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1a/n
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Bhūdēvī-Nīḷādēvī samēta Śrī Ranganātha Dēvasthāna, Rangasthaḷa, Tippēnahaḷḷi, Cikkabaḷḷāpura Dist, Karnāṭaka
A UNIQUE Vijayanagara/Post Vijayanagara era temple built in hard granite rock, oriented in the N-S directions has the deity facing South.
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Bhūdēvī-Nīḷādēvī samēta Śrī Ranganātha Dēvasthāna, Rangasthaḷa, Tippēnahaḷḷi, Cikkabaḷḷāpura Dist, Karnāṭaka
A UNIQUE Vijayanagara/Post Vijayanagara era temple built in hard granite rock, oriented in the N-S directions has the deity facing South.
1b/n
The legend says that Lord Rāma gifted his kuladaiva "śēṣaśāyi rañganātha" in a bamboo basket to Vibhīṣṇa after his paṭṭābhiṣēka.
On his way back to Lañkā, Saptarṣis residing at skandagiri pleaded Vibhīṣaṇa to consecrate the idol there itself.
The legend says that Lord Rāma gifted his kuladaiva "śēṣaśāyi rañganātha" in a bamboo basket to Vibhīṣṇa after his paṭṭābhiṣēka.
On his way back to Lañkā, Saptarṣis residing at skandagiri pleaded Vibhīṣaṇa to consecrate the idol there itself.
1c/n
Another interesting fact is that the place is termed as mōkṣarañga as the deity is believed to grant salvation to anyone who sevres him here after he has served at ādi/madhya/añtya rañga kṣētras - śrirangapaṭṭaṇa/śivanasamudra/śrīrañgam respectively.
Another interesting fact is that the place is termed as mōkṣarañga as the deity is believed to grant salvation to anyone who sevres him here after he has served at ādi/madhya/añtya rañga kṣētras - śrirangapaṭṭaṇa/śivanasamudra/śrīrañgam respectively.
2/n
The temple complex situated at the foothills of Jvālānarasimhasvāmi beṭṭa has -
Garbhagṛha
Pradakṣiṇāpatha
Añtarāḷa
Navarañga
Mahāmaṇṭapa
Hastihasta
Dhvajastambha
Balipīṭha
Garuḍagamba
Prākāra
Pātāḷāñkaṇa
Gōpura
Puṣkariṇī (2 numbers)
The temple complex situated at the foothills of Jvālānarasimhasvāmi beṭṭa has -
Garbhagṛha
Pradakṣiṇāpatha
Añtarāḷa
Navarañga
Mahāmaṇṭapa
Hastihasta
Dhvajastambha
Balipīṭha
Garuḍagamba
Prākāra
Pātāḷāñkaṇa
Gōpura
Puṣkariṇī (2 numbers)
3/n
Uniqueness of the temple:
This temple is "one of its kind" in the world of Indian Temple Architecture.
The uniqueness lies in the plan of garbhagṛha (sanctum sanctorum), śikhara and inner wall of the garbhagṛha.
Uniqueness of the temple:
This temple is "one of its kind" in the world of Indian Temple Architecture.
The uniqueness lies in the plan of garbhagṛha (sanctum sanctorum), śikhara and inner wall of the garbhagṛha.
4a/n
Garbhagṛha & Pradakṣiṇāpatha
Owing to the sleeping posture of the deity, plan of the sanctum is ellipsoid - vṛttāyata (ref 1b/n). This is the ONLY temple in India with such a plan.
A later addition of circumbambulatory path makes it a sāndhara styled sanctum sanctorum.
Garbhagṛha & Pradakṣiṇāpatha
Owing to the sleeping posture of the deity, plan of the sanctum is ellipsoid - vṛttāyata (ref 1b/n). This is the ONLY temple in India with such a plan.
A later addition of circumbambulatory path makes it a sāndhara styled sanctum sanctorum.
4c/n
Since the plan of sanctum sanctorum is ellipsoid, by default the śikhara also assumes the same shape.
Albeit the śikhara what is seen today is a new addition, there could not have been a different shape earlier. Observe from this pic.
Since the plan of sanctum sanctorum is ellipsoid, by default the śikhara also assumes the same shape.
Albeit the śikhara what is seen today is a new addition, there could not have been a different shape earlier. Observe from this pic.
4d/n
The next unique feature of the temple is the inner wall of sanctum sanctorum. Again, this is probably the only temple in India with jālavātāyana/window inside sanctum sanctorum.
"On sañkrāñti, sunrays adorn the hōly feet of rañganātharu."
Observe in the video from 4b/n
The next unique feature of the temple is the inner wall of sanctum sanctorum. Again, this is probably the only temple in India with jālavātāyana/window inside sanctum sanctorum.
"On sañkrāñti, sunrays adorn the hōly feet of rañganātharu."
Observe in the video from 4b/n
4e/n
The circumbambulatory path houses small idols of many azhvārs and viśvaksēna on either side of the añtarāḷa.
The circumbambulatory path houses small idols of many azhvārs and viśvaksēna on either side of the añtarāḷa.
5/n
Añtarāḷa is pretty plain.
Navarañga has 12 pillars embedded in the walls - bhadraka stambha. Rest 4 pillars are at the centre portion.
