Built by the Subedar of Hyder Ali in the 17th century, Arunachaleshwara Temple in Harohalli is a fine specimen of the Vijayanagara style of architecture. With delicately carved pillars and ancient structures, the temple is a huge structure consisting of mukhamantapa, garbhagriha and outer mantapa.
The garbhagriha enshrines the main deity Arunachaleshwara in typical Dravidian style.
Other deities include Dakshina Murthy, Dhanalakshmi, Ayyappa Swamy and Chandikeshwara Swamy.
The main entrance is adorned with a colossal Rajagopuram.
The main mantapa has 24 pillars with sculptures and the outer mantapa is a visual delight with exquisitely carved sculptures of celestial dancers and musical instruments.
The story that revolves around this temple is about Lord Shiva appearing as a column of light or fire to eliminate the ego from the face of mankind. The story begins with two most revered Hindu deities and part of the Trimurthis [Three governing Hindu Gods] Lord Vishnu the preserver and Lord Brahma the creator argues with each other to impose the supremacy of one self over the other. Lord Brahma said he is supreme among the Trimurthis and he was born first. Lord Vishnu stated that Lord Brahma emerged from his navel only. While both were fighting, there comes Lord Shiva for the rescue. He appeared between the two Lords in the form of a column of fire and asked both of them to find the end of this free column. He declared that the one who finds the end is the most supreme of the Trimurthis.
Therefore Lord Vishnu as Varaha [Boar] and Lord Brahma as swan started moving toward both sides separately. Lord Brahma on the way found a Thazhambu flower and asked her to be a false witness. On returning Lord Brahma asked the flower to tell Shiva that he found the end. The flower said so to Shiva which made him so angry that he cursed Brahma that he would not have any temple worshipping him on Earth and also cursed the flower that it would not be used for any Pooja kriyas. Lord Vishnu after realizing there is no end to the fire column accepts defeat and bow to Shiva.
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