Bhuvanagiri
Bhuvanagiri in
Siddapur taluk is the only place in the entire State where a temple is
dedicated to Kannada Mate Bhuvaneshwari Devi.
Situated atop
the 300 feet tall Bhuvanagiri, the three centuries old temple can be reached
after an ascent of 350 steps. The temple deity is worshiped on all days of the
year, complete with naivedya andabhisheka, accompanied with the chanting of
mantras. Surrounded by lush greenery on all sides, the age-old temple is a
feast for the eyes.
A casual glance
at the rich historical past of the temple is enough to recognise the
significance of the place. Though the idea of a temple dedicated to
Bhuvaneshwari Devi was conceived by the Kadambas, the rulers of Vijayanagar
carried it forward, so much so that they would not venture out without paying
their obeisance to the deity.
Finally, it was
the rulers of Bilagi who constructed the temple of Bhuvaneshwari Devi in
Bhuvanagiri. It all started when Tirumala, the then ruler of Vijayanagar, was
unable to bear the torture of Bijapur ruler Adil Shah and shifted his kingdom
to Pennugudi (present day Chandragutti) with the help of the rulers of
Shwethapura (present day Bilagi).
Bilagi kingdom
spread from Gangavali river in Uttara Kannada district to Gangolli river in
Udupi district. Since the rulers of Bilagi were both valiant and great admirers
of Kannada language, a temple was built in dedication to Kannada Mate
Bhuvaneshwari Devi.
There is ample
evidence to suggest that the temple was built in 1692 by Basavendra, the last
ruler of Bilagi. Since the area is populated by people belonging to the Havyak
community, the temple administration is taken care of by them.
According to
elders of the place, though there is an idol of Bhuvaneshwari Devi installed by
Vijayanagar rulers in the Virupaksha temple in Hampi, Bhuvanagiri is the only
place in the State where Bhuvaneshwari Maate has a temple of her own.
Places near Bhuvanagiri:
Marikamba Temple, Bilagi (Siddapur Taluk)
Lake Near, Bilagi (Siddapur Taluk)
Shri Rameshwara Temple,Itagi(Siddapur Taluk)
Shri Shanaishchara Temple,Bedkani (Siddapur Taluk)
Note: There are
many temples near Bilagi, which we are not listed here.
Address:
Shri Bhuvaneshwari Temple
Bhuvanagiri,Gunjgod Post,
Siddapur Taluk,Uttara Kannada.
Nearest Citites: Siddapur,Sirsi,Sagar
Distance from Bhuvanagiri:
Siddapur: 7 km
Sirsi : 47 km
Sagar : 41 km
Images
Itagi Rameshwara Temple near Bhuvanagiri