A Shiva Linga dating from the Ganga Dynasty at the Mahalingeshwara Temple in the outskirts of Mysuru. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The discovery of an ancient inscription inside the Mahalingeshwara temple at Sardar Vallabhbhai Nagar on the outskirts of Mysuru has revealed that the temple is a thousand years old, according to experts.
“Local people believed that the temple was 200 to 300 years old. But our research revealed that this temple is a thousand years old,” said Prof NM Talwar, project director of the Center of Excellence for Classical Kannada Studies in Mysuru.
“Kings of the Ganga dynasty built temples based on the population density of the area. When we observe the building style of this temple, we can understand the population that existed here thousands of years ago. The contemporary inscriptions and temples examined shed light on the Ganga empire and this research is a significant effort,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Shashidhara CA, an archaeological researcher at the Center of Excellence for Classical Kannada Studies, said that the rulers of this dynasty made significant contributions to the field of architecture and literature by commissioning the construction of many temples and inscriptions.
“Since the Ganga temples are very old, some have been destroyed over time due to the destruction of history. Others have been completely renovated in the name of restoration, losing their original Ganga architectural style. Due to lack of awareness among the locals, many such temples are mistakenly believed to have been built during the Chola period or other dynasties,” he said.
“However, based on the inscription and the Shiva Linga found in the Mahalingeshwara temple, it is clear that this temple was originally built during the Ganga period and is a thousand years old,” added Dr. Shashidhara before saying that this research has played a key role in preserving the legacy of the Ganga dynasty and ensuring that their contributions are not attributed to others.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 20:50 IST
