The Navalinga Temple is situated at Kukkanur (sometimes spelled Kuknur), a town in Karnataka state, India, 4 miles (6 km) north of Itagi in the Koppal district and 25 miles (40 km) east of Gadag.
The temples are dedicated to the nine forms of the Hindu deity Shiva and are considered to be amongst the most important Shiva temples in Karnataka. The Navalinga Temples were built in the 9th century CE by the Chola dynasty king Rajaraja I. The temples are located in the town of Kukkanur, which is situated in the district of Shimoga. The Navalinga Temples are considered to be amongst the most important Shiva temples in Karnataka. The temples are dedicated to the nine forms of the Hindu deity Shiva.
The first cluster of temples is known as the Northern Group and includes the temples of Mallikarjuna, Kashi Vishwanath, and Rameshwara. The second cluster is known as the Southern Group and includes the temples of Virupaksha, Laksha Deepika, and Trailinga. The third cluster is known as the Eastern Group and includes the temples of Nandi, Ganga, and Chalukya. The Navalinga Temples are a popular tourist destination and are visited by thousands of people every year. The temples are open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
SCULPTURE
The halls' pillars are of higher quality than those at Pattadakal, demonstrating a development in this art from earlier eras. Architraves were common, and a very excellent example with two makaras (mythical creatures) with circular scales and floral tails has survived. Two ancient Kannada inscriptions in the temple compound are in excellent condition. There are a total of 15 inscriptions in the town, most of which are from the 1005–1186 CE period, while there are also several from the Vijayanagara era. The inscriptions indicate donations to the temples of a number of Hindu deities, including God Mallikarjuna and goddesses Chamundi, Ganga, Sarasvati, Kalikadevi, and Mahamayi. It has been suggested that these deities may have been honored when the Navalinga temples were first dedicated.
