Category:Rameshvara temple, Narasamangala

Ramesvara Temple, Narasamangala 

8th to 9th century Shiva temple
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Chamarajanagar district, Mysuru division, Karnataka, India
Heritage designation	Monument of National Importance
11° 48′ 12.03″ N, 76° 51′ 33.7″ E
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Narasamangala is a small, remote village in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, close to its border with Tamil Nadu. It was a major town before the 13th-century, with inscriptions already attesting to its importance by c. 800 CE through the 12th-century. When its historic importance was rediscovered in early 20th-century, the village had a large mound with numerous finely cut bricks and deliberately mutilated Hindu art ruins sticking out of the mound. On the eastern slope of this mound was the Rameshwara temple.

Now also known as the Ramalingesvara temple, the temple is called Ramanathadeva temple in the inscription slabs. It is comparable in historic importance and quality of artwork to the Ellora in Maharashtra, Dharmaraja Ratha at Mahabalipuram, and other particularly notable temples of Karnataka – Bhoganandi temple at Nandi, Kalieshvara temple in Talkad and the temples in Shravanabelagola. The temple was originally made of stone and bricks. From pillars to panels, the Rameshvara temple offers a glimpse into the high levels of artisan accomplishment by about 800 CE. The temple shows signs of deliberate damage, yet many parts are among the best preserved in south Karnataka. Of particular note are the Shiva artwork on the south face of the temple, Vishnu artwork on the west face, Shakta (Durga, Varahi, etc) artwork on the north face – once again attesting to the reverence for all three traditions of Hinduism in major temples in the first millennium.