#: locale=en
## Media
### Subtitle
panorama_09E39323_17C3_1A2F_41A6_BB192E4574FB.subtitle = As a part of renovations, this Ganesha shrine was constructed to the left of the main temple in 1985. \
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On the side of this shrine, we can see a shrine to the Nagas. Most temples in India have Naga stones installed outside the main temple. Popular belief is that they bring fertility and prosperity to their worshippers. There is a freestanding Kannada inscription right beside the Naga stones which has the seal of a cow and its calf. The inscription mentions "Tommaluru" - the root of the modern name of the area "Domlur" \
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On the opposite side is an Anjaneya (Hanuman) temple built in 2007. \
panorama_3414EF48_17C3_0A7A_418B_065D367587EC.subtitle = Chokkanathaswamy temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, dating back to the Chola period with the presiding deity being the Chokkanathaswamy (Sri Vishnu) with Shreedevi and Bhudevi on either side. The name 'Chokkanatha" may be misleading to some as it generally is used for a form of Shiva. However, here the name Chokkanatha meaning Beautiful Lord (Chokka – Beautiful, Natha – Lord) refers to Vishnu. According to a local, there were several steps that led to the temple a few decades ago, that were removed during renovation. Due to this the Garuda Stambha facing the entrance seems to much further away than at other temples.
panorama_09E3DEBB_17C3_0A1F_41AF_7DD708AE842D.subtitle = In India, most of the temples have Naga stones installed outside the main temple. Popular belief is that they bring fertility and prosperity to their worshipers. There is a freestanding Kannada inscription right beside the Naga stones on the right which has the seal of a cow and its calf. The inscription mentions "Tommaluru" - the root of the modern name of the area "Domlur"
panorama_09E078CF_17C1_1677_41A0_F060FFDACD96.subtitle = Inscriptions in both Tamil and Kannada are carved all around the exterior wall of the temple. The following is the summary of those inscriptions. \
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The Tamil inscriptions of Chakravarthi Posalaviraramanatha Deva are addressed to the authorities of all temples in his kingdom. One epigraphy says that all kinds of taxes, tributes and tolls of Sondekoppa village have been granted by Devaraya II of Vijayanagar to the temple. The wet and dry lands in Tombalur together with wells, trees, houses are granted to Lord Sokkapperumal. \
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On the door frame dated about 1270 AD, it is written in Tamil that one Alagiyar donated the two door posts. Another Tamil inscription says, one Talaikkattu (maybe a general) and his wife donated as tax-free the temple property, for the God Tripurantaka Perumal, as also the dry and wetlands in the village of Jalapalli, the tank at Vinnamangalam and other lands below the big tank of Tombalur. The charge of the temple was given to Talai Sankurappachariyan. \
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Another inscription speaks of Poysala veera Ramananda who donated 10 pens for the temple from the Tombalur revenue account in 1290AD.
panorama_09E3EDC6_17C3_0E69_4194_3CE018CD6FD6.subtitle = The Vijayanagara style Navranga pillars are later additions, likely to be from the 14th to 17th century period, compared to the Garbha griha & mantapas from the 9th-13th Century periods. Intricate carvings of flowers, mythical lions and mythological events adorn these pillars.
panorama_09D99E55_17C3_0A6B_41B4_92C25E7653ED.subtitle = The east facing entrance has two ornate pillars, that were part of the original temple but were moved to the front during renovations. The two pillars seen at the entrance are the only surviving pillars carved by the Vijayanagaras, of their original 16 pillared structure. There are several engravings of Vishnu avatars on these pillars.
panorama_09E0A31D_17C1_1A1B_4188_4612B7F30D02.subtitle = The entire Mukhamantapa and the Garuda sculpture facing the main deity, are a later addition.
panorama_09E12AE0_17C1_0A28_41A3_B8A19798BEDA.subtitle = The head priest's house is located on the right side of the temple. A well which was constructed around the end of 1800s can also be seen here.
panorama_09E25829_17C3_363B_4192_B180FA47FBDA.subtitle = The main deity of the temple, Sri Chokkanathaswamy, along with Sreedevi & Bhoodevi. \
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Lord Vishnu has two lady consorts - Sreedevi and Bhoodevi - both of whom are forms of Lakshmi. Sridevi is usually shown seated to the Lord's right and Bhudevi is shown seated on the Lord's left. Bhudevi (Mother Earth) represents the material world and Sridevi represents the Spiritual world. \
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This beautiful idol is carved out of Shaligrama. It is believed that the Shaligrama stone was brought from the banks of Gandaki river, Nepal. \
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This is a very intriguing aspect of the temple as Shaligrama is usually worshipped as Linga but here Vishnu is carved out of the same. \
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The room adjacent to the Garbha Griha & leading to the Navranga is called the Antarala.
