I've never been one to write about temples or the likes. This one particular temple has absolutely entrapped my rapt attention. I happened to visit a temple in Malleshwaram last evening - Dakshina Mukha Nandeeshwara temple - a temple that was discovered at the end of the last century. Yes, you read right. Sources say that this marvel was discovered in the late 90s.
According to residents living nearby, the temple was completely buried and the land above it was a flat stretch. "Three years ago, a politician tried to sell this plot. But people objected on the grounds that the land should first be dug through to see if they could find something," says the priest, Ravi Shankar Bhatt. Due to mounting pressure from the locals, they got the land excavated. True to their intuitions, an entire temple was found beneath this land. It was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of sand. The preserved structures included the deity, stone steps, pillars and kalyani (pond) when found. A few leaks they've had to repair. Carbon dating estimates the temple to be 7000 years old. This could possibly make it the oldest temple around. It could also mean history requiring reevaluation. Of course, nobody has yet confirmed these hypotheses.
This temple is built in two levels of sorts. While one level has the bull or Nandi (shiva's vehicle), the bottom level has a linga right underneath. Another staggering aspect is that when they discovered this temple, they found water flowing out from the mouth of the bull onto the deity. The source of this water is still a mystery. A kalyani right in front of the main shrine serves as a beautiful reminder of the architectural ingenuity of our forefathers. It is now home to over two dozen turtles and different kinds of fishes.
While I am not sure if I believe in the existence of God, I surely believe that temples are an unparalleled source of positive energy. You rarely come out of a temple feeling agitated. The temple folks haven't prohibited photography probably to promote the existence of this temple that people know so little about. Shrouded in mystery, this temple attracts a sizable population of devotees from near and far.
I recommend everyone around to go visit this place once, for in our own backyard lies a historical treasure which was once buried in the sands of time.
According to residents living nearby, the temple was completely buried and the land above it was a flat stretch. "Three years ago, a politician tried to sell this plot. But people objected on the grounds that the land should first be dug through to see if they could find something," says the priest, Ravi Shankar Bhatt. Due to mounting pressure from the locals, they got the land excavated. True to their intuitions, an entire temple was found beneath this land. It was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of sand. The preserved structures included the deity, stone steps, pillars and kalyani (pond) when found. A few leaks they've had to repair. Carbon dating estimates the temple to be 7000 years old. This could possibly make it the oldest temple around. It could also mean history requiring reevaluation. Of course, nobody has yet confirmed these hypotheses.
This temple is built in two levels of sorts. While one level has the bull or Nandi (shiva's vehicle), the bottom level has a linga right underneath. Another staggering aspect is that when they discovered this temple, they found water flowing out from the mouth of the bull onto the deity. The source of this water is still a mystery. A kalyani right in front of the main shrine serves as a beautiful reminder of the architectural ingenuity of our forefathers. It is now home to over two dozen turtles and different kinds of fishes.
I recommend everyone around to go visit this place once, for in our own backyard lies a historical treasure which was once buried in the sands of time.
