MYLARALINGESHWAR TEMPLE-MYLARA, HOVINA HADAGALI

Mylara is a famous religious place in Vijayanagara district. Situated on the right bank of the Tungabhadra River, this village is particularly famous for the Mylaralingeswara temple and also for fair and Karnikas. This village is called Uglara in inscriptions. The reason for this is that the Tungabhadra River flows in a ring shape. The tradition of Mylara deity worship here is very ancient. But in the context of architecture, sculpture and inscriptions and became more prevalent in the KalyanaChalukya and Vijayanagara periods.

One of the famous temples of Karnataka, Mylarlingeshwara Temple is spacious with Garbhagriha, antarala, sabhamantapa, open mantapa, sub-shrines and mahadwargopuram. In the sanctum sanctorum there is a Mylar idol (murti) about four feet tall made of mud and in front of it is SwayambhuShivlingam.

Lord Mylara holds the trident and damaru in his four hands while the lower hands hold sword and alms bowls. He has a thick mustache on his face, a drooping beard and a braid on his head. At the top of the Mylar is the Prabhavali of Kirtimukha, and the Chamaradharas (assistance of oscillation fans in hands) are standing in the two ikkilas (two sides) below. The place is called Mud Mylar after the clay idol of Mylar, and Hire Mylar because of the antiquity of this deity.

Below MailaraLingappa there are two rundas (heads) called Mallasura and Manikasura. The hall of the temple has polished KalyanaChalukya, style pillars made by turning machine. From this it is clear that this temple existed during the KalyanaChalukya period. The doorway of the hall is decorated with branches like Aregamba, Huballi(creepers) etc., with Gajalakshmi in the lalata (structure), the hall has four pillars in Vijayanagara style. Above the sanctum sanctorum is a Dravidian style triple spire. The Gangamalamma temple is also located in the same premises, adjacent to the Mylara temple. Sukhanasi and NavarangaMandapam of this temple were built in 1412 AD by a man named Gangarasa, the temple premises have sculptures of Vishnu Kanchaveera, Kalamma, Veerabhadra, Junjappa and other small shrines. There are many inscriptions in this village.

On one of the pillars of the MylaraLingappa temple there are inscriptions of the first and second Devarayas of Vijayanagara (1412 and1416) which indicate who built the Rangamantapa, Chitrathorana, four-pillared Rangamantapa, Heggade Deva Shilamantapa, Sukanasi of Malaladevi and Navrangamantapa of the temple of Gangarasu, who was the official of the treasury. Also in AD 1518 Honnisetti’s son Nakarasaya and his wife BasammaMailara made Utasava idols of the deity, inscriptions here inform that in 1547AD, Bennayaka, son of MudagandalaThayarasanayaka, donated Amaragere to VarunkantaVadeya, son of KapilamuniHeggappaShivacharyaVadeya of Mayilara.

Mylar is famous for its character and the Karnikotsava held there every year. Milk churning, silent ride, GoravaraDoniseve, Kanchaveer’s miracles like chain flowing, Baganiguta tradition, Bhandara Puja, KadubinaKalaga, AmbaliPrasada and Karnikotsava are the important celebrations in this fair. The specialty of this fair is the Karnikotsava of MailaraLingeppa, which usually takes place on the full moon days of Magha month. It is a prophecy that informs the people of this region especially the farmers and others about the future of the rainy season of that year.

Myalara which is located 38 km from HoovinaHadagali taluk

Near By Tourist Places:

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

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