Sun plays a vital role in our lives and the whole mankind, animals, plants, and birds thrive because of the sunlight. Hence, Sun is worshipped throughout India. Rathasapthami festival is celebrated to honor Sun god and the beginning of Summer in India.
Right in front of Kashivishweshwara temple in Lakkundi is a temple dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun god). The Suryanarayana temple faces west and though small commands attention as temples dedicated to Lord Surya are uncommon.
The Kashivishwanatha temple faces East and the gods face each other. You can call this twin temple as it shares a common mandapa (hall).
Each temple in Lakkundi surpasses the other in architecture, planning, and design. The Suryanarayana temple has striking elevation with five tiers of gopuram each tier different from the other. The tier comprises of flower creepers, animals, leaves, sculptures, and various motifs.
Gajalakshmi adorns in the middle of the door lintel and is an example of intricate sculpture flanked by elephants.
The pillars are another story decorated with Makara (mythological animal), lamps, flowers, paisley patterns, and sculptures. It is like stepping into the mind of the sculptor and seeing what he perceived while chipping away the stones.
The stories from Puranas and our legendary epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha were made easy to understand to the common man by the visual depiction in stone during the non-existance of audio-visual technology or Internet. This also makes us understand the in-depth research the sculptor would have undertaken to bring that emotion in stone.
The sanctum sanctorum is empty with no deity, but as you look up you see Lord Surya riding his chariot drawn by the seven horses stands majestically reiterating the fact that none can destroy the brightest star in our galaxy.
Temples to visit:
Nanneshwara Temple
Place statistics:
Type of place: Historical site
Situated: Gadag district
Distance: 12 kms South-East of Gadag
Transport: Well connected by road. Nearest railway station is at Gadag.
Facilities: Nil
