MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE, KURUVATTI, HUVINA HADAGALI TALUK

One of the famous temples built during the KalyanaChalukya period is theMallikarjuna temple at Kuruvatti, built around 1087. This temple has beautiful and delicate carvings with a garbhagriha, antarala, navaranga, mukhamantapa and nandimandapam. The garbhagriha is enshrined with a smooth black stone Shivalinga. The entrance door of the sanctum sanctorum has five branches like Vajrakriti, Nagabandha, PurnaKumbha, Mithuna and Huballi branches. There is a beautiful relief of Gajalakshmi in the doorway. In the open space in front of the sanctum sanctorum there is a beautifully carved swag on two pillars. In it, the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara are standing in an equal posture. Chamardharis are standing on either side of them. There are four delicately carved pillars in the navaranga in front of the antarala. The base of these pillars is square, with small peaks in the Rekha Nagar style on its four faces. Also Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Kali and Saraswati are placed on these pillars. The navaranga has entrances in the east, north and south directions. The main gate on the eastern side is by females, Aregamba and decorated with various branches. It is noteworthy that the pillars of the porch are finely carved and the sculptures of madanike (sculptures are a type of female figure that are often found in Hindu temple) have also been installed.

The exterior of the temple is decorated with upana, jagati, kanta and kumudas, while the walls are decorated with pillasters, sikhara model, kirtimukhas. Apart from these, the wall has fine carvings of elephant, Yaksha, Gandharva, Bhairava, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Rama-Lakshmana, Vali-Sugriva battle and flower vines.

The sanctum sanctorum has a vesara-style shikhara on top, and there is also a projecting sukhanasa in front. In front of the Mallikarjuna temple there is a Nandi shrine built exclusively for Nandi. In this, a huge size of Nandhi sculpture, beautifully polished and decorated with various designs like dande, lodagas and bells, has been enshrined. It is also known as KuruvathiBasavanna. During Shivratri, especially, Rathotsava is celebrated with great pomp.

There are a total of 22 inscriptions in this village. Among them, the God Mallikarjuna has been called as ChalukyaMallesvara(1087), AbhinavaSomesvara(1099), Ahavamallesvara (1104), Mallikarjuna(16th century). In this temple there are sculptures of devotees standing with folded hands in Anjali mudra. These are also said to be the first Somesvara and his consort (wife).

Kuruvatti which is located 39 km from HoovinaHadagali taluk

Near By Tourist Places:

• Mylara, Mylaralingeshwara Temple, HoovianahadagaliTq
• Hampi&T.B.Dam, HosapeteTq,
• BagaliKalleshwara Temple &Ucchhangi Durga Temples, HarapanahalliTq.

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