8/13/2019 Amidst Temples and Ruins
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Amidst temples and ruins
Bandalike, also called as Bandanike, situated near Shikaripur in
Karnataka, wasthe earliest capital of Nagarkhand Seventy. Now a
ruined and deserted village,
the inscription here informs that it was ruled by the wise
Chandragupta.
Bandalike was a prosperous Agrahara and a popular pilgrim centre
for the Jains
even from the beginning of the 10th century.
According to the inscriptions found here, this place was earlier
known as
Bandhavapura and was ruled by Navanandas from 911 to 1510 AD,
and by Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas,
Kalachuryas, Hoysalas, Yadavas and Vijayanagar kings from time
to time. Popularly called as Kuntala
Desha, between the Rivers Bhima and Vedavati, the region became
famous during the rule of Nagarjuna
Nadagonda. Later, his Queen Jakkiyabbe became the first woman
ruler of Nagarkhand. She was a pious
Jain devotee and built a number of temples and basadis in
Bandalike.
The famous Shantinatha basadi was built by her in 918 AD, along
with a huge reservoir called Naga
Tirtha. Her successor Bopparasa of Somavamsha built a beautiful
palace in the centre of Bandalike. He
also built the famous Trimurthi temple. Subsequent ruler Machi
Nayaka constructed the Someshwara
temple and adorned it with a golden kalasha. The ruins of
Shantinatha basadi can be seen at the
entrance of Bandalike village.
Originally, it had a front mantapa with a verandah all around
and the entrance on either sides. The idol
of Shantinatha is not found in the garbhagriha, but a mutilated
Jaina figure is found outside. The pillars
of navaranga are decorated with supported rows of sculpted
flowers, animals and an artistic
chakrabandha.
The Trimurthi temple has several cells with sukhanasis,
ornamental doorways and niches at the sides.
This temple is also called as Boppeshwara temple, as it was
built by Bopparasa in 1181 AD. The
doorways have well carved lintels and five screens at the sides.
The temple faces east, with the Shiva
Lingas in west and south cells, and a figure of Vishnu in the
north cell.
The lintels have figures of Gajalakshmi, Mahishamardini and
Tandaveshwara. There is also a well
executed Simha Lalata. Over the cells there are three towers
with projections in front without the
Hoysala crest. This temple is remarkable for its elegance and
symmetry.
The most popular ancient temple in Bandalike is the one
dedicated to Banashankari. This is also called
as Maya Devi shrine. Local devotees worship the goddess as Maha
Durgi. It is believed that in the olden
days, this temple was the centre of tantrik rituals by a group
of kalamukhas.
As a number of shrubs and small forest trees have grown around
this shrine due to negligence over along period, this goddess has
gained the names of Banashankari, Bana Devi and Bandamma. Most
probably, the village also came to be called after this deity as
Bandalike.
Travel Tips
Bandalike is about 81 km from Shimoga and is connected by a good
motorable road up to Narasapura
via Shiralakoppa. A distance of 3 km from Narasapur has to be
covered either on foot or by bullock cart
to reach Bandalike. Regular bus services are operated up to
Narasapur from Shimoga, Sagara and
Shikaripur. Nothing is available either at Bandalike or
Narasapur. Visitors should carry with them
sufficient food packets and plenty of drinking water. Moderate
grade hotels are available in
The many ruins and temples at Bandalike, which was once a
popular pilgrim centre of the
Jains, narrate interesting stories. A V S Rao visits the place
and comes back impressed.
an Herald - Amidst temples and ruins
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