Blog number 1907.Hosagunda KALLESHWARA TEMPLE of Shimoga district

HOSAGUND KALLESHWARA TEMPLE HUZE TREE REMOVEL WORK 

   The village Hosagunda in Anandapuram hobli is quite well known in Sagara Taluk. The reason it came to limelight was Hedatri Mallappa Gowda. When Linganamakki dam was built against the river Sharavati, many villages including Hedatri submerged in water. Sri Dyavappa Gowda's family shifted to Hosagunda from Hedatri. It was a wealthy family, people used to tell various stories about their richness.

Dyavappa Gowda foresaw the needs for the future generations. A public well for drinking water was dug and a school was constructed. The school was inaugurated by the then chief minister Sri Nijalingappa. This shows the prestigious social status Sri Dyavappa Gowda enjoyed.

After him, his son Sri *Hedatri Nagaraja Gowda* lead the same dignified social life like his father. Nagaraja Gowda used to say that there was a temple in the forests of Hosagunda. They were not aware of it for many years. That stone temple was constructed on a human constructed soil mound.

Later archaeological department gave the information that it's Kalleshwara temple. A tree was growing adjacent to the temple wall. If the tree was not cut down, the entire temple will collapse.

This information was published in gazetteer by Assistant director Nagarja Rao.

Whenever I went to Zilla Panchayat office, I used to meet  historian Mr JAYADEVAPPA JINAKERI whose house was nearby. He would always persuade me to do something to preserve the temple from collapsing. His urging made me to visit the temple site with Nagaraja Gowda.

The tall tree had engulfed the temple's sanctum and 65% of the tree was leaning on the temple. The temple was adorned with stone sculptures, it's architecture was similiar to the Banawasi Temple. 

The temple was vandalized by treasure hunters for a rumoured hidden treasure as there were signs of botched efforts to dug out the shiva linga. It felt as if the soil mounds around the temple were built for protecting the temple from such people, may be protecting the hidden treasure, so that the temple would not be visible for people that easily.

At that time, Mr. *Purushottam* was the forest officer in our region. I had asked him to check is it possible to remove the tree as to save the historical temple. Purushottam was quite adventurous and very sharp. He informed me that it's difficult but not impossible, and assured me that he will find an expert to cut down the tree. But Nagaraj Gowda was still in disbelief.

True to his assurance, within few days, Forester Purushottam brought the team of Hussain Saab. The team of wood cutters said that if the arrangements made as per their request, they will cut down the tree without affecting the building.

Once we started the work, the wages, food and staying of the workers was overlooked by Nagaraj Gowda. After two days of necessary preparations like building a safety platform etc, on the day of cutting the tree, Nagaraj Gowda arrived with Sagara Electric Department workers with steel wire ropes.

We were concerned what if the tree falls down on the building resulting in collapsing the building.. How to face the defame and legal implications.. Our only ray of hope was Mr. Purushottam, for him the ray of hope was Hussain Sab and team. For the others, they were relying on me as I was the ZP Member. 

As we started, food and tea was sent to the team by Nagaraj Gowda's home. He hurriedly started to go home as the snacks were finished. I asked him to stay, not to go. But he expressed regret stating that if the ancient temple collapses in this work, he won't be able to live with that sense of committing the sin. I could see that sense of guilt in his eyes. 

Purushottam and I had no choice but to stay as we were leading the work. I clicked a photo of the temple in my Kodak Camera. I was thinking where to stand when the tree falls so that moment can be captured in lenses. To my horror, Husain saab suggested that the back portion of the temple was the ideal location and provides perfect picture of the moment. That showed his confidence in his work because if the tree fell on the temple, the building would shatter and whoever standing there would be buried under the boulders of the wreckage.

Still, with some courage i went there. My friend Gafur accompanied me there with. 

Evening was approaching rapidly, birds were reaching their nests at that time. Hussain saab was giving the finishing touches on the machan(safety platform). Remaining team was standing on the other direction where they have tied a steel wire rope to the tree. Their job was to pull the tree in the opposite direction of the temple building in order to prevent the tree from falling on the building. 

All of a sudden, there was an eerie calmness. Our hearts were thumping with fear and anxiety. The noise from Hussain Saab's axe was the only noise that was being registered in our ears. 

Suddenly someone in their team shouted "Gaya re" (it's gone). We got tensed. At the same time I saw that the tree was falling on the opposite direction of the temple. I started clicking the photos. The whole place was covered in red dust. Following the sound of falling tree was the victorious cries of victory from the workers.

This was all years ago. Now the temple is being renovated. Lots of controversies have been surrounding the people who are developing it, and legal battle has been ensued between him and the pontiff who was part of development committee for entirely different reasons. 

Recently there has been lots of turmoils occurred in the developer's family. 

It was really sad that Hedatri Nagaraj Gowda committed suicide. 

People still claim that there is a hidden treasure.They also speculate that tantriks from Kerala are often seen nearby the temple for the treasure. Is the hidden true or is it just an urban legend that grows around such ancient structures? Only God knows. 

Whatever may be the case, the temple has been renovated. The name " _Kalleshwara_ " has been changed as "Uma Maheshwara". Recent photographs are really beautiful.

 Here i hace published the photos I clicked in 1995 with the memory of that adventure.