Navarañga houses the utsavamūrti and other bronze idols of deities, ācārya rāmānuja and azhvārs.
Añtarāḷa is pretty plain.
Navarañga has 12 pillars embedded in the walls - bhadraka stambha. Rest 4 pillars are at the centre portion.
Navarañga houses the utsavamūrti and other bronze idols of deities, ācārya rāmānuja and azhvārs.
6a/n
Mahāmaṇṭapa
The mahāmaṇtapa is an elevated platform with 24 beautiful pillars making it a 3x6 matrix. 16 other pillars are nikhāta stambhas.
Types of pillars are shown in the picture with legend. Pillars are citrakhaṇḍa stambhas with majority being samyukta stambhas.
Mahāmaṇṭapa
The mahāmaṇtapa is an elevated platform with 24 beautiful pillars making it a 3x6 matrix. 16 other pillars are nikhāta stambhas.
Types of pillars are shown in the picture with legend. Pillars are citrakhaṇḍa stambhas with majority being samyukta stambhas.
6b/n
Miśrasamyukta stambha
It has 3 upastambhas - pillarets and are placed at corners.
Miśrasamyukta stambha
It has 3 upastambhas - pillarets and are placed at corners.
6c/n
Supratīkāñta stambha
Pillars with single pillaret.
Supratīkāñta stambha
Pillars with single pillaret.
6d/n
Aśvakāñta stambha
Aśvakāñta stambha
6e/n
Simhakāñta stambha
Simhakāñta stambha
6f/n
Brahmakāñta stambha
Pic 2 shows clear demarcation between bhadraka and nikhāta stambhas on the mahāmaṇṭapa and pātāḷāñkaṇa respectively.
Brahmakāñta stambha
Pic 2 shows clear demarcation between bhadraka and nikhāta stambhas on the mahāmaṇṭapa and pātāḷāñkaṇa respectively.
6g/n
All pillars have corbels and various deities like gaṇēśa, hanumān, durgā, narasimha, rāma are sculpted on them.
All pillars have corbels and various deities like gaṇēśa, hanumān, durgā, narasimha, rāma are sculpted on them.
7/n
Hastihasta
The ballustrade has beautifully sculpted elephants on either sides.
Hastihasta
The ballustrade has beautifully sculpted elephants on either sides.
8a/n
Dhvajastambha - Balipīṭha
A bewitching dhvajastambha and balipīṭha are seen with perfect miniature adhiṣṭhānas.
Dhvajastambha - Balipīṭha
A bewitching dhvajastambha and balipīṭha are seen with perfect miniature adhiṣṭhānas.
8b/n
9/n
Puṣkariṇi
1. Brahmakāñta Kalyāṇi (square)
2. Candrakāñta Kalyāṇi (16 sided)
Puṣkariṇi
1. Brahmakāñta Kalyāṇi (square)
2. Candrakāñta Kalyāṇi (16 sided)
10/n
Gōpura
The older granite gōpura has succumbed to destruction with a part still being intact. The newer (rather plain) sits eloquently without disturbing the intact older part.
Gōpura
The older granite gōpura has succumbed to destruction with a part still being intact. The newer (rather plain) sits eloquently without disturbing the intact older part.
11/n
Garbhagṛha has pratibandha adhiṣṭhāna (pic1) where as mahāmaṇṭapa has śrībhōga adhiṣṭhāna (pic2).
Śrībhōga adhiṣṭhāna is a key feature of Vijayanagara architecture.
Garbhagṛha has pratibandha adhiṣṭhāna (pic1) where as mahāmaṇṭapa has śrībhōga adhiṣṭhāna (pic2).
Śrībhōga adhiṣṭhāna is a key feature of Vijayanagara architecture.
12/n
Prastara has nētranāsis/kubjas/gaṇas.
Could not capture any pic.
Prastara has nētranāsis/kubjas/gaṇas.
Could not capture any pic.
13/n
Iconography
The deity is an ēkaśilāmūrti sculpted in śālagrāma stone with bhūdēvi & nīḷādēvi seated at his feet.
The mūrti is a depiction of bhōgaśayanamūrti in vaikuṇṭha and can be classified as "śayana-uttama-bhōga" mūrti with all his gaṇa/fraternity sculpted along.
Iconography
The deity is an ēkaśilāmūrti sculpted in śālagrāma stone with bhūdēvi & nīḷādēvi seated at his feet.
The mūrti is a depiction of bhōgaśayanamūrti in vaikuṇṭha and can be classified as "śayana-uttama-bhōga" mūrti with all his gaṇa/fraternity sculpted along.
14/n
It is said that this idol is the most beautiful rañganātha idol in whole of India.
The temple is maintained by the endowment dept of Government of Karnāṭaka which needs more improvements.
It is said that this idol is the most beautiful rañganātha idol in whole of India.
The temple is maintained by the endowment dept of Government of Karnāṭaka which needs more improvements.
There are no basic facilities at the temple premises.
No direct bus connectivity either. One had to go till Tippēnahaḷḷi and walk up to the temple. No proper signboards make it difficult for visitors.
No direct bus connectivity either. One had to go till Tippēnahaḷḷi and walk up to the temple. No proper signboards make it difficult for visitors.