panorama_369BC306_17C3_1BE9_41B1_30999D68F071.subtitle = The modern wooden door frame has a huge carving of Vishnu along with Sridevi and Bhudevi (same as the deity inside), with Hanuman (right) and Garuda (left) shown on either side, worshipping the deities. The main door has beautiful carvings of all the ten Avataras of Vishnu. \
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Sculptures of the Dwarapalas (Jaya, Vijaya) are placed in front of the door. It seems like they have been relocated from their original position. \
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On the stone door frame dated about 1270 AD, it is written in Tamil that one Alagiyar donated the two door posts. Another Tamil inscription says, one Talaikkattu (maybe a general) and his wife donated as tax-free the temple property, for the God Tripurantaka Perumal, as also the dry and wetlands in the village of Jalapalli, the tank at Vinnamangalam and other lands below the big tank of Tombalur. The charge of the temple was given to Talai Sankurappachariyan.
panorama_09E06310_17C1_3BE9_418B_4C14A55D185A.subtitle = There are several inscriptions here in the Dravidian (Tamil) script that are more visible. \
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Inscriptions in both Tamil and Kannada are carved all around the exterior wall of the temple. The following is the summary of those inscriptions. \
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The Tamil inscriptions of Chakravarthi Posalaviraramanatha Deva are addressed to the authorities of all temples in his kingdom. One epigraphy says that all kinds of taxes, tributes and tolls of Sondekoppa village have been granted by Devaraya II of Vijayanagar to the temple. The wet and dry lands in Tombalur together with wells, trees, houses are granted to Lord Sokkapperumal. \
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Another inscription speaks of Poysala veera Ramananda who donated 10 pens for the temple from the Tombalur revenue account in 1290AD.
panorama_09E01EB3_17C1_0A2F_418C_93ABDAF2D9CC.subtitle = There are several inscriptions, faintly visible now, on the southern wall that date back to the Hoysala period. \
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These highlight that the processional deity was consecrated in 1266 AD, record of donations of the door frames, lands, remittances of a portion of taxes and engagement of artisans.
### Title
panorama_3414EF48_17C3_0A7A_418B_065D367587EC.label = 01 Entrance
photo_0D9550A1_19F3_C89F_41A4_6CDF60A2E5CC.label = 01 Pillar piece
panorama_09D99E55_17C3_0A6B_41B4_92C25E7653ED.label = 02 Entrance Arch 2
photo_0CAD3E2E_1A52_BBE4_4196_9A0C44F06851.label = 02 Gandharva
photo_025D7829_1A51_C7EC_41B0_069BB690C8F4.label = 03 Mythical lion
panorama_369BC306_17C3_1BE9_41B1_30999D68F071.label = 03 Navaranga Entrance
panorama_09E25829_17C3_363B_4192_B180FA47FBDA.label = 04 Antarala
photo_0F78F668_1A2E_C86D_4185_5E91C45325E4.label = 04 Vali & Sugreeva
photo_0FE24A70_1A32_587C_41B3_9825C4A95C35.label = 05 Garuda stambha
panorama_09E3EDC6_17C3_0E69_4194_3CE018CD6FD6.label = 05 Navaranga
panorama_09E39323_17C3_1A2F_41A6_BB192E4574FB.label = 06 Ganesh Gudi
photo_0D215E87_1BD3_D8A4_41AC_1CDC69AA26F5.label = 06 Naga stones
photo_0B26322C_1EF1_CBE4_41BA_D9F8678DCFCD.label = 07 Garuda
photo_0CB6BA6D_1BF6_D864_4180_7739DE319DC7.label = 07 Inscription_Domlur
panorama_09E3DEBB_17C3_0A1F_41AF_7DD708AE842D.label = 07 Naga gudi
panorama_09E02711_17C0_FBEB_418A_F296166FA84E.label = 08 Left side
panorama_09E078CF_17C1_1677_41A0_F060FFDACD96.label = 10 Back
panorama_09E06310_17C1_3BE9_418B_4C14A55D185A.label = 11 Right Side
panorama_09E12AE0_17C1_0A28_41A3_B8A19798BEDA.label = 12 Right Side
panorama_09E0A31D_17C1_1A1B_4188_4612B7F30D02.label = 13 Right corner
panorama_09E01EB3_17C1_0A2F_418C_93ABDAF2D9CC.label = Southern Walls
## Popup
### Body
htmlText_0F705D52_1A32_D9BC_41A1_3DA66DEEC2E1.html = Gaja Lakshmi
Gaja Lakshmi is one of the 8 forms of Sree Lakshmi. Worshipped as the “giver of animal wealth,” Gaja Lakshmi was traditionally of deep importance to farmers whose cows and bulls would provide dairy and till the land. Gaja, which means “elephant,” also signifies power and royalty, as elephants were regularly used by rulers of ancient India in warfare. Flanked on either side by a white male and female elephant, Gaja Lakshmi sits on a pink lotus and is depicted with four hands — one in Abhaya mudra, one in Varada mudra, and the other two holding padma (lotus)
Garuda
Garuda, the king of birds and the vahana of Vishnu, is depicted here with his hands folded and wings spread – ready to fly.
The son of Sage Kashyapa, and younger brother of Aruna – the charioteer of Surya (Sun god). To free his mother from the clutch of the Nagas, he had to steal the amruta – the nectar of immortality – from the devas & hand it over to them. On the way, Vishnu intercepted him. They reached an agreement, wherein Vishnu granted Garuda immortality without drinking the elixir; and Garuda promised to be Vishnu's mount.
Garuda also agreed with Indra that after handing over the amrut, thus fulfilling his promise & freeing his mother, he would trick the Nagas to delay consumption of the amrut, thereby allowing Indra to take back the amrut.
Jaya & Vijaya
Jaya & Vijaya through their devotion to Lord Vishnu became the two dwarapalaks (guards) of his residence, Vaikuntha. They got cursed by 4 rishis to be born on earth due to a misunderstanding, and Vishnu gave them 2 options to overcome it – 7 births as Vishnu's devotees or 3 as his staunch enemies. Not able to bear the thought of being apart from their lord for a long time, they chose the latter option. They were thereafter born as Hiranyaksha & Hiranyakashipu in their first birth – killed by Varaha & Narasimha avatars of Vishnu; as Ravana & Kumbhakarna in their second – killed by Rama avatar; as Shishupala & Dantavakra in their third and final birth, killed by Krishna avatar. Thereafter, the curse on them got lifted and they were able to return to Vaikuntha to be close to their lord.
Naga stones
Naga is the Sanskrit and Pali word for a deity or class of entity or being, taking the form of a very large snake, found in Hinduism and Buddhism. In India, nagas are considered nature spirits and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought. According to traditions nagas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. Hence, this spirit is carved on a stone and worshipped, just the way a deity would be.
Naivedhyam stone
The prasad (offerings) which is prepared for the deity is normally presented on this stone.
Ratha Murtis
Bronze replicas of the main deity, used for processions, are maintained in the Antarala, just outside the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum)
A Gandharva playing the mridangam (a percussion instrument). Gandharvas are a class of celestial beings who entertain the Gods. Typically, the males are divine performers such as musicians & singers, while the females are divine dancers.
A piece of the original pillar from the temple has been kept here during renovation. Engravings are visible on 3 sides depicting various sages
Engraving depicting the fight scene between Vali and Sugriva.
Garuda Stambha
A free standing Garuda stambha (pillar) is a feature of most temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu or his avatars. We can see engravings of Garuda and Hanuman at the cuboidal base of the sthamba. As the Garuda is the vehicle of Vishnu and Hanuman is a devotee of Rama (an avatar of Vishnu), these engravings are significant for a Vishnu temple.
Along with floral embellishments, several depictions of mythical lions adorn many of the pillars in the navaranga.
A battle scene - Dasharatha supports Indra against asuras; warriors with a variety of weapons & shields.
A procession of cavalry & soldiers, perhaps depicting victory. Note the 4 wheeled chariot & military band.
Dasharatha conducts Putrakamesthi yagna. Distributes payasam amongst his 3 queens. The 4 princes of Ayodhya are born.
Dasharatha seated in his court surrounded by courtiers, horsemen, soldiers, camels, musicians etc.
The princes of Ayodhya are shown in their cradles & then seated on the laps of the Queens.
The princes undergo military training. Rishi Vishwamitra arrives at Dasharatha's court. Rama & Lakshmana accompany the rishi to Dandaka forest.
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The princes undergo military training. Rishi Vishwamitra arrives at Dasharatha's court. Rama & Lakshmana accompany the rishi to Dandaka forest.
A battle scene - Dasharatha supports Indra against asuras; warriors with a variety of weapons & shields.
A procession of cavalry & soldiers, perhaps depicting victory. Note the 4 wheeled chariot & military band.
Dasharatha conducts Putrakamesthi yagna. Distributes payasam amongst his 3 queens. The 4 princes of Ayodhya are born.
Dasharatha seated in his court surrounded by courtiers, horsemen, soldiers, camels, musicians etc.
The princes of Ayodhya are shown in their cradles & then seated on the laps of the Queens.
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