A murti of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva, carved from soap
stone is enough to make the journey to Turuvekere near Tumkur in Karnataka
worthy. The town also has the rare temple in which Shiva and Ganga
are worshipped together. Turuvekere is located around 128 km from Bangalore and houses the famous Gangadhareshwara Temple.
Gangadhareshwara Temple
is dedicated to Shiva and is built in Dravidian style of architecture and is
known for its exquisite carvings.
The Shivling worshipped in the temple is referred as
Gangadhareswara – it has matted locks of Shiva with Ganga.
Sun, mood and the 27 birth stars (Nakshatras) also adorn the Shivling. The
utsava murti of Shiva (the murti taken out for procession and rituals) has an
eye on the foot. Another highlight of the temple is the huge Nandi murti.
The temple complex also houses a shrine of Goddess Bhavani.
The temple also has a rare sculpture of Bedara Kannapa.
Huge bell made using soap stone is another attraction.
Chennakeshava Temple
located nearby is another important shrine. The temple is not looked after
properly. The main murti in the temple is Vishnu as Chennakeshava – he holds a
lotus and mace.
Another nearby temple is the Moole Shankareshwara Temple. It is located near a big lake. The
temple is built on a star-shaped platform. The temple tower is built in Bhumija
type found mainly in Maharashtra. The shrine
is dedicated to Shiva.
Historical Significance of Turuvekere
Turuvekere itself has a rich cultural and historical background dating back to the 11th century. It has long been a harmonious settlement where people of different traditions and cultures lived together peacefully.
References to this sacred region are found in:
- The Mysore Gazetteer
- The Markandeya Purana
Historically, Turuvekere was under the rule of the Hoysala dynasty. The 10th Hoysala ruler, Immadi Veera Narasimharaya, along with Queen Lokambike, is believed to have renovated the temple and made significant donations for its development.
They also:
- Restored temple structures
- Donated festival idols
- Built the grand entrance gateway
- Granted ten villages to support temple administration
Later, when political changes affected these grants, Maharaja Immadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar helped strengthen the temple’s financial stability.
Origin of the Name “Turuvekere”
In ancient times, the town was known as “Vijayanarasimhapuri.” Over time, because of the abundance of cows and water bodies, it came to be known as “Turu Kere,” eventually evolving into “Turuvekere,” also referred to as “Dhenupuri.”
