Pushkarini is a sacred pond built in the temple complex. They are also called tank, kalyani, konda, and thirtha. While the primary reason for these structures was to store water, the art of temple tank design became part of the temple architecture. Throughout India, you can see marvellous temple tanks. Some examples are Rani ki wav in Patan, Mehrauli, Melukote, Bhoga Nandishwara temple and Hampi.
I had heard about the pushkarini at Santhebennur. Recently, I saw a photograph of the Pushkarini, and the place looked beautiful. While driving to my native village, we decided to take a short detour to visit Santhebennur.
The first impression about the Pushkarini was positive. While I was expecting the Pushkarini to be present in a congested place, it was surrounded by a spacious garden. Being Sunday, many locals were visiting the pushkarini.
About Santhebennur Pushkarini
While the ASI board provides details about the Pushkarini, it does not mention the historical aspects. As per the information found on the web, Kenga Hanumantappa Nayaka, a local palegar under Vijaynagar Empire, built this place in the 16th century. In the 17th century, Bijapur Sultan invaded Santhebennur and constructed a musafirkhana (resting place) next to the pond.
The ASI board mentions “The large pond(honda) has its sides veneered with granite steps. Out of the eight towers at the cardinal points, only six are intact in various stages of preservation. The most striking feature of the pond is its ornate pavilion built on a square plinth with an arched entrance which has a flight of steps leading to the first tier. The first tier is an open pavilion with slender pillars at the periphery and austere railing in between. Towards the cardinal directions are elegant arched pavilions supported by a heavy stone, puspa potika, corbels. The second tier is the repetition of the first one over which moderate eaves support a heavy parapet with slender minarets the interspace pierced with arches topped by foliate merlons. Two rows of elephants, swans and gandaberundas adorn the pavilion. The ribbed dome jutting out at the centre is topped by a final and its neck is decorated with lotus petals bordered by guldastas. The musafirkhana was built on the western side as a spacious structure of granite having a large pillared with pointed arches probably as a prayer hall as well.”
At Pushkarini
Even though there were many visitors, the place did not look crowded. We were allowed to walk on the steps of the Pushkarini. The pond is about 250 feet in length and 240 feet in width, and it takes a good amount of time to cover it. The most striking aspect is the Vasantha Mantapa at the centre of the pond. Its architecture is Indo Arabic, which was common in the later Vijaynagar period.
Photography pains
There was a notice board at the entrance asking people to get permission to do all types of photography (Including mobile). There was no ticketing office, and it did not mention the process of obtaining permission. It looked like I may have to travel to Bengaluru, New Delhi or some other part of the world to get permission!!
I saw everyone taking photos on mobile, and I assumed that the lazy ASI people would have forgotten to remove this board. I opened my DLSR and started clicking photos. Suddenly, the caretaker appeared and asked me not to take the photo. I told him that everyone was taking photos. He replied that mobile photography was allowed but not DSLR. It sounded ridiculous, and I asked him whether he was even aware of the reason. He was visibly offended and started blabbering. I ignored him but did not use my DSLR.
By the way, there was indeed a rule banning all sorts of photography on ASI sites, but the ban was revoked after the Prime Minister questioned such foolish acts in 2018 (Link here). There is a saying in Kannada “devaru vara kotru poojari vara kodlilla” meaning “even though the god granted your wishes, the priest didn’t pass it on.”.
I never had high regard for the people in ASI, and this experience did not help in changing that perception.
Information and tips
- Santhebennur is about 54 km from Chitradurga and 36 km from Davanagere.
- Parking is on the side of the road, which is not a challenge.
- As far as I know, the site is open from 7:30 AM to 6 PM on all days.
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