My Visit to an Ancient Temple - Sri Someshwara Temple in Old Madiwala (Bangalore)

Few months back, I had the opportunity to locate one of the long forgotten heritage of the Bangalore City.

In the by lanes of Old Madiwala, near Silk Board/Dollar Colony lies the Ancient Someshwara Temple. This temple is more than 800 year old and was built by Chola Kings

The whole Madiwala, Silk Board Area, Madivala Lake and Maruthi Nagar once belonged to the temple.

The temple houses a "Swayambu" Shiva linga in it Sanctum Sanctorum (Shiva lingam formed by natural Rock Formation). But unlike other ancient temples which I visited in Bangalore , this temple is in good shape and cared well by people around. This shows the real strength people have in protecting our heritage without outside help.

I came to know from the priest that renovation work was done during 2004, before that temple was in very bad shape. Many of the inscriptions which temple once had are lost in sands of time but still the temple has been renovated with proper guidance.

This temple also has the word Bengaluru inscribed in one of its Wall stones inscriptions which survived to tell the tale of the temple , about the rulers and assets it once owned

When one hears of Someshwara temple in Bangalore , only Ulsoor temple comes into our minds but this temple built by the same dynasty(Cholas) and time is not known to many. Even for the people residing near it. The same dynasty had built Ulsoor Someshwara temple and Begur Pancha Lingeshwara Temple

I request all those interested in preserving our heritage to have a visit once to this temple.

Your feedback and suggestions are highly appreciated.

Please find below some Articles on the temple

http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/jan222004/metro3.asp

http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/20/stories/2004082016400300.htm

(Origin Of Word: 'Benga-val-oru', the City of Guards in old Kannada)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bangalore

History and Origin Of Madivala and its Lake
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/42766601.cms