Karnataka > Karnataka Tourist Paradise
The St. Mary's Church in Belgaum is a huge granite structure built in 1869 in the Camp area with fine piers in the prayer hall and gorgeous stained glass windows. The St. Philomina Church at Mysore with its two tall towers of imposing size can be the pride of any town and the building has a crypt. The Abbe Dubois Church (Srirangapattana) is worth mentioning.
Bangalore has its oldest St. Mary's Basilica in Shivajinagar supposed to be raised around 1600, rebuilt in 1832, and it has a tall Gothic tower at the entrance. St. Marks Cathedral that took the present shape in 1927, is another Imposing structure in the former Cantonment area, now of the Church of South India. The St. Patrick's Church with North-South alignment is in Greeco-Roman style, was originally built for Irish soldiers in 1844 and rebuilt in 1898. The Trinity Church on the Mahatma Gandhi Road was the official Anglican Church of British times which was attended by Residents and other officers. It took its present shape in 1908, though originally built in 1851, it has fine ionic pillars and a portico with a majestic look. Its nave is 90 feet long and the back-wall has fine wooden carvings.
The Buddhists had their Tara Bhagavati temples at Belgami (Balligave) near Shiralkoppa (Shimoga dt), Koliwada and Dambal, (both in Gadag dt), are no more. Remains of the razed Stupas and a large number of Buddhist plaques of Satavahana period are unearthed recently at Sannatti and Kanaganahalli nearby in Gulbarga dt. Buddha Vihara at Aihole and Buddhist remains at Badami (between cave two and three) of Badami Chalukya period are noteworthy. Kadri in Mangalore has three Buddhist bronze images in the Manjunatha temple and of these, one of Avalokiteshwara is more than five feet tall, and is of ninth century. The Tibetan Settlements at Mundgod in Uttara Kannada and Bailukuppe in Mysore district look like mini-Tibet with their multi-coloured beautiful stupas and artistically painted prayer halls. The two New Baudha Viharas at Gulbarga are worth mentioning. The Mahabodhi Society in Bangalore has a magnificent stupa, and a huge temple on the model of the Bodhagaya temple has been raised inside the compound.
Jainism had been a very old religion of Karnataka and Shravanabelagola with its 58 feet tall Gommata (intalled in 981-82 AD) and many Jaina basatis on two rocky hills is the most important Jaina Centre. It is in Hassan dt. and in the neighbouring district of Shimoga is Humcha, famous for the worship of Yakshi Padmavathi. Kambadahalli (Nagamangala taluk) known for its Panchakuta Jaina Basadi (dwikuta and trikuta) of 10th C A.D. is unique by its varied amlashila adorning the shikaras of the trikuta temple with huge monolithic pillar in front. Simhanagadde in Chikmagalur dt. (Narasimharajapur tq) has a Jaina Matha of antiquity. Dakshina Kannada has many Jaina Centres. Mudabidre has the biggest Jaina Basadi in Karnataka called Thousand-pillared basadi with wonderful Jaina icons, both in metal and wood. The pillars of this 16th Century structure are highly artistic. At this place, there are many more Jaina monuments. Neighbouring Karkala town has a Gommata monolith statue installed in the 15th century, and a beautiful Chaturmukha basadi. Another town nearby is Venur which has another monolithic Gommata installed in 1604, also has the Shantinatha Basadi. Dharmasthala, a famous Shaiva Centre has a monolithic Gommata installed in the last century. Belgaum district has the beautiful Kamala basadi in Chalukyan style in the Belgaum Fort. The ancient centre Tavanidi near Nippani and newly created centre at Shedbal, where 24 Tirthankaras in white marble have been installed in a cluster, are quite imposing. Lakkundi in Gadag district has a huge Brahma Jinalaya of Chalukyan style, built by a noble lady, Attimabbe. Near Mysore is Gommatagiri with a 20 feet tall Gommata monolith. Tippuru in Maddur Tq has a 20 ft.Gommata image of 10th Century A.D. A picturesque hill, Maleyur in Chamarajnagar taluk with a Parshwanatha basadi atop the hill and also the samadhi of the great Jaina Savant Pujyapada is another holy centre. This place on a rocky hill has serene atmosphere.
