The Eternal Charm of BALLIGAVE
Balligave, in Shivamogga District, Karnataka was one of the most celebrated focal points of religion, trade, education, art and architecture for many centuries.
Mythologically, it is connected to Bali Chakravarthi and later to Pandavas . Legends apart, the 120plus inscriptions found around here provide a lot of historical inputs about the place , which has been called by various similar sounding names : Balligame, Belligavi , Baligrama etc etc.
Though existing as a well known town from the seventh century , it reached its zenith of celebrity and prominence under the Chalukyas of Kalyana, between 11th and 12 Cents. Administered by powerful Chiefs appointed by King Bijjala , the town received generous donations for development of many temples, mathas and allied instituitions. Its gradual decline came by, with the rising of the Hoysalas to prominence in the region, shifting the power centers to their chosen regions around Dorasamudra .
Balligave has always nourished religious diversity ., proof of which were the flourishing religious instituitions belonging to Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Tantric Shaivism.
‘Kodi Matha’, which still exists, was run by a very powerful sect of Kalamukha Shaivas . It was a renowned educational centre propagating various branches of knowledge, both worldly variety and spiritual variety. Free traveler’s choultries and hospitals were also maintained.
Balligave is the birthplace of the revered Veerashaiva saint Allama Prabhu and the celebrated Dancer- Queen Hoysala Shantala Devi.
Another contributing factor for the historicTown’s prosperity , was the moving of powerful merchants and trading guilds , who prospered under Badami Chalukyas, from Aihole to Balligave .
Prosperity , naturally , fed the Arts . A vast number of temples, which showed high degree of artistic and architectural merit, sprang up in and around the town. Of these, only some remain standing. Many, about which we learn from Inscriptions, are lost to us now.
Of those still standing , the Kedareshwara (conserved by ASI) is the most magnificent . Though it bears the Hoysala Crest , the style of ornamentation seen here is quite different from those seen in the later Hoysala Monuments at Belur- Halebid-Somanathapura. The style can be termed Transitional Chalukya-Hoysala
The intricacy of carving soapstone here rivals the work of Ivory and Sandalwaood Carvers. The Tripurantaka’s incomparably decorative stone grill is sufficient proof as are the Kedareshwara’s parapet medallions and the ceiling grid.
At present , Balligave is only a small village, like any other , with fields and a huge tank . One cannot fathom if the humble locals really understand what a brilliant and powerful region it once was or feel a twinge of empathy for how The Mighty has fallen.
It is thanks entirely to the Archeological Department that at least some of the built heritage of Balligave continues to cast its charm and lure visitors. The ASI Museum within the compound of the Kedareshwara temple has some splendid specimens of stone sculpture from different periods . With the best and valuable ones safely within the building , the damaged ones and the numerous inscriptions are neatly laid out in the Sculpture Garden . The Labels do not give dates , probably leaving it to the art enthusiasts and students to observe and theorise for themselves.
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