FranciscaFortney at 20:11, 2 May 2026

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{{Short description|Hindu Shiva temple in Bangalore, Karnataka, India}}
{{other|Someshwara Temple (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Halasuru Shri Someshwaraswami Temple
| native_name = 
| image = Someshwara1.jpg
| alt =
| caption = The entrance of Someshwara temple
| map_type = Karnataka
| map_caption = Location in Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|12.975445|77.624231|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Karnataka]]
| district = [[Bangalore]]
| locale = [[ulsoor|Halasuru]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva|Someshwara]]
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Halasuru Someshwara Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]], located in the neighborhood of Halasuru in [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. It is one of the old temples in the city, dating back to the [[Chola]] period, and it is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Shiva]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Dynamics of Language Maintenance Among Linguistic Minorities: A Sociolinguistic Study of the Tamil Communities in Bangalore|year=1986|publisher=Central Institute of Indian Languages, 1986|page=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hyViAAAAMAAJ&q=chola+++temple+ulsoor}}</ref> Major additions or modifications were made during the late [[Vijayanagara Empire]] period under the rule of Hiriya [[Kempe Gowda]] II.<ref name="achari1"/><ref name="michell">Michell (1995), p. 69</ref>

Someshwara temples were built by the Cholas in Karnataka. During that period, we see Tamil inscriptions as a few [[Thuluva Vellala|Mudaliars]] (Tuluva Vellala) were settled. These [[Mudaliars]] had settled in parts of TN especially Arcot. The temple is being managed by the Muzarai department.

The archakas are from the Dikshit community. It is one of the oldest and biggest temples of Bengaluru. The main festivals are Mahashivaratri, Brahmotsavam, and Karthika Somawaram. Other festivals include Annabhishekam, Shiva Deepam, Ardra Darshanam, Sankranthi, Yugadi, and Navarathri. Anna prasadam is provided every Monday. During shivaratri more than a lakh people visit. The ''[[vahana]]''s ("vehicles") at the temple include the [[bull]], [[Nandi (Hinduism)|adhikaranandi]], [[elephant]], [[Bandicoot|mouse]], peacock, [[goat]] and [[Parrot|snake]], while a silver chariot is a recent addition. Statues of the presiding divine couple are seated on a ''vahana'' or chariot which is brought in a procession around the temple while the temple band plays music

==History==
In the "Gazetter of Mysore" (1887), Benjamin Lewis Rice describes a legend behind the consecration of the temple. [[Kempe Gowda I|Kempe Gowda]], while on a hunt, rode far away from his capital [[Yalahanka]]. Being tired, he rested under a tree and fell asleep. The local deity Someshwara appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to build a temple in his honor using buried treasure. In return the chieftain would receive divine favor. Kempe Gowda found the treasure and dutifully completed the temple.<ref name = rice>[https://books.google.com/books?id=p0wSoEIub1YC&dq=Somesvara+temple+in+bangalore&pg=PA71 B.L.Rice, p72 "Halasur"]</ref>

According to another version of the legend, King Jayappa Gowda (1420-1450 CE) from a minor dynasty of the Yelahanka Nada Prabhus was hunting in a forest near the present Halasuru area, when he felt tired and relaxed under a tree. In a dream, a man appeared before him and told him that a ''[[linga]]'' (universal symbol of the god Shiva) was buried under the spot where he was sleeping. He was instructed to retrieve it and build a temple. Jayappa found the treasure and initially built the temple out of wood.

Another account attributes the temple to the [[Chola Dynasty]] with later renovations made by the Yelahanka Nada Prabhus.<ref name="achari1">{{cite news|last=Achari|first=S.N|title=Bangalore's beautiful Someshwara temple|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/240777/F|access-date=23 November 2012|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=10 April 2012}}</ref> The Kamakshi temple was built by the Mysore Maharajas. However, even before them, Adi Shankaracharya established a Shri Chakra there.

==Structure==
According to Michell, the temple plan follows many of the basic elements of [[Vijayanagara architecture]] though at a lower scale. The temple has a square sanctum (''[[garbhagriha]]'') which is surrounded by a narrow passageway. The sanctum is connected to a closed ''[[mantapa]]'' (hall) whose walls are decorated with pilasters and sculptures in frieze. The closed ''mantapa'' is connected to a spacious open ''mantapa'' consisting of four large projecting "bays" (area between four pillars). The piers leading to the sanctum and those facing outward from the open ''mantapa'' are the standard ''[[Yali (Hindu Mythology)|Yali]]'' (mythical beast) pillars. The eastern ''[[gopuram]]'' is a well-executed, typical 16th century structure.<ref name="michell"/>The brahma samba is located in the east direction of the temple which is about 18 feet in height and has the base radius of 2 feet.