To the Shaivas, Gokarn is a great all-India centre where the Atmalinga (Mahabaleshwara) of Shiva, brought by Ravana is believed to have been installed. Nearby is Murdeshwar where a huge modern Shiva temple in Dravidian Style has been raised, renovating an ancient shrine. Both the places are on the sea-shore in Uttara Kannada. At Hampi is the famous Virupaksha Temple, venerated by generations of poets, scholars, kings and commoners. Madikeri has the famous Omkareshwara temple built by the Kodagu rulers during the 19th century. Its domes and arches make it look like an Indo-Saracenic building. Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada is the most popular Shaiva centre in Karnataka. Nanjangud in Mysore dt. has the huge Shrikantheshwara temple, more than 1000 years old. The Chamarajeshwara in Chamarajanagar is built (in 19th Century) by Krishnaraja Odeyar III in memory of his father Chamaraja, and both these huge temples have fine stucco images. The Nanjangud temple is a museum for the study of Shaiva Iconography with its fine stone figures in the round. Bangalore has the Ulsoor Someshwara temple of the 16th Century built by the Kempegowda family with tall imposing Rayagopura.
The Shiva temple at Kudala Sangama in Bagalkote district is famous for its association with Saint Basaveshwara. Equally remarkable pieces of art are the Virupaksha and the Mallikarjuna at Pattadakal in Bagalkote dt. Temples at Talakadu, Vijayapura and Mudukutore (Mallikarjuna on a hill) are together famous as five holy Lingas (Panchalingas) and are on the bank of the Cauvery. On Shivaratri day, jatras are held at all these centres.
The Veerashaivas have many venerated places, either associated with Basaveshwara or his contemporaries. Basavana Bagewadi was his place of birth and Kudala Sangama the place of his spiritual practices, are in Bijapur and Bagalkot dts. The latter is at the confluence of the river Krishna and the Malaprabha. Basava Kalyana, the ancient Chalukyah capital in Bidar district was the place where he conducted his socio-religious movement. Ulavi in Uttara Kannada, a quiet place amidst forests, has the 'samadhi' of Chennabasavanna, Basaveshwara's nephew. Belgami (Balligavi), the famous Chalukyan art centre in Shimoga dt. is identified as the birth place of Allama Prabhu and Uduthadi near it, is the native place of Akka Mahadevi. Later Veerashaiva saints are associated with many places. Kodekal (Gulbarga dt.) Basavanna temple, Kadakola Madivallajja Matha, Sharana Basaveshwara temple and Dasoha Math at Gulbarga are few more places of worship. The Mahadeshwara Betta in Chamarajanagar dt. is associated with a Veerashaiva Saint ascribed with many miracles. Yediyur in Tumkur dt. has the 'gadduge' of Tontada Siddhalinga Yati, another renowned saint. Balehonnur in Chikmagalur dt. and Ujjini in Bellary dt. are the two among the five (Pancha) major important Veerashaiva Peethas of India in Karnataka. Athani has the 'samadhi' of the famous Veerashaiva Saint Shivayogi. Some of the outstanding Veerashaiva Mathas are seen at Naganur near Bailhongal and Kalmatha in Belgaum, Durudundeshwara Matha at Arabhavi and Mahantaswamy Matha at Murgod are in Belgaum dt. Murugha Matha (Dharwad), Annadaneshwara Matha (Mundargi), Tontadarya Matha at Gadag and Dambal, Moorusavira Matha at Hubli, Murugha Matha and Hukkeri Matha (Haveri), Taralabalu Matha at Sirigere, Murugharajendra Matha at Chitradurga, Banthanala Shivajogi Matha at Chadachan and Mahantaswamy Matha (Ilkal) are equally notable. The 'samadhi' of Sharanabasappa Appa at Gulbarga, the Belimatha in Bangalore, Siddhaganga Matha near Tumkur and Jagadguru Shivaratreshwara Matha at Mysore and Suttur are equally important. Kolar District has Nidumamidi Matha. These places and many more of the Veerashaiva Mathas are visited by pilgrims in thousands.
