Hangal
—  town  —
Hangal Tarakeshwara temple
Hangal Location of Hangal in Karnataka and India
Coordinates	14°46′01″N 75°07′34″E / 14.767°N 75.126°E / 14.767; 75.126Coordinates: 14°46′01″N 75°07′34″E / 14.767°N 75.126°E / 14.767; 75.126
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District(s)	Haveri
Population	25,011 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 555 metres (1,821 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 581 104 • Telephone • +08379 • Vehicle • KA-27

Hangal is a town in Haveri district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is 75 km away from Hubli-Dharwad.It is on the left bank of the Dharma river, and has ruins of some fortification on the river bank. The town has a huge lake near Billeshwara temple called Anekere. This town is named Viratnagar of Mahabharath. famous Cultural sport of the hangal is "HattiHabba" The town has a huge Tarakeshwara temple. Other temple in the town are Ganesha temple, Virabhadra, Billeshwara and Ramalinga are the important temples.^[1] And a famous Veerashaiva Kumaraswami matha located in this town.

History[link]

Hangal Tarakeshwara temple first half

Hangal was also called as Hanungal.^[2]

Hangal was the capital of the Hangal Kadambas,^[3][4][5][6] feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukyas. It is mentioned as Panungal in early records and identified by tradition with Viratanagara of Mahabharata days. It was once the headquarters of a district called Panungal-500.

Kadambas[link]

• Kadambas is an ancient dynasty of south India who primarily ruled the region which is present day Goa state and nearby Konkan region (part of modern Maharashtra and Karnataka state). The early rulers of this dynasty established themselves at Vaijayanti or Banavasi in 345 AD and ruled as independent rulers for more than 2 centuries.

• The Kadambas, the earliest known dynasty to patronize Jainism was that of the Kadambas who ruled around 485 A.D. This is evident from Kamalajinalaya built near Banavasi by Ravivarma. There were several other Jaina monuments built under Kadamba patronage. Parsvanatha temple at Kuppatur built for Kadamba queen Maladevi and Jaina temple built in Hangal,^[7] fort are two such examples.

• In 607 AD, Chalukyas of Vatapi (Badami) sacked Banavasi and Kadamba kingdom was incorporated into expanding Chalukya empire. In 8th century AD, Badami Chalukyas were overthrown by Rashtrakutas who ruled supreme in south India till 10th century.

Kadamba of Hangal[link]

Western Chalukyas[link]

Hangal attained significance under the Kalyani Chalukyas^[8] who were the chief powers in the Deccan( 10th - 12th century). Chalukyas were renowned for their architectural (Gadag style) innovations, built out of the grey green chloritic schist of the region. For example monuments (temple) at Mahadeva Temple (Itagi), Gadag, Hangal and Lakkundi. So Hangal comes under the core area of Western Chalukya.

The Western Chalukyas (in 973) rose to power by defeating the Rashtrakutas with the help of Kadambas.^[9] Then Kadambas chief Chatta Deva was allowed by Taila II to rule Banavasi, he (during 980 - 1031 AD), consolidated his domain in the western Tungabhadra river basin under Chalukya shelter.

Hoysalas[link]

Hangal gained importance during the rule of Kalyani Chalukyas (10th to the 12th century), and later came under the Hoysalas^[10] with the decline of the Chalukyas. Bileshwara temple at Hangal is in the Hoysala style.

Tourism attractions[link]

Hangal large domical ceiling in the main hall at Tarateshwara temple

Hangal Tarakeshwara entrance to Garbhagudi

Hangal Tarakeshwara domical ceiling

Pillars at Hangal Tarakeshwara temple

At Hangal there are many historical temples, those are related to Chalukyas and Hoysalas. Tarakeshwara temple, Veerabhadra Temple, Billeshwara Temple^[11] are very attractive.

Tarakeshwara temple[link]

Hangal has a huge structure with wonderful series of images and polished tall Chalukya pillars.^[12] The Tarakeshwara temple^[13][14] (mid 12th century),^[15] dedicated to Shiva.

The outer walls of the temple are articulated with both Dravidian and nagara style of miniature shikaras.

The temple is famous for its very large domical ceiling in the main hall, which rises, in concentric circles of cusped mouldings, and then, at the apex, falling again in a great rosette or pendant.

• Kirtimukhas are wonderfully done, including Scenes from the Ramayana on these walls.
• The open hall contains (at its centre), a most intricately carved, domical corbelled lotus ceiling.
• The rock is carved in the form of a lotus^[16] and is 30 feet in diameter, is a octagonal piece of stone supported on 8 pillars.
• The temple consists of a sanctuary with a great adjoining pillared hall.
• Pillars are lathe-turned have bell-shaped section. There are plenty of decorative art on pillars, having elephants carved in such a way that a visible space separates the trunks from the pillar. A simple diamond shaped motif that are carved in bands around pillars are done in different sizes and minor variations.
• Nandi pavilion resting on 12 pillars and leaning balcony seating.
• The columns are lathe turned (have geometric shapes).
• Both halls have stepped pyramidal roofs.
• The outer walls are decorated with carvings of miniature temples.
• There are memorial stones carved with religious (Mastigallu)and military scenes(Veeragallu).

There is Ganesha temple near Tarakeshwara temple, which has a Nagara style (northern curvilinear) Shikhara.

Jain Temple in the Fort[link]

Hangal temple at horticulture department

Hangal temple at horticulture department

The Jain temple at Hangal in the fort^[17] area (at horticulture department premises). It is mostly built after AD 1150.^[18] The temple is beautifully decorated but there is need of conservation and restoration. The temple has Hoysala style^[19] of architecture. The temple was built on a stepped plan. It has an open hall and sanctuary but both do not have their superstructure now. The sculptural decoration (includes flowers, garlands, torana, animals, birds