View source for Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name               = Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple
| image              = A trident outside Gavigangadareswara temple in Bangalore.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption            = A Trident of Lord Shiva outside the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple at Bangalore.
| map_type        = India Bengaluru
| map_caption        = Location within Bangalore
| coordinates        = {{coord|12|56|53.5|N|77|33|46.8|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country            = [[India]]
| state              = [[Karnataka]]
| district           = [[Bangalore]]
| locale             = Gavipuram
| elevation_m        = 
| deity      = [[Shiva]] as Gavi Gangadhareshwara
| festivals= [[Maha Shivaratri]], [[Makara Sankranti]]
| architecture       = [[Indian rock-cut architecture]]
| temple_quantity  = 
| monument_quantity= 
| inscriptions       = 
| year_completed         = 16th century AD
| creator            = 
| website            = 
}}

'''Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple''' also Gavipuram Cave Temple, an example of [[Indian rock-cut architecture]], is located in [[Bangalore]] in the state of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]]. The temple is famous for its mysterious stone discs in the forecourt and the exact planning allowing the sun to shine on shrine in certain time of the year. It was built in the 16th century by [[Kempe Gowda I]], the founder of the city.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shastry|first1=Vyasa|title=The mysteries of Bengaluru’s famed Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple|url=http://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/X3uvXrojiRaPr31fhf6IQI/The-mysteries-of-Bengalurus-famed-Gavi-Gangadhareshwara-tem.html|work=Livemint|access-date=2 March 2017|date=25 February 2017}}</ref>

==Temple==
This cave temple dedicated to [[Shiva]] in Bengaluru is a well visited temple. Built by Gautama Maharshi and Bharadwaja Muni in Vedic period. Renovated in the 16th century AD by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru, Temple Gavi Gangadhareshwara is an architectural marvel that attracts the faithful by the hordes. One of the oldest temples in Bengaluru, Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple was built by Kempe Gowda in recognition after being released from prison of five years by Rama Raya. There are other idols inside idol [[Agni|Agnimurthi]] including having two heads, seven hands and three legs. Those who worship this deity believe will cure one of the defects of the eye. The temple is also known for its four monolithic pillars, representing [[Damaru]], [[Trishula|Trishul]] and two fans on the patio.

Built in a natural cave in Gavipuram, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and cut into a monolithic stone. The courtyard of the temple here contains several monolithic sculptures. The main attractions of Gavi Gangadhareshvara temple are two granite pillars that support the giant disk of the sun and moon, while the other two have a number of Nandi at the top.

On the occasion of [[Makar Sankranti]], temple witnesses a unique phenomenon in the evening sunlight passes through an arc between the horns of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] and falls directly on the [[linga]] inside the cave and illuminating the interior idol.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.templenet.com/Karnataka/gavigang.html
|title=Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple at Bangalore(Karnataka)
|access-date=2006-09-13 
}}</ref>

==Illumination of shrine by the Sun==
Lakhs of devotees come in mid January every year on [[Makar]] [[sankranti]] Day to this cave temple. This is a special day  when the sunrays fall on the [[Shivalinga]] for one hour as it passes between the horns of the [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]. Comparison of contemporary structures and earlier drawings by [[Thomas Daniell]] and William Daniell show that earlier the temple has less structures and the Sun illuminated the shrine in summer and winter solstice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/652565/a-stellar-wonder.html|title=A stellar wonder|date=2018-01-08|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iiacd.org/projects/vernacular/gg_temple.html|title=IIACD {{!}} Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave Temple and Vernacular Dwellings of Gavipuram: A Pilot Study|website=www.iiacd.org|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Downloads/article_id_095_11_1632_1636_0.pdf
|title=Astronomical Significance of the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Bangalore
|publisher=Current Science, Vol.95, No. 11, 10 December 2008.
|access-date=2010-06-18 
}}</ref>
Also today the Sun illuminates Shivalinga two times per year - from 13 to 16 January in late afternoons and from 26 November to 2 December.

==Protected temple==
The temple shrine is a protected monument under the ''Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments, and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Bangalore|url=http://www.bengaloorutourism.com/gavi-gangadhareshwara-temple.php}}</ref>
and many more temples which are of great importance for the Indian culture

==Specialities==
People believe that there is a tunnel which may lead to Kashi. However it is believed that two men named nishant and prem went into the tunnel and had never returned back .

==Nearby holy places ==

* Gosaayi Math
*Just behind the temple of Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, there is a samadhi of a great yogi called Bet [[Narayan Maharaj]].
* Sri Bande Mahakali Temple

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:GGTemple1.jpg|Roof top of the temple
File:GGTemple2.jpg|Temple yard with monolithic sculptures
File:GGTemple3.jpg|Another view of the roof top of the temple
File:GGTemple4.jpg|Entrance from front
File:GGTemple5.jpg|Entrance from rear side
</gallery>

==Vintage Gallery==
<gallery widths="150px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:View from the Hepern House, Bangalore (Campbell, 1839).jpg|File:View from the Hepern House, Bangalore (Campbell, 1839)
File:The Umbrella Temple, Bangalore - J B MacGeorge, 1917.jpg|The Umbrella Temple, Bangalore - J B MacGeorge, 1917

</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Bhaja Caves]]
* [[Varaha Cave Temple]]
* [[Undavalli caves]]
* [[Badami Cave Temples]]
* [[Nellitheertha Cave Temple]]
* [[Pandavleni Caves]]
* [[Karla Caves]]
* [[Elephanta Caves]]
* [[Indian rock-cut architecture]]
* [[Hulimavu cave temple]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* {{Cite book|title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation|last=Hardy|first=Adam|isbn=8170173124|location=New Delhi}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://bangaloretourism.org/bangalore-Gavi-Gangadeshwara-Cave-Temple.php Gavi Gangadhareshwara - BangaloreTourism.org]

{{Bangalore topics}}

{{Hindu temples in Bangalore}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu cave temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Archaeoastronomy]]