Panchalingeshwara Temple: A Temple with Five Shrines

Pratiksha Hemasagar Sahu

Panchalingeshwara Temple: A Temple with Five Shrines

This temple with five shrines is one of the surviving examples of Hoysala architecture. Many legends associated with this temple still blow the minds of visitors.

Panchalingeshwar Temple Source: Wikipedia

The Panchalingeshwar Temple in Govindanahalli, Mandya, in the state of Karnataka, is regarded by historian Gerard Foekema as a rare example of ‘panchakuta’. The temple was built in 1238 AD during the Hoysala Empire's rule. Despite being one of the less well-known Hoysala temples, it draws large audiences.

The five lingas present in the temple are Vamadeva, Thatpurusha, Aghora, Sadyojatha, and Ishana. All five of these characteristics are embodied in Lord Shiva. According to historians' findings, the Pandavas are to be credited for building the temple.

Panchalingeshwara is revered by the Hegde dynasty and is thought to be their kuladeva (head god). The temple is thought to have undergone numerous stages of repair without significantly altering its rich architectural history or aesthetic appeal. It goes back as far as early as the seventh to eighth century AD.

The sanctums of the five shrines, which are constructed on a north-south axial design, face east. Each shrine has a vestibule with sukanasi above that connects the sanctum (garbhagriha) to a hall (mandapa or navaranga). The various mandapas are connected to one another to the east by a large corridor with pillars. Two porched doorways with lathe-turned pillars supporting their roof serve as the entrance to the temple complex. The second and third shrines are in front of the porches.

Every Barkurean worships the deity, and the pujaris perform a number of religious ceremonies. Both Hindus and Muslims celebrate Rathotsav, an annual holiday, with a great deal of pomp and display. On the day after Rathotsav, there is still another ceremony called ‘Okuliyata,’ which is done extremely early in the morning.

If one is interested in seeing temples with historical roots, Panchalingeshwar Temple is the ideal location. Even today, many people still come here to witness its magnificent architecture.

Miniature ornate towers (aedicula) on pilasters serve as embellishments (articulation) on the shrines' outside walls (vimana). Some representations from the Hindu epics can be seen on the wall panel of pictures (adhisthana) that is located between the eave and the base mouldings. Each shrine's tower (shikhara) has the customary three levels of roofing, with the height of each tier getting smaller as it ascends upward.

The ‘finial’, a decorative water-pot-like structure known as the kalasha, is held above this by a building called the ‘stupi’, which is also present. Each shrine features a small, projecting tower at the entrance. This tower resembles an extension of the main tower over the shrine since it is smaller. Each mandapam has seventeen niches, many of which are home to impressive sculptures. The temple construction is definitely influenced by the Hoysala style, and Ruvari Mallitamma is solely responsible for its carving.