Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali

The Kalleshvara temple is located in the town of Bagali (Balgali in ancient inscriptions) in the Davangere district.

The construction of the temple spans the rule of two dynasties  the Rashtrakuta Dynasty during the mid-10th century, and the Kalyani  Chalukya Empire,during the reign of founding King Tailapa II around 987 A.D.The consecration of the temple was done by an individual called Duggimayya.historian classifies the architectural style of the temple as "Late Rashtrakuta vimana  with erotic carvings, and a closed mantapa,fronted by a Later Chalukya non-mainstream open mantapa, the building material for which is soapstone. The existing tower over the shrine may be a later day re-construction.The temple, whose premises have yielded thirty-six old Kannada inscriptions from the 10th and 11th centuries.

Pillar base relief  in Kalleshvara temple at Bagali

The temple plan comprises a main shrine for the god Shiva with a sanctum (garbhagriha) facing east, a antechamber (antarala), a main closed hall (mahamantapa) with an entrance in the south and east. These structures are attributed to the 10th century Rashtrakuta rule. The closed hall is preceded by a large, open sabhamandapa with fifty highly ornate lathe turned pillars that support a decorative ceiling. Also provided are a shrine for Surya with a mukhamandapa facing the east-west orientation, and a small shrine for the Narasimha  in the north of the sabhamandapa. These constructions are ascribed to the Western Chalukya rule.In all, there are eight small shrines built around the main shrine. Of the fifty pillars, twenty four pillars are located over the platform (jagati) provided with a balcony seating (kakshasana). The door ways (doorjamb and lintel) of the eastern doorway that faces the Nandi ,and the southern doorway that forms an entry into the close hall are intricately decorated. A few independent sculptures from the late Chalukyan period are found in the closed hall. These include Shiva, Umamahesvara ,Ganesha, Kartikeya, Surya, Anantasayana Sarasvati and Mahishamardini.

Shrine wall erotic sculptures in Kalleshvara temple at Bagali