Focus on Kudalasangama temple

hubli: the 12th century sri sangameshwara temple at kudalasangama in bagalkot stands tall today, thanks to the steps taken by the karnataka government to protect the heritage site. the area was flooded by the backwaters of the upper krishna project, submerging a number of villages. but the temple was given special treatment - a lofty concrete dry wall was built around to protect it from submersion.this year, the focus will be on this temple for the `world heritage week' celebrations by the archaeological survey of india, dharwad circle. after the eighth centenary celebrations of basaveshwara at kudalasangama by the basava samithi and karnataka government in 1968, `world heritage week' will be the second big event here, beginning monday. sangameshwara temple is on the river bank on the confluence of the krishna and malaprabha rivers. the famous pilgrim centre, known as kudalasangama, is 19 km north of hungund. it was earlier known as kappadi sangama, the place where the teacher of 12th century revolutionary basavanna lived. his name was ishanaguru. explaining the archaeological and historical significance of sangameshwara temple, superintending archaeologist s.v. venkateshaiah said: ``the temple consists of a porch, navagraha and main shrine. the idols of basaveshwara, neelamma, nandi and ganapathi have been placed at the navagraha. he said the carvings on the door mirror the prevailing culture of the period. ``the door frame of the garbagriha is richly carved with floral designs and animal figures,'' he added. the inscription in the temple, installed in 1212, records that the temple is a gift to god acheshvara and another stone from 1160 refers to land grants to deities kalesvara and acheshvara. history has it that in the 12th century jathaveda muni set up an educational centre here and basaveshwara, channabasavanna and akkanagamma were his students. basaveshawara spent his childhood here and after his return from kalyana, attained godliness at this place. ``the vachanas composed by him are dedicated to the presiding deity, sangamanatha.'' a small stone mantapa with a shivalinga stands in front of the temple, in the midst of the river. on the east, across the river krishna, stands neelamma's temple. neelamma was the consort of basaveshwara. with unesco adopting a resolution in 1972 creating a ``convention concerning the protection of world culture and natural heritage'', the department of culture and archaeological survey of india have decided to observe world heritage week, venkateshaiah said. a special photographic exhibition on the monumental heritage of karnataka will be held at kudalasangama to mark the occasion. small scale industries minister s.r. kashappanavar will inaugurate the function.