Spiritual PlaceHindu temple

Kamala Narayana Temple

Kadamba-era temple of 1174 at Degaon with three shrines and a carved inverted lotus ceiling

Photo: Manjunath Doddamani Gajendragad at en.wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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01 — The story

The Kamala Narayana Temple at Degaon in Belagavi district was built in 1174 by the Kadamba dynasty. Its chief architect, Tippoja, worked for Kamala Devi, queen of the Kadamba king Sivachitta Permadi. Narayana is the principal deity.

With three cells, it is a trikuta temple. One shrine holds Narayana, another Lakshmi Narayana with the goddess on his lap, and the third an image of Queen Kamala Devi flanked by attendants. Richly carved pillars, with roaring lions between them, carry the roof, and the ceiling inside bears a huge inverted lotus. Stone panels on the façade show Kadamba emblems among other figures, and lions and floral motifs recur across the sculpture.

Unmapia

02 — About

Coming soon

We’re still writing about Kamala Narayana Temple: its history, what’s there and why it’s worth the trip.