Ishvara Temple, Arasikere, Hassan: History, Timings & Visitor Guide

Ishvara Temple, Arasikere is open every day, usually from early morning to late evening with a break in the afternoon. Darshan and aarti timings change with the season and on festival days.

• MorningOpens early morning (around 5 to 6 AM)
• AfternoonShort break around midday at many temples
• EveningEvening aarti around sunset, closes by about 8 to 9 PM

Ask the temple office on arrival for the day's aarti schedule.

Dress Code & Temple Rules

• DressModest, traditional clothes covering shoulders and knees
• FootwearRemove before entering; use the shoe stand
• PhotographyNot allowed inside the sanctum
• Not AllowedLeather items, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg food
• QueueFollow queue lines and staff instructions on festival days

Arasikere, also referred to as Arsikere or Arsiyakere in historic Indian texts, is located about 41 kilometres (25 mi) east of Hassan city and about 140 kilometres (87 mi) north of Mysuru city. It is at the southwestern edge of the Nagapuri forest and hills, connected to India's national highway network through NH 73. The Isvara temple is located on the northeastern side of the town. Arasikere (lit "Queens tank") is derived from Arasi, which means "queen" or "princess" and kere means "tank" in the Kannada language.

The temple has several inscribed stones, as well as hero stones. None provide the foundation information to help date this temple. However, given the references in these available inscriptions, this temple must have been in existence during the reign of Narasimha II of the Hoysala dynasty, by about 1220 CE. Further, these same inscriptions suggest the Ishvara temple was one among much bigger complex of temples, and that the Shiva linga inside this temple was referred to as Kattamesvara. The temples were active till the early 14th-century, given the evidence of gifts and donations mentioned in the inscriptions. In a survey completed in 1918 by a team of British and Indian archaeologists, the team reported another inscription – Arsikere Inscription #84 – that helps establish that the double temple to the left of the Ishvara temple was also in existence by 1220 CE. They reported witnessing numerous mutilated figures of Durga, Ganesha, Mahisasuramardini and others, as well as scattered sections of "some temple which is no longer in existence".

Architecture of Ishvara Temple, Arasikere

The Ishvara temple was constructed using soapstone. It is modest in size, yet with a sophisticated architecture because of its ground plan: a 16-point star-shaped mantapa (hall) and a stellate shrine with each corner distinct. According to Dhaky, a scholar of temple architecture and history, the temple "ranks among the most notable of the Hoysala times". Foekema calls it "exceptionally intricate".

The temple faces east. It has an open navaranga and a mukha-mantapa with a round dome on top, likely one with a seated Nandi (now missing). This open mandapa is supported on 21 pillars, of which 8 are towards the middle and decorated, while the outer 13 pillars have a pair of elephants near their base. There is a square outer porch. The open mantapa (mandapa, hall), is a deep concentric joist-and rafter ceiling with an inverted lotus, states Dhaky, and this is so crafted that it successfully simulates a timber appearance. The architect provided an integrated stone bench along the sides of the open mandapa for pilgrims to gather and sit. Inside is another closed gudha-mantapa. The gudha-mandapa is a 20 feet by 20 feet square. The ceiling of this closed mantapa is supported by four lathe turned pillars.