Chennakesava Temple(Somanathapur) & Talakadu (Day 1)

Dated: 16/12/2017

Crew: Madhu & Me

As usual, the trip plan was also born a day before of our journey. But we were so late, there were no bookings for to-and-fro of our journey, but we made it somehow or else I couldn't write this post.

Our journey started with the Unreserved Coach of BANGALORE MAIL(Train NO - 12657, Dep Time - 23:15 Arrival Time - 04:31). On that day, the trains, before and after of our train are over-crowded and late running. Unfortunately, our train had hit with large mass. Of some luck, we got the seat for at least to sit.

We reached on-time in Bengaluru and caught the MYSORE EXPRESS(Train No - 16231, Dep Time - 05:10, Arrival Time - 08:40) at 5.30. The climate was so chill, where we turned from the open un-buttoned clothes to the tycoon shivering for the cold. We stepped out in Mandya Railway Station at 7.30 AM. It is the nearest railway station for reaching the Chennakesava Temple.

We got the bus to T.Narsipura on the way of Somanathapura to reach the temple.

 

It is a over thrown village near to the connecting highway. We took a bath in the near by Cauvery river.  

CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE(Somanathapura):

Timings : 9 AM to 5.30 PM
Ticket Fare : INR 15 per head, Camera - INR 100
How to Reach: Buses available from Mandya Railway Station(Manya - T.Narsipura).
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Duration: 4-5 hours
Highlights: You can bath in the nearby river, village ambience, Superb Temple Architecture, Hoysala Empire Pride

Beware: There were no hotels nearby and Sochalaya is not tidy.

Additional Info about Temple(Sthalapuranam):

This is a breathtakingly beautiful Trikuta Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in three forms – Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala.

The Keshava Temple at Somanathapura was constructed by a commander of the Hoysala Army, Somanatha. This general had just established a small town here named after himself – Somanathapura. Obviously enjoying the favor of his overlord, the Hoysala King Narasimha III.

The construction of the temple was completed and consecrated in 1268 AD.

Unfortunately, this temple is no longer used as a place of worship because the idols here have been broken and the temple was desecrated by the invading armies of the Muslim Sultanate.

Besides the three superb Vaishnavaite images and two stellate pillars, the interior has a set of sixteen ceilings, each one different, each one packed with carvings in numerous variations. There are some famous ones that resemble a banana flower in different stages of inflorescence. There are concentric circles, one linked to the other by stone ribs. Likewise, there are octogonal ceilings. All these are built on the image of a lotus opening up from its bud to outer rings of petals.

The Ramayana (southern section), the Mahabharata (northern section) and the Bhagavata Purana (western section of the main temple) depicted on the Temple walls.

 

From there we reached the Talakadu. We went to the T.Narsipura and then catch the Talakdau bus via Chikkabagilu and Mudukuthore. Actually we were missed 2 temples in the last trip. Those were covered.

MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE(Mudukuthore):

Timings : 9 AM to 5.30 PM
Ticket Fare : Free
How to Reach: Buses available from T.Narsipura. Autos also available. It is 6 km from Talakadu.
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: You can view the Cauvery flow from the hill top.

Sthalapuranam:

Among the temples of Talakadu, the Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheshwara and Mallikarjuna temples, the five Lingas believed to represent the five faces of Shiva, form the Pancha pathi and have become famous. In honour of these five Shiva temples, a fair is held once every 12 years called Panchalinga Darshana, last held in 2009. The Panchalinga Darshana is held on a new moon day in the month of Karthika when two stars conjoin, the stars of Khuha Yoga and Vishaka. On this day, tradition has it that pilgrims should first bathe in the Gokarna theertha, worship Gokarneswara and Chandikadevi, and then worship Vaidyeshwara, and then bathe in the northern eastern southern and western stretches of the Kaveri and then worship Arkeshwara, Pataleshwara, Maraleshwara and Mallikarjuna, returning to Vaidyeshwara after each worship, finally worship Kirtinarayana and conclude the pilgrimage in one day.

According to local legend, Ramanujacharya during his sojourn in Karnataka (also called Melnadu), established five Vishnu temples of Lord Narayana known as Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. Talakadu is one of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams where the Keerthi Narayana temple was established and the presiding Deity in this temple is Keerthi Narayana.

From there we went to the Arkeshwara Temple: 

ARKESHWARA TEMPLE (Belakavadi-Talakadu Road): 

Timings : 9 AM to 5.30 PM
Ticket Fare : Free
How to Reach: Buses available from T.Narsipura. Autos also available. It is 4 km from Talakadu.
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: You can view the Cauvery flow from the hill top.

While we went there, the temple was locked. There was a contact number on the temple walls. After we called, the purohit came in 15 minutes.

 

We received the blessings of the Lord Shiva, but still yet to get the Ranganatha Swamy. We planned to go to ShivaSamudra(Madya Ranga), but the locals said, the temple will be closed by the time we reach there.

Finally we took Auto from the temple and reached T.Narsipura and then to the Mysuru.

We took a Jatka ride to the Mysuru Palace and spent some time and then to the nearby Mysore Dasara Exhibition.

 And finally planned to reach Bengaluru by the midnight passenger (56263 - BANGALORE PASSR – Dep: 23:55, Arrival – 04:00).