There are several notable sculptures and decorative features in the complex. An impressive pillar (''kambha'' or [[Nandi (bull)|nandi]]) pillar) stands near the tall tower over the entrance gate (''[[gopura]]''). The tower itself exhibits well sculptured images of gods and goddesses from [[Hindu]] mythology. The open ''mantapa'' consists of forty-eight pillars with carvings of divinities in frieze. To the north is the ''navagraha'' temple (shrine for the nine planets) with twelve pillars, each pillar representing a saint (''rishi''). The entrance to the sanctum exhibits sculptures of two "door keepers" (''[[dvarapala]]kas''). Other notable works of art include sculptures that depict King [[Ravana]] lifting [[Mount Kailash]] in a bid to appease the god Shiva, [[Durga]] slaying [[Mahishasura]] (a demon), images of the [[Nayanmar]] saints ([[Tamil language|Tamil]] Shaivaite saints), depictions of the ''Girija Kalyana'' (marriage of [[Parvati]] to the god [[Shiva]]), the [[saptarishi]]s (seven sages of Hindu lore).<ref name="achari1" /> Recent excavations at the temple site has revealed the existence of a temple tank (''[[Temple tank|kalyani]]'') which could be 1200 years old.<ref name="tank">{{cite news|last=R|first=Arthi|title=Ulsoor dig unearthing 1,200-year-old pond|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-30/bangalore/28115764_1_pond-oldest-temple-kalyani|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103120806/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-30/bangalore/28115764_1_pond-oldest-temple-kalyani|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|access-date=23 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=30 April 2010}}</ref> There are other shrines dedicated to Ganapathi, Bhimeshwara, Nanjundeshwara, Arunachaleshwara, Chandramouleeshwara, Kamakshi, Vishnu, Navagraha etc.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="150px" perrow="4">
File:Entrance gopura or gateway of the Ulsur temple in Bangalore (c.1868), by Henry Dixon, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections.jpg|Entrance gopura or gateway of the Ulsoor temple in Bangalore (c.1868), by Henry Dixon, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections<ref name=Dixon-1868>{{cite book|last1=Dixon|first1=Henry|title=Archaeological Survey of India Collections|date=1868|url=http://arjunpuriinqatar.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/rare-photographs-of-bangalore-part-i.html|access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>
File:Halasuru Someshwara Temple.jpg|Someshwara temple in 1890
File:Mantapa (hall) in Someshwara temple (16th century) in Bengaluru.JPG|Ornate open ''[[mantapa]]'' (hall) at the Someshwara temple in Halasuru
File:Depictions of the Girija Kalyana (marriage of Parvati to the god Shiva.jpg|Depiction of the Girija Kalyana (marriage of Parvati to the god Shiva
File:Durga slaying Mahishasura (a demon).jpg|Durga slaying Mahishasura (a demon)
File:Ornate pillars in Someshwara temple at Bengaluru.JPG|''Mantapa'' pillars at Someshwara temple in Halasuru
</gallery>

==Inscriptions==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="250px" perrow="4">
File:Ulsoor Someshwara Tamil Inscription BN-15.jpg|Ulsoor Someshwara Temple, Tamil Inscription BN-15<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book|last1=Rice|first1=Benjamin Lewis|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District|date=1894|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology|location=Mysore State, British India|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso|access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref>
File:Vijaynagar Tamil Inscription, Someshwara Temple, Ulsoor.jpg|Tamil Inscription, Someshwara Temple, Ulsoor
</gallery>

==References==
* {{cite book |last= Michell|first=George|title=[[The New Cambridge History of India]], Volumes 1-6 |orig-year=1995|year=1995|publisher= Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=0521-441102}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Halasuru Someshwara Temple}}
{{Hindu temples in Bangalore}}
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka}}
{{Bangalore topics}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Bengaluru]]

Halasuru Someshwara Temple - Revision history

FranciscaFortney at 20:11, 2 May 2026