Shri Hoysala Sadashivaswamy Temple, Nuggehalli - Hassan, Karnataka

Experienced: May 2023

Unique Aspects

• Arrangement of the navagraha (nine planets) images facing each other is distinctive feature
• This unique Hoysala temple blends the ekakuta (one superstructure and shrine) architecture with a nagara (north Indian) styled tower, creating a distinctive and uncommon architectural synthesis.

The Sadasiva temple in Nuggehalli, located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, India, is a 13th-century Shiva temple showcasing Hoysala architecture. It stands as a prime example of a Nagara-style temple from the Hoysala era, distinguished by its stellate design featuring an octagonal star configuration, known for its clean and simple aesthetics. What makes this temple particularly noteworthy is its exceptional synthesis of South Indian and North Indian architectural influences. The temple is also renowned for its artwork, which skillfully depicts legends from Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Vedic deities, offering a comprehensive representation of various religious traditions.

The Sadasiva Temple is situated in Nuggehalli, also spelled "Nuggihalli," a town located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, India. Positioned to the east of the Lakshmi Narasimha temple and in proximity to the historical water reservoir northeast of the village, the temple holds a strategic location. In ancient times, the town was known as Vijaya Somanathapura and later became a significant agrahara (place of learning) during the era of Bommanna Dandanayaka.

The Sadasiva temple stands as a splendid example of Hoysala nagara architecture, featuring a Bhumija type superstructure. Completed around the year 1249, it was commissioned by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala Empire during the reign of King Vira Someshwara.

This extraordinary Hoysala temple combines the ekakuta ("one superstructure and shrine") architecture with a nagara (north Indian) styled tower. The Vimana, or the sanctum, features a stellate plan with an octagonal star configuration, and this rhythmic pattern extends to each bhadra (sub-shrine). The square gudha-mandapa, enriched with orthogonal ratha, is seamlessly integrated with the Vimana.

The temple's architects and artisans, known as sthanapati and shilpins, achieved a remarkable feat by creating a "highly sophisticated rotating shape far beyond the innovations found in Chalukyan architecture," according to Dhaky, a scholar of temple architecture and history. The temple can be described as quasi-Bhumija, incorporating South Indian concepts on the rotating square principle of Hindu architecture. This synthesis results in a harmonious blend of geometric configurations, from the stellate base and outer walls to the North Indian style shikhara.

The shrine's walls and the mantapa present a simple and austere appearance without sculptural decoration. However, the temple's significance lies in the successful integration of Nagara quasi-Bhumija architecture with South Indian flourishes, making it a key monument in the Hoysala architectural context. Built on a jagati (platform) and constructed using Soapstone (green–chloritic schist) as the primary material, the temple houses a large linga (the universal symbol of the god Shiva) in its sanctum. Additionally, an equally large and intricately carved Nandi is placed in a closed hall with walls featuring perforated stone windows.

Notably, the temple boasts a unique life-size standing image of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Another distinctive feature is the arrangement of the navagraha (nine planets) images facing each other. Two images of the god Ganesha, one outside the sanctum and the other at the entrance to the sanctum housing the goddess Parvati, add to the temple's uniqueness. In the common hall, intricately carved independent images of deities from the Hindu pantheon are noteworthy, including Chamundeshwari (one of the seven Saptamatrikas in Shaktism), Kartikeya and Ganesha (sons of Parvati and Shiva), Kala Bhairava (a ferocious form of Shiva), a set of images depicting different incarnations (avatars) of Vishnu, Parvati, and Surya (the Sun god).

The arrangement of the navagraha (nine planets) images facing each other is indeed another distinctive feature of the temple. This arrangement, often found in Hindu temples, is symbolic and holds astrological significance. The navagrahas represent the nine celestial bodies in Vedic astrology, and their proper alignment is believed to influence the destinies of individuals. Placing these images facing each other is a unique aspect of the temple's design, adding both visual and symbolic richness to its overall architecture.

Location

Nuggehalli is located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, approximately 140 kilometers from Bangalore. To reach there, you can take the Bangalore-Mangalore national highway and turn right at Hirisave. Alternatively, you can continue on the highway until Channarayapatna and then take the road towards Tiptur, which is about 16 kilometers from Channarayapatna.

Address

Shri Hoysala Sadashivaswamy Temple,
Nuggehalli,
Hassan Region,
Karnataka,
India, Pincode: 573131.