Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The Late Shri Venkatesh Galaganath, also known as Kadambari Pitamaha, is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here. It is said that, he wrote his books when sitting in the temple courtyard and so the deity came to be called Galageshwara. Temple was facing East direction with Chalukya style of architecture. The vimana of the temple is very unique and the largest in region. It appears in gigantic proportions due to its pyramidal buttresses at the base. These buttresses are coeval with the temple construction period, and probably were applied as the designers found its instability during its construction and therefore reinforced the basement to avoid any collapse. The vimana decoration is simple, having very few images on its shikhara (superstructure). The tower is exquisitely decorated in the various architectural elements and fine decorations. Temple consists of a garbha-griha, sukanasi and a mandapa which has openings on three sides. The temple has an unusual pyramidal basement and a large open hall. The Gopura (tower) is decorated with plain architectural elements while the wall panels of the back of the hall have some fine decorations. The interior has numerous niches containing figural sculpture including Ganesha.

Inscriptions -

• The inscriptions in the temple talk about the Chalukyan dynasty and the ruler, King Vikramaditya who helped develop arts and music during his reign. It has large inscriptions that speak about the music and dance of that era.A musician of older times, Mokhari Barmmayya who had a skill of 32 different ragas, has been referred in the temple inscriptions. Sparshalinga of this temple was found in an inscription (South Indian Inscriptions vol XVIII, No 246), dated 1263 CE, which mentions that Vira Vikramaditya of the Gutta family worshiped the lord here. However many inscriptions dated earlier than the former are discovered here. On the basis of architecture and inscription, this temple can be associated with Western Chalukya king Jayasimha-II who ruled in the first quarter of the tenth century.
• There are five inscriptions found in the vicinity of this temple. Slab in the temple of Galagesvara – SII vol XVIII, no. 54 – dated to 1028 CE on paleographic grounds – This record referring itself to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Jayasimha-II. But since Kundamarasa is mentioned, it may be assigned to Jayasimha II. Paleography supports this. It refers to Mahasamantadhipati Kundamarasa as governing Banavasi-12000 and to a certain Chanda, as his subordinate. Fragment lying in the temple of Galagesvara – SII vol XVIII, no. 64 – Saka 977, corresponding 1056 CE – refers itself to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Someshvara-I – This fragmentary inscription mentions a mahamandalesvara, whose name is lost, belonging to the Kadamba family.
• Slab in the temple of Galagesvara – SII vol XVIII, no 86 – dated in Chalukya year 3, corresponding 1079 CE – refers to reign of the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI – it records a gift of thirty gadyanas for the mandapa of the god Galagesvaradeva made by the musician Barmayya who is stated to be an expert in thirty-two ragas as also, in music, dancing and allied arts. It states that yuvaraja Jayasimghadeva (the younger brother of Vikramaditya-VI) was governing Banavasi -12000 and Santalige -1000. It may be noted that Jayasimgha is given all the Pallava titles. The gift was made for the beatitude of Jogiyabbe, the mother of the donor.
• Stone slab in the temple – SII vol XVIII, no 88 – dated in the Chalukya-Vikrama year 5, corresponding 1080 CE – refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI – The record, after describing the valor of Yuvaraja Jayasimha, the younger brother of Vikramaditya, states that his subordinate Mahamandalesvara Chenna, who was governing Beluhuge-70, Muvattarumabada (the sub-division of 36 villages), Kondavati, Mahalige-nadu and other divisions and whose territory extended up to Haive, revived (punar-datti) the grant of the village Pulluni situated in Beluhuge - 70 to god Galagesvara of that place for worship and offerings to the god and for the feeding of ascetics, visitors and students as well as for the service of music and dancing in the temple. 
• Stone built into the bund called sthapane of the Varada river in front of the Galagesvara temple – SII vol XVIII, no 329 – dated to 10th-11th century CE based upon paleographic grounds – This fragmentary and damaged record seems to describe the valor of a hero (name lost). The divisions of Kadambalige and Ganga-mandala are mentioned.