Tarakeshwara Temple, Hangal

The Chalukyas of Kalyana reigned in the Deccan from the 10th to the 12th century. They built Hindu temples in Ittagi, Gadag and Lakkundi as well as in Hangal. The Tarakeshwara Temple was also built by them {{circa|lk=no|{{nowrap|AD 1050}}}}{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u01932000.html |contribution=

General View of Small Temple North-East of the Tarakeshvara Temple, Hangal |accessdate=22 May 2016 |publisher=British Library |title=Asia, Pacific, and Africa Collections }}. or the mid-12th century.

The Tarakeshwara temple is a listed monument of the Archaeological Survey of India.{{citation |contribution-url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_dharwad.asp |contribution=Dharwad Circle, Karnataka |title=Archaeological Survey of India |date=2011 |location=New Delhi |accessdate=22 May 2016 |publisher=Ministry of Culture }}.

The temple is built with grey-green chloritic schist{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/h/019pho0000965s1u00042000.html |contribution=Hungul. A temple. |accessdate=22 May 2016 |series=Online Gallery |publisher=British Library |title=Asia, Pacific, and Africa Collections }}. in the Hoysala style. More specifically, it is said to be one of the best edifices erected in the Kalyana Chalukyan style influenced by Hoysala architecture.{{sfnp|Joshi|1985|p=86}}

Opposite the idol, there is an octagonal structure known as the "lotus of Hangal".{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookbombayp00eastgoog |title=Handbook of the Bombay Presidency: With an Account of Bombay City |author=Edward Backhouse Eastwick |author-link=Edward Backhouse Eastwick |publisher=John Murray |year=1881 |page=[https://archive.org/details/handbookbombayp00eastgoog/page/n261 242] }} The elaborately-carved structure is {{Convert|9|m|0}} in diameter.{{sfnp|Murray|1859|p=417}}{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/g/019pho000001003u01930000.html |contribution=General View from the South-West of the Tarakeshvara Temple, Hangal |accessdate=22 May 2016 |publisher=British Library |title=Asia, Pacific, and Africa Collections }}.{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/h/019pho0000965s1u00089000.html |contribution=Hungul, Sculptured Memorial Stone, Hangal |accessdate=22 May 2016 |publisher=British Library |title=Asia, Pacific, and Africa Collections |archive-date=11 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611133843/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/h/019pho0000965s1u00089000.html |url-status=dead }}. A huge stone, {{convert|6|m|0}} in diameter, forms the ceiling of this structure. The stone, cut into the shape of a lotus, is supported by eight pillars. Next to each of the eight pillars, there are sculpted stone pillars which mark the Guardians of the Directions (ashtadikpalaka).{{sfnp|Murray|1859|p=417}}

Large domical ceiling in the open mantapa facing sanctum of the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Part of the octagonal hall

Decorative work in large domical ceiling in the open mantapa of the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Lotus ceiling

Decorative relief in the center of the domical ceiling in the open mantapa of the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Lotus ceiling close-up

Near the main temple, there is a hall supported by 12 pillars worshipping Nandi, the bull ridden by Shiva. It and an adjacent hall are provided with an inclined balcony for sitting. The columns are made in a "lathe-turned" octagonal polished form and carved with geometric designs. The two halls are topped by stepped-pyramid roofs. The exterior walls are profusely ornamented with sculptures of miniature temples and other images.

The Ganesha temple is located northeast of the main temple and oriented to the south. The temple has a "stepped plan" with a sanctum preceded by a square-shaped open hall. Done in the Nagara style,{{sfnp|Kamath|1996|p=256}} The tower (shikhara) is made of several miniature towers in north Indian style. The hall has a parapet with many carvings.

Outer wall relief Kirtimukha on half pilaster in the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Exterior wall reliefs

Parapet wall relief sculpture in the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Parapet wall reliefs

Ganesha temple with Nagara type shikara (tower) in the Tarakeshwara temple complex at Hangal.jpg | Miniature towers

Old Kannada inscriptions of Kadamba king Kamadeva (c.1180) and Hoysala king Veera Ballala II (c.1196) in the open mantapa of the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal.JPG | Three memorial stones

Hero stone (virgal) with old Kannada inscription at the Tarakeshvara temple at Hangal.jpg | Hero stone

The temple complex has three memorial stones sculpted with religious and military scenes, located in front of the halls. It also has a 12th-century hero stone which shows contemporary battle weapons.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vOe4AAAAIAAJ |title=Defence architecture in early Karnataka |author=S. K. Joshi |publisher=Sudeep |year=1985 |page=xiv }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |last=Joshi |first=S.K. |title=Defence Architecture in Early Karnataka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vOe4AAAAIAAJ |date=1985 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan }}.
• {{citation |first=Suryanath U. |last=Kamath |title=A Handbook of Karnataka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tHFuAAAAMAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Karnataka Gazetteer Department, Government of Karnataka }}.
• {{citation |last=Murray |first=John |title=A Handbook for India, Part II: Bombay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vg0IAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA417 |year=1859 }}.

• {{commons category-inline|Tarakesvara Temple, Hangal|Tarakeshwara Temple}}

Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka