This ancient temple was cut out of the rock probably in the 9th century. It is a natural monolith rock formation with the cave temple carved out of it. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has four monolithic pillars and a rare idol of Agni, the God of fire. There are other idols inside including the idol of Agnimurthi, which has two heads, seven hands and three legs. Those worshipping this deity believe it will cure one of all eye defects. Thousands of devotees come in January every year on Makar sankranti Day to this cave temple. This is a special day when the sunrays fall on the Sivalinga for one hour as it passes between the horns of the Nandi. Such was the knowledge of architecture and astronomy that the ancient sculptors could craft the horns of the stone bull outside the temple so that the sun's rays would pass through its horns and light up the deity Shiva Linga inside the cave. The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Bangalore is well known for a celestial event on 14 January every year, when the rays of the setting sun illuminate the idol of the deity inside a cave. The sun’s rays falling from the southwestern part of the temple pass through an arch and a couple of windows placed perpendicular to each other, and later through the horns of a ‘Nandi’, to fall on the idol of the temple for about 15 min (between 4:55 and 5:15 pm). For the astronomical construction of the temple check out this site.
Friday, July 17, 2009
GAVI GANGADHARESHWARA TEMPLE
This ancient temple was cut out of the rock probably in the 9th century. It is a natural monolith rock formation with the cave temple carved out of it. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has four monolithic pillars and a rare idol of Agni, the God of fire. There are other idols inside including the idol of Agnimurthi, which has two heads, seven hands and three legs. Those worshipping this deity believe it will cure one of all eye defects. Thousands of devotees come in January every year on Makar sankranti Day to this cave temple. This is a special day when the sunrays fall on the Sivalinga for one hour as it passes between the horns of the Nandi. Such was the knowledge of architecture and astronomy that the ancient sculptors could craft the horns of the stone bull outside the temple so that the sun's rays would pass through its horns and light up the deity Shiva Linga inside the cave. The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Bangalore is well known for a celestial event on 14 January every year, when the rays of the setting sun illuminate the idol of the deity inside a cave. The sun’s rays falling from the southwestern part of the temple pass through an arch and a couple of windows placed perpendicular to each other, and later through the horns of a ‘Nandi’, to fall on the idol of the temple for about 15 min (between 4:55 and 5:15 pm). For the astronomical construction of the temple check out this site.
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