Bengaluru's historical cave temple
Gavipuram, one of the oldest residential extensions in Bengaluru, got its name from gavi gudi (cave temple). Cut out of monolithic rock, the ancient cave shrine has sacred shivalinga as the temple's presiding deity, traditionally worshipped as 'GaviGangadhareshwara'.
The temple is inside a natural cave, believed to have twin tunnel paths leading to Shivagange and Kashi.
Hoards of devotees throng this temple to get a glimpse of the main deity, when the beamy light of setting sun falls on the sanctum's shivalinga, at a precise hour in the evening of Makara Sankranthi day.
The 11th century cave temple was rebuilt in the early 16th century by Kempegowda, founder of Bengaluru. According to acheaological findings, Gavi Gangadhareshwara
Temple was originally designed to mark the beginnings of astronomical solstices (both summer and winter), observed as Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
Experts maintain that precise structural alignments on the monolithic rock temple are helpful either to mark religiously important celestial events or to plan seasonal agricultural activities.
Among eye-catching structural alignments are two stone discs which can't be missed, as one enters the temple. These discs, facing east and west, named Suryapana and
Chandrapana, are identical in size and design and are sculpted on ten feet tall vertical stone pillars.
Accessories like trident and damaruga, associated with Shiva, have also been erected at the temple's forecourt. Two small and beautiful gopuras, adjoining fourteen-pillared mantapa, exhibit attractive images depicting mythology.
Gavipuram, one of the oldest residential extensions in Bengaluru, got its name from gavi gudi (cave temple). Cut out of monolithic rock, the ancient cave shrine has sacred shivalinga as the temple's presiding deity, traditionally worshipped as 'GaviGangadhareshwara'.
The temple is inside a natural cave, believed to have twin tunnel paths leading to Shivagange and Kashi.
Hoards of devotees throng this temple to get a glimpse of the main deity, when the beamy light of setting sun falls on the sanctum's shivalinga, at a precise hour in the evening of Makara Sankranthi day.
The 11th century cave temple was rebuilt in the early 16th century by Kempegowda, founder of Bengaluru. According to acheaological findings, Gavi Gangadhareshwara
Temple was originally designed to mark the beginnings of astronomical solstices (both summer and winter), observed as Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
Experts maintain that precise structural alignments on the monolithic rock temple are helpful either to mark religiously important celestial events or to plan seasonal agricultural activities.
Among eye-catching structural alignments are two stone discs which can't be missed, as one enters the temple. These discs, facing east and west, named Suryapana and
Chandrapana, are identical in size and design and are sculpted on ten feet tall vertical stone pillars.
Accessories like trident and damaruga, associated with Shiva, have also been erected at the temple's forecourt. Two small and beautiful gopuras, adjoining fourteen-pillared mantapa, exhibit attractive images depicting mythology.