Siddhesvara Temple

From inscriptions, Haveri was originally called Nalapuri and was one of the oldest agraharas (a place of learning) in modern Karnataka.

However, a picture of Shiva, sculpted out of an independent slab of stone and mounted in front of the Shikhara (superstructure) above the mantapa roof, would suggest otherwise.

[3] Overall, the temple plan bears all the hallmarks of a standard 11th-century Chalukyan construction with Dravida architectural articulation to which some innovative 12th-century elements, such as aedicules, and miniature decorative towers on pilasters, were added.

On either side of the doorway is a perforated stone worked window, and the main shrine (garbhagriha or cella) has a plain linga (the symbol of Shiva).

Some ceiling panels contain images of the saptamatrika ("seven mothers"), while a square column includes photos of the ashtadikpalas ("eight guardians") along with the Hindu trimurthy ("three forms") and Surya.

The saptamatrika sculptures on friezes have female deities, generally, each with a child on the lap to denote motherhood and are identified by the vahana (vehicle) of their male counterpart found under them.

[8] Other loose sculptures in niches worthy of mention are those of Surya, canopied by a seven-hooded snake, and the Mahishasuramardini (a form of Durga).