Lilavai

SR No.: 002796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 500
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

Page 83

56
LĪLĀVAT
nes. Outside the compound wall, on the eastern Gopuram and close to it the tank Saptagodāvaram.
side there
is
a
The temple of Bhīmeśvara is a handsome two-storeyed building constructed partly in white and partly in black stones. In the porch round the shrine in the upper storey are black granite stone pillars, a rarity in that part of the country. The lower porch is also of black granite. The linga is of white marble, and being 15 feet in height it is worshipped at the top on the first floor. On the ground floor the image is enclosed by a dark room consisting of three rows of passages, the last of which leads to the image. There is a goddess known as Manikyeśvari, located on the upper floor, on the left side of Išvara, in a separate room. She is one of the eighteen Saktis that are worshipped all over India. She is supposed to be Isvara's companion, a courtesan. All the ceremonial worship is performed to her; and for all practical purposes, she occupies the place and status of Dāksāyaṇī or Pärvati.
The temple of Bhimeśvara contains 382 inscriptions which have been published by the Epigraphical Department in South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. IV. The earliest of these is dated Saka 969 ( = A. D. 1047) and belongs to the reign of the Eastern Chālukya king Rajarāja ; and the latest is a record of the reign of Purusottama of the Gajapati dynasty, dated in the 24th year of his rule, i. e., about A. D. 1567. The important dynasties of rulers represented in the epigraphs of this temple may be noted here: Eastern Chālukya, Western Chālukya, Imperial Chola, Eastern Gangas of Kalinga, Kakatiya, Reddi, Vijayanagara and Gajapati.” In these inscriptions the place is called by the name of Daksārāma, Dāksārāma, Daksavāța, Daksavātikā, Daks2-tapovana, Dakaremi etc. It is stated to have been situated in Guddavādi-nāņdu, which was a subdivision of Gangagonda-Choda-valanāndu. Though the locality is called Daksāräma, there are no gardens in the vicinity : all the region for miles around is at present under paddy cultivation.
1 In an inscription ( See Nos, 1196-97 ), dated Saka 1050 (+78 = 1128 A. D.), a
queen Lilavati by name, who dedicated lamps to that temple, is thus mentioned :
परममाहेश्वरपरमभट्टारकमहाराजाधिराजपरमेश्वरगङ्गान्वयालम्बनस्तम्भश्रीमदनन्तवर्मदेवर महादेवी ललिावतीदेवी.etc. 2 There is a reference to the Draksåråma in an inscription of the Kalachuri king
Yasahkarnadeva dated A. D. 1073. The record reports that Yasahkarņa defeated the Andhra king and worshipped Bhimeśvara near Godivari, Ep. Ind, Vol. XII, pp. 205 ff.