Gaurishvara Temple is located in the heart of Yalandur town in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka state. The temple was built by a local chief named Singadeepa Devbhupala under Hadinadu Nayaka, a vassal of the 16th century Vijayanagara Empire.
Gaurishvara Temple is 155 km from Bangalore and about 20 km from Chamarajanagar.
The plan of Gaurishvara Temple is simple. It is built in four parts, the sanctum sanctorum, antara, navaranga and porch. The sanctum has precious charm, with an open hall supported by granite pillars and a grand entrance hall lacking a tower. The tall entrance is framed in a contemporary style with a chain of bangles outside. The sanctum sanctorum houses a Shivlinga, a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva. The Linga is believed to be Swayambhu, the temple is a significant historical and architectural landmark, which adds to the temple’s rich cultural heritage, spiritual, architectural brilliance, significance.
The front hall has images of various Hindu deities; Vishnu, Shanmukha, Parvati, Mahishasuramardini, Bhairava, Durga, Veerabhadra and Ganapati. The entrance walls are decorated with reliefs depicting scenes from mythological stories and epics. An unusual decoration provided for the entrance is chains of stone rings.
A devoted devotee of Shiva, Singadeepa Devbhupala built the temple to express his personal devotion. He was a prominent leader of the region, known for his administrative acumen and cultural and unique architectural tastes and preferences. The temple hosts annual festivals, drawing people from near and far for various cultural events during the festival.
Interestingly, the temple has inscriptions in the old Kannada script. These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the socio-political dynamics of the era, making the temple a significant resource for historians and researchers.