Of the Adwaita School profounded by Adi Shankara, there is the famous Matha at Sringeri in Chikmagalur District. Kudli has another Matha in the same tradition in Shimoga dt. Adwaita Matha at Swarnavalli (Uttara Kannada) has several palmleaves collections and this Matha has a large number followers especially the Havayaks of Uttara Kannada district and elsewhere. Avani in Kolar dt., Shivaganga in Tumkur dt. and Sankeshwar in Belgaum dt. are the other prominent centres of this school. Of the Adwaita Sampradaya, are the famous Siddharudha Matha at Hubli and the Shivananda Matha at Gadag.
Dattatreya worship is popular in Karnataka and Devala Ganagapur in Gulbarga dt. where the famous saint from Karnataka, Narasimha Saraswati had stayed for long, and Dattatreya devotees from all over throng the place. Kurugadda, an island in the Krishna in Raichur dt. has the samadhi of Sripada Vallabha, another devotee of Dattatreya, the guru of Narasimha Saraswati. At Balekundri near Belgaum is the 'samadhi' of another devotee of Dattatreya called Pantha Balekundri Maharaj. Murgod in Belgaum dt. and Agadi in Haveri dt. have similar centres. Inam Dattatreya Peetha at Bababudan Giri in Chikmagalur dt. is worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims. As a Muslim devotee of Dattatreya, Dada Hayath Khalandar stayed and worshipped Dattatreya at this shrine (cave) and the latter's 'samadhi' (tomb) is also seen on the hill. Maniknagar near Humnabad is another centre of Dattatreya worship and was consecrated by the presence of a saint, Manik Prabhu.
Among the Shaivas, there are Nathapanthis. Handibadaganath in Khanapur taluk. Appachiwadi near Nippani and Kadri in Mangalore are their notable centres. Bhairava, a manifestation of Shiva is worshipped in many places, and of these Adichunchanagiri in Mandya dt. and Seethi Betta in Kolar dt. are quite famous. Adichunchanagiri has now the famous Matha of the Vokkaliga community.
Mailara Marthanda or Malatesha or Khandoba is another manifestation of Shiva, whose temples are seen at Gudda Guddapur in Ranebennur taluk, Mannetti Mailara in Bellary dt., Khanapur in Bidar dt., Mangasuli in Belgaum dt., Bellur and Mailarapatna in Mandya dt. All these are popular centres of pilgrimage.
Another popular manifestation of Shaivism is Veerabhadra, He is supposed to be the son of Shiva. Popular centres of his worship are spread all over Karnataka, but Yedur on the banks of the Krishna and Godachi in Belgaum dt., Mugbalu and Savanadurga in Bangalore dt., Channappanapura in Mysore dt, Koppa in the Chikmagalur dt. and the Uddhana Veerabhadra temple at Hampi are some notable pilgrim centres of this God.
Shakti, the consort of Shiva is worshipped by many. The village deities like Maramma, Durgamma, Patalamma, Sappalamma,Plague Amma, Matangamma etc., have been identified with her. Of the Shakti centres to be noted are Chandralamba at Sannati (Gulbarga), Bagavanti at Ghattaraki, Mayavva at Chinchli, Yellamma at Saundatti, Banashankari near Badami (Bagalkote dt.), Bhuvaneshwari at Hampi, Marikamba at Sirsi (Uttara Kannada), Mookambika of Kollur, Annapurneshwari of Horanadu, Chamundeshwari in Mysore and Hemadramma at Bannur (Mysore dt.), Mahalakshmi at Doddagaddavalli near Hassan, Lakshmi at Goravanahalli, Hasanamba at Hassan, Honnadevi of Shivaganga, Mariyamma at Huskur, Banashankari at Bangalore and the one near Badami and Kolararnma at Kolar are considered to be ancient. These places are visited by devotees of Goddess Shakti.
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