Temple Description

The Siddhesvara Temple, also known as Siddheshvara or Siddheshwara, and locally referred to as Purada Siddeshwara, is situated in Haveri district, Karnataka, India. It is a remarkable example of 12th-century Western Chalukyan architecture, renowned for its numerous loose sculptures depicting Hindu deities. Inscriptional evidence suggests that the temple was initially consecrated in the late 11th century. A distinctive feature of the temple is its western orientation, unlike most Chalukyan temples that typically face east toward the rising sun. While it is currently a Shaiva temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, there is uncertainty regarding its original sect or deity of worship. Many visitors come for spiritual reasons, and references to temple visits can be found in the Gita, chapter 17, verse 23. Most of the sculptures of Lord Shiva depict him in meditation, with interpretations varying on whether he meditates upon himself or another deity, as noted in the Devi-Bhagavata Purana. This ambiguity may arise from the presence of various loose sculptures and the deterioration of primary wall images.