Ikkeri Aghoreshwara

The Kings ruling from Keladi were actually known as Ikkeri Kings ( ಎರಡು ಕೇರಿ = ಇಕ್ಕೇರಿ ) The origin of Ikkeri ( Two streets) Kingdom as that of any other Kingdom is largely unclear as the founders have humble beginnings. Only later are the myths added, life histories written and Monuments built in their memory.
According to Sivatattvaratnakara a Sanskrit literary work written by Basavaraja in 1698-1715, Chauda and Bhadra were two of the four sons of Basavappa and Basavamma. Chauda had a dream of finding treasure and he is supposed to have found it. This increased his prestige and finally hearing of the influence of Chauda the Vijayanagara King, appointed him the Governor of Pulladesha (present day Ikkeri?) and gave him the title Keladi Chaudappa Nayaka.

Aghoreshwara Temple

A magnificent Aghoreshwara Temple now survives at Ikkeri proclaiming the earlier greatness of the place. The Temple has influences from the Vijayanagara, Karnata Dravida, Chalukya and even Deccan Sultanate architecture styles. The original 32 handed Aghoreshwara Idol that was in the Girbagriha was destroyed during a raid by the Bijapur Sultanate and only the decapitated pedestal now survives in the Temple courtyard.

The pedestal of the broken Aghoreshwara Statue at the Temple courtyard

The pedestal of the broken Aghoreshwara Statue at the Temple courtyard

The Girbagriha now has a Linga and the original Nandi carved out of Spar survives and glows in the dark.

The Linga and the Nandi in the Sanctum Sanctorum

There is also a huge embellished Nandi is also at the entrance of the Temple.

 There is also a line sketch of the Architects (Vaastushilpi) who built the Temple.

The Architects of the Aghoreshwara Temple

There is another smaller Temple dedicated to Goddess Akhilandeshwari is also present in the larger Temple complex.

Akhilandeshwari Temple

The Temple surroundings were also very pleasant with friendly neighbourhood. An aged couple living next to the temple invited us for a cup of coffee, but due to lack of time we could not accept which I now regret .
However we did visit the backyard of a house where they were plucking Mangoes and they gifted us a couple of fruits.

Mangoes!!!

Another surprise was a pineapple plant with one solitary fruit. I had just set my eyes on a pineapple plant for the first time and I was thrilled.

Pineapple!!!

We left with a heavy heart and the rain was coming on in spurts and carried a cold wind that was just short of biting!!!!!!

Leaving the Aghoreshwara Temple