Balligavi is a town in the Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district of Karnataka state. During ancient times, it was known by various other names including Balipura, Baligrama, Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. According to some legends, Balligavi was where the demon king Bali lived and was known as Balipura.
Balligavi was an important city in the 11th – 12th century AD during the period of Western Chalukyas and later during the time of Hoysalas. The initial Hoysala rulers were feudatory to the Western Chalukyas until they became independent during the period of King Vishnuvardhana.
Entrance to the Balligavi Kedareshwara temple complex is through a pillared mahadwara on the east. It is built in an east-west orientation and the material used is soapstone. According to the ASI, the Kedareshwara temple at Balligavi dates to the 12th century AD. The architectural style is classified as Later Chalukyan by some temple historians, while the ASI states that the style is Hoysala. This temple is one of the earliest examples of “trikuta style” or triple towered style of temple construction.
In the front, there is a sabhamandapa or gathering hall supported by many pillars. This gathering hall has stepped entrances in 3 directions – east, north and south. The east entrance has a huge Nandi statue.The outer row of pillars in the sabhamandapa are 16 sided. The inner row of pillars are lathe turned with bell shaped mouldings.
The central ceiling has the carving of Tandaveshwara (dancing Shiva) with eight dikpalakas (guards).
Beyond the Sabhamantapa is a 6 pillared mahamandapa. The main shrine on the west has a Shiva linga called Kedareshwara in its sanctum.
The southern shrine also has a linga called Brahma linga. It is possible that this shrine may once have had the Brahma statue that is now placed in the museum in the premises of the temple.
The northern shrine has an idol of Vishnu or Janardhana.
The Outer walls of the shrines are relatively plain except for the pilasters topped with miniature decorative towers.
The outer walls of the open mandapa have carvings of pilaster topped with pyramidal turrets and panels of dancing women.
Tower
There are 3 towers, one each over the 3 shrines. Each tower is three tiered and vesara style (mix of North Indian + South Indian). They have a domed roof or amalaka on top, above which there is a Kalasha.
There is the Hoysala crest depicting a man stabbing a lion on the sukhanasi of the main shrine on the west and on the south tower. The Hoysala crest has fallen off on the North tower.
The towers have various sculptures decorating them including Tandaveshwara, Varaha, Uma Narasimha, Bhairava, etc.
Smaller shrine
Within the temple complex, there is a smaller replica of the Kedareshwara temple in the North west direction. This temple known as temple of Prabhudeva (Allama Prabhu) is also built in the trikuta style. The western and southern shrines have lingas inside while the northern one has a Veerabhadra image.
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