Talakadu – Keerthi Narayana Temple

By Meera

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Thank you for joining me from Part I

As we walked on the hot sands, we were dead tired and wanted to return to our homestay. Suddenly a temple unfolded before us at a very great depth that was so eye-catching that we forgot all our aches and pains. Taking images of that temple became a race against time as the light was fading away and I also did not want to miss seeing the interiors of the temple.

 

Keerthinarayana Temple

Even as we reached the temple gate, they were getting ready to close it but allowed us to go round and see the main deity at our leisure. We sat for some time and absorbed all the details of an old temple that was more than 800 years old. It was now cool and the winds wafting from the green cover around eased our discomfort to a large extent and drinking the sweet coconut water from a nearby vendor quenched our thirst to no end.

 

Keerthinarayana temple top view 

Standing and drinking in the company of langurs, I wondered about this eerie and ancient land with its temples waiting to be discovered as they have been buried under sand for centuries. One of the last temples to be discovered is the only Vishnu temple in Talakadu, the Keerthi Narayana Temple. Also, some new structures, entrances, etc were revealed due to continuing excavations from 1994 to 2020.

 

Temple carvings 

This temple is not part of the Panchalinga temples but is one of the best-sculpted temples in Talakadu. If one follows the covered pathway, this temple comes last in the order of visit. The temple which lies in a huge pit appears spectacular in the evenings with the approach of fading light.

 

Right behind the Vaidyanatheshwara temple, if one takes a right turn, one can visit this Vishnu temple by walking from the main road. With a beautiful landscape lined with trees at a height, the Keerthi Narayana temple lies in a deep elongated pit. It is visible from a great height and that was the reason, we saw it as we walked from Paataleshwara to Maruleshwara Temple.

  

Mahadwara

This temple was built in 1117 AD and is built over a Jagati. It was built by King Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala dynasty and the main deity is Lord Keerthi Narayana standing on a lotus pedestal in Samabhanga. The 9-foot-tall Vishnu is standing on Garuda Peetha with Shankha (conch in the upper left hand) and a chakra (disc in the upper right hand), a lotus (in the lower left hand), and Gadha (mace in the lower right hand).

 

Keerthinarayana temple 

The temple houses a stellate Garbhagriha, an open ardhamandapa, and a Navaranga with three entrances. Further, the two mandapas which are exquisitely carved have idols of Ugra Narasimha, Ramanujacharya and others.

 

 Lathe-turned pillars 

An amazing feature is that the Garbhagriha doorways are carved in Hoysala style. However, the outer wall of the Garbhagriha has collapsed. The exquisite parikramas and lathe-turned pillars resemble the Hoysala architecture. The temple’s priest K S R Bhattachar describes the heritage and the ongoing pooja rituals in this temple. During Vishnu Vardhan’s time, the temple was renovated and the beautiful sculptures of the Hoysala style are clearly visible.

 

Main deity 

A spacious Navaranga, it also has lathe-turned pillars with a ceiling adorned with creeper scrolls, lotuses, and other floral designs. The temple has a spacious inner Prakara. It was only recently that the ornate Mahadwara (great entrance) Mandapa was laid bare open along with some sub-shrines and even a well. These were all buried under centuries of accumulated sand.

 

Further, a brick gopura over the sanctum collapsed due to heavy rains. Although this temple has been restored and protected, major portions of it still lie buried under the sand. In fact, way back, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) dismantled the entire temple and re-assembled the same.

 

Not many people can be seen at this temple, however, some devotees visit as it is their belief and they come to seek fulfillment of their desires, freedom from diseases, escape from bondage, and gain wealth, fame, and name. I loved visiting the temple and since the excavations are continuing which may reveal new structures, I would love to visit it again.

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