Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple at Gavipuram, Bangalore: Where Sun-god Meets Lord Shiva on Makara Sankranti Day (January 14) Every Year

Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple (Gavi means cave in Kannada), believed to have built in ninth century A.D. is one of the ancient temples of Bangalore. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped thus:

Om Tat Purushaya Vidmahe Mahadevaya Dhimahi Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat  meaning

“May we know the Supreme Person. We meditate upon the Great Lord, Mahadeva (Shiva). May He, Rudra (Shiva), activate us”.

Gavi Gangadhareswara temple is unique because it lies in a cave and is carved out of a monolithic rock. It is located three kilometers away from City Market and is accessible by BMTC buses, rickshaws and private vehicles.

It is said that Kempe Gowda I (1513-1569), the founder of Bangalore, built this temple after he was released from his five-year imprisonment by Rama Raya, as a token of his gratitude to Lord Gangadhareshwara.

The temple is noted for its two big stone discs on pillars in the front courtyard, besides a trishool (trident) and dhamaruga (drum) on two stone pillars, which are Shiva’s instruments. These pillars are carved out of granite. The discs are called suryapan (sun disc) and chandrapan (moon disc) and the purpose of erecting these discs on pillars is not clear to many.

Inside the cave, you will find a shivalinga worshipped as the main deity. There are also idols of Prasanna Parvati,  Ganesha, Balasubrahmanya, Agnimurthi, Shakti Ganapathi, Durga, Bhudevi, Sridevi, etc.  According to the legend, Goutham Rishi is said to have done penance in this cave and also worshipped the shivalinga here thrice daily. In view of this, this place is called Goutham Kshetra. Besides, this place was also sanctified by Sri Bharadwaj rishi, who, too, had undertaken penance here. One can see the idols of Goutham rishi and Bharadwaj rishi on the cave wall behind the main shrine.  

Devotees walking around the main shrine can also have a glimpse of the many deities (idols) placed on the walls of the cave path. However, they must bend their heads while walking through the passage to avoid dashing their heads against the low stone ceiling. The path surrounding the shrine is lit with artificial lights. It is important that devotees will have to move in queue as the passage surrounding the main shrine in the cave is very narrow.

Every year on the day of Makara Sankramana(usually falling on 14th of January), thousands of devotees visit the temple to witness a rare phenomenon. The evening rays of the sun coming from southwestern part of the temple through an arch enter through a big window on the south, then pass through a smaller window, and then through the horns of a Nandi (bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva) installed in front of the main shrine, finally touching (or lighting up) the idol of Lord Shiva, the main deity in the cave temple. This unique phenomenon speaks of the astronomical and architectural skills of the architects of the past. This event is displayed live on TV monitors and big screens to the thousands of devotees assembled outside the temple, who find great fulfilment by being witness to this event on the auspicious day of Makara Sankramana,  when the sun moves in the northern direction (entry of the Sun into Capricorn, Makara).

On 14th January, 2010, this year, the sun rays fell on the idol of Lord Shiva from 5.14 P M to 5.17 P.M.

Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple is declared as a protected monument by the Karnataka government in view of its historical importance. The temple timings are: 7 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and 5 P.M. to 8.30 P.M.

Pictures:

Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Gavipuram, Bangalore. All images are by the author.

Trishool (trident) and disc, and an arch in between. Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Bangalore.

A banner showing the path of sun rays: Arch -big window -small window -Nandi’s horns -idol. Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Bangalore.

Entrance to Goutham Kshetra (Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple) through Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Gate.