Local Highlight this week: Halasuru Pallakki Utsava, 24 April 2014
Halasuru Someshwara Temple located in the suburb of Halasuru
(also called Ulsoor) in Bangalore city (also Bengaluru) is a dedicated to the
deity Lord Someshwara (Shiva). It is the oldest temple in the city and dates
back to the Vijayanagara Empire period. While the
temple’s actual history is unknown, according to historians, the temple was
built by the Yelahanka nadu ruler Jayappa Gowda (1420-1450 AD), the son of
Ramabhaire Gowda. These kings were called the ‘Yelahanka nada Prabhus’.
According to art critic and historian George Michell, the temple belongs to the
early 17th century rule of Hirya Kempe Gowda II.
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Legend
In the "Gazetter of Mysore" (1887), Benjamin Lewis
Rice describes a legend behind the consecration of the temple. Kempe Gowda,
while on a hunt in a forest near the present Ulsoor area,,
rode far away from his capital Yalahanka. Being tired, he rested under a tree
and fell asleep. The local deity Someshwara appeared to him in a dream and
instructed him to build a temple in his honor using buried treasure. In return
the chieftain would receive divine favor. Kempe Gowda found the treasure and
dutifully completed the temple.
According to a different version of the legend, King Jayappa
Gowda (1420-1450 CE) from minor dynasty called "Yelahanka Nada
Prabhu" was hunting in a forest near the present Halasuru area, when he
felt tired and relaxed under a tree. In a dream, a man appeared before him and
told him that a linga (universal symbol of the god Shiva) was buried under the
spot he was sleeping. He was instructed to retrieve the it and build a temple.
Jayappa found the treasure and initially built the temple out of wood. Another
account attributes the temple to the Chola Dynasty with later renovations made
by the Yelahanka Nada Prabhus.
Architecture
Temple Plan
The
temple plan follows many of the basic elements of Vijayanagara architecture
though at a lower scale. The temple has a square sanctum (garbhagriha) which is
surrounded by a narrow passage way. The sanctum is connected to a closed
mantapa (hall) whose walls are decorated with pilasters and sculptures in
frieze. The closed mantapa is connected to a spacious open mantapa consisting of four large projecting "bays" (area between four pillars). The
piers leading to the sanctum and those facing outward from the open mantapa are
the standard Yali (mythical beast) pillars. The eastern gopuram is a well-executed,
typical 16th century structure, covered with skilfully carved
statues of gods and goddesses.
There are several notable sculptures and decorative features
in the complex. The other deities housed
in Halasuru Someshwara Temple are Kamakshamma, Arunachaleswara, Bhimeswara,
Nanjundeswara and Panchalingeswara.
Nandis
The
temple has two Nandis - one at the second Dwaja stambha and a more imposing one
near the entrance to the navaranga. The practice of using Nandi to convey a
message to Someshwara by whispering in his ear is being followed till date.
The open Nandi mantapa consists of 48 pillars sporting beautiful carvings of divinities. To the north
is the Navagraha temple (shrine for the nine planets) with 12 pillars, each
pillar representing a saint (rishi). Two dwarapalakas (guards)
watch over the main entrance to the garba gruha (sanctum sanctorum).
At
the entrance to the temple, on either side are carvings of Ganga and Yamuna to
sanctify us. The temple provides historical evidence of beliefs and practices
of people in the region through times.
The land of Halasina Hannu
A man carrying a
jackfruit on his head indicates that jackfruits were integral to the way of
life and substantiates its influence on the name Halasuru (Halasina Hannu -
jackfruit in Kannada). The temple also has stone carvings of the nava nathas. One finds the Kinara and Kinari carvings which are male and female forms
fused with birds - these he said are akin to the heavenly messengers (angels).
The temple also houses beautiful sculptures
which narrate the story of King Ravana of Lanka lifting Mount Kailasha in a bid
to convince Lord Shiva to permanently settle in his kingdom. A carving of
Goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura is also nearby, along with idols of the
Nayanmars (Tamil Shaivaite saints). Lord Vishnu and Brahma also have a place at
this temple and are worshipped alone with Shiva.
Visitors must not miss the carvings of the girija kalyana (the holy wedding of
Lord Shiva and Parvathi). These carvings adorn the outer wall of the sanctum
sanctorum. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, the seven rishis, the 12 aditya and 11
rudras are also a part of the wedding procession, with King Himalaya performing
the kanyadana. A sri chakra is found inside the Kamakshi sannidhi which
is a rare thing, as they are usually found only in Mookambika and Sharada temples.
Apart from Someshwara, four more lingas – Bheemeshwara, Nanjundeshwara,
Arunachaleshwara and Chandramouleshwara – grace the temple. In 1982,
some miscreants set the temple chariot afire, and a new chariot was built in
1992. The temple is under the Muzrai Department's maintenance. Some areas
around the temple were encroached upon, but the State government cleared some
of the illegal buildings near the temple kalyani (step-well). This temple
must definitely find a place on the maps of city tour operators.
Poo Pallakki Utsava
The Poo Pallakki is the biggest annual event of the year in Halsuru/Ulsoor.
Through years of the changing landscape
of Bangalore around this area, it remains a popular event to this day.
During
April/May this temple participates in the famous Halasuru pallakki utsava, with
a pallaki for Kamashamma. Pallaki is a car decorated with jasmine buds - its
fragrance heady in the summer heat. Most of us are awed by two towering cannon
balls trees (called Linga Pushpa in Kannada) in the temple premises. Once
a year, gods and goddesses from all around Ulsoor come visiting the historic
Someshwara temple located in the heart of this old neighbourhood of Bangalore.
They come in style too, in palanquins decorated with the most colourful and
fragrant of flowers. The event is no less than the wedding of gods Someshwara
and Kamakshi.
The car festival of Someshwara temple is undoubtedly the
biggest annual event in Ulsoor. The special floral decorations of the
palanquins — the one of bride Kamakshi being the grandest — have earned the
event the name ‘Poo Pallakki'.
The festivities start on a Saturday evening and reach a
crescendo by around 2 a.m., with the decorated palanquins being taken around
the area in a grand procession. There is plenty of dancing and revelry in
Jogupalya, where the main event takes place.
There are rows of stalls with play options for children and
about 80 temples in and around Ulsoor have promised to bring pallakkis. The number of
palanquins carried, though, has reduced to about 70 from 120 over the years.
The Ulsoor Palaki or Floral Chariot festival is held at
Ulsoor in North-West Bangalore during the Hindu month of Chaitra (around April/May)
every year.
Irrespective caste and religion, people take part in the
preparation of these beautiful floral chariots. This is also an occasion where
artists , small time shop keepers make some money. Jasmine ( Mallige Hoova) is
vastly used in the decoration of the Floral Chariots.
Below is the Palaki from the famous Sri Someshwara Temple
with Godess Kamakshi in the procession.
Designs of the Floral Palakis are basically round, with new
designs each year. There are Palakis that are only made of pearls. These
Palakis can be re-used every year.
Temples usually hire these from places like Anekal specially
for this occasion.
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very nice
ReplyDeletePlease find Poo Pallaki 2014 fotos in below link
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