest under a Nagalinga Pushpa tree in Halasuru. While he was asleep, Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and instructed him to build a temple in his honour using the linga and a treasure buried in the spot where he was sleeping. The chieftain found the same below the spot and rebuilt the temple. Perhaps these unearthed objects were remnants of the old temple that was neglected. However, it was renovated and the linga was placed in the sanctum, and the temple regained its prominence.
The rajgopura of this temple is a colourful five-tiered structure, decorated with innumerable aesthetically appealing statuettes of gods, goddesses, demons, animals, apsaras and nagas. In front of it is a tall stone-cut dhwajasthambha on a raised pedestal, at the base of which is an intricate carving of Nataraja.
In the courtyard, there is another tall dhwajasthambha made of stone and plated with brass. Beyond this is a raised mukhamantapa with multiple stone pillars having beautiful sculptures. Above the entrance, there is a large panel with an array of brass statuettes of gods and goddesses. One of them depicts the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Inside the mukhamantapa, just before the doorway to the garbhagriha, there is a brass Nandi facing the main deity, and on both sides of the door are dwarapalakas and figures of Mahishasura Mardini and Ravana lifting Mount Kailash.
Inside the garbhagriha, the linga is placed on a pedestal along with Vasuki with a spread-out hood, shielding it from above. And, in a narrow passage around it, there are rows of small statuettes of Nayanar saints. On the right side, inside the parikrama, is a smaller shrine dedicated to Goddess Parvathi known here as Kamakshamma.
In the temple complex, there are other smaller temples for Arunachaleshwara, Bhimeshwara, Nanjundeshwara, Panchalingeshwara, Brahma and Lord Ganesha. A wooden chariot is placed in an enclosure and is meant for taking out the utsavamurthy of Kamaksamma in procession during the annual festival that is held in April. Another huge chariot is kept in an enclosure outside the temple complex by the side of the street, which is meant for Lord Shiva for the procession during Shivaratri.
During Ugadi and Karthika Poornima, special festivities take place in this shrine and are attended by a huge gathering of devotees.