A Wet Wet Outing-I

Monsoon, drizlling lightly or pouring heavily could not dampen the spirits of three

eclectic travelers, the three who were out to have fun, with or without umbrellas!

'Loitering around ' was the plan, drove to Chikkaballapur district , 60 kms away to loiter in and loitered away to our hearts content!!

First Stop- Home of Sri M.Vishweshvariah

Loitered around the home-turned-museum of Sir M.Vishweshvariah in Muddenahalli , discovering that the " Bharath Ratna"award is a surprisingly small medal with a very short , prosaic citation 

The distant hill was calling us and we moved to our next destination


Second Stop- Bhoginandeeshwara Temple

The temple has a triple shrine to Iswara or Siva. Arunachaleswara a child form, Bhoga Nandiswara the youth and Uma Maheswara the divine universal parents. The temple also has shrines dedicated to the respective shaktis. Apita Kuchamba, the mother (Amba) with Unsuckled/undrunk (Apita) breast (Kucha), the Shakti of Arunachaleswara. A mother, ever full with milk (as though unsuckled) for all who seek, providing the milk of grace. 

 Humble offering at the entrance to one of the holiest and the ancient most  temples of Karnataka

The Bhoga Nandiswara temple, the original temple in the complex, identified as one of the oldest temples of Karnataka, dates back to the early 9th century. The earliest inscriptions referring to the construction of the temple for Shiva, according to the Archaeological Survey of India, are from Nolamba dynasty ruler Nolambadiraja and the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda III dated c.806, and copper plates of the Bana rulers Jayateja and Dattiya of about c.810.

Nandi, Siva himself born from a Yagna, to Sage Shilada with the blessings of Siva after thousand years of Tapas, means Joy or one who brings joy. Born with three eyes, four arms, bearing trident and mace with a body of Vajra, Nandi prayed to Siva and was granted eternal life and was adopted by Parvati as their child....Linga Puranam

Misty rain, like snow upon KailashMisty rain, like snow upon Kailash

The exquiite wall panel at the back of the Uma Maheshwara shrine, connecting the Aunachaleswara and Bhoga Nadiswara shrine 

Kamateshwara...located in the South West Corner, the corner where Ganesha is normally present in a temple 

Goddess Girija

Marriage procession of Sankar and Parvati

Natraja

Water Spout carrying the Abhisheka Tirtha from the Arunachaleswar

Vasantha Mantapa with exquisitely carved Ashta dikpalas

The Pushakarni in perfect symmetry was the source of River Pennar

The stuccoed figures 

 Granite base and brick top Vimana of the Bhoga Nandiswara,Nandi Hills, in the backdrop, cloud shrouded on arainy day and it was time for us to move up ....up to the Nandi Hills