Kalleshwara Temple is located in the village of Aralaguppe in Tiptur taluk of Tumakuru district in Karnataka. The temple is in a quiet rural area surrounded by greenery and open fields.
This is an ancient temple dating back to the 9th to 10th century CE. It is more than 1100 years old. The age of the temple is confirmed by stone inscriptions found at the site, which makes it historically important.
The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, worshipped as Kalleshwara. The name comes from the word kallu meaning stone, symbolizing Shiva as eternal and unchanging. The Shiva Linga in the sanctum is the main focus of worship. Devotees offer water, milk, and bilva leaves to the deity.
The temple is built in an early Dravidian style with Nolamba influence. It has a square sanctum and a simple hall. The outer structure looks simply, but the carvings inside are detailed and beautiful. The entrance has carved doorframes with guardian figures, and there is a Gajalakshmi sculpture above the doorway. The ceiling has carvings related to Shiva and other divine themes. Some parts of the temple were added later during the Hoysala period.
The temple was built during the rule of the Nolamba dynasty with support from the Western Ganga rulers. An inscription dated around 895 CE mentions its construction. This shows that the temple was an important religious place even during that time. It is believed that there was an earlier sacred spot here, which was later developed into a proper temple by the kings.
This Sthalapurana is based on local tradition.
In ancient times, this area was covered with forests and was used by sages for meditation and penance. These sages prayed to Lord Shiva to bless the place with his presence so that people could benefit spiritually.
It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared here in the form of a linga within a stone, representing his eternal and formless nature. Because of this, the deity came to be known as Kalleshwara.
According to a local tradition, a cow from a nearby village used to come to a particular spot every day and pour milk on the ground. When villagers noticed this, they dug the place and found a Shiva Linga beneath the earth. They understood it to be a self-manifested form of Shiva and started worshipping it.
As the importance of the place increased, the Nolamba rulers, with support from the Western Ganga kings, built a proper temple around this sacred Linga. This means the temple was built to protect and worship an already existing divine presence.
The temple follows simple worship practices. Daily rituals include abhisheka with water and milk and offering of bilva leaves. Mondays are considered special for Lord Shiva.
The main festival celebrated here is Maha Shivaratri, when more devotees visit the temple and perform special prayers. The celebrations are simple and maintain the peaceful nature of the temple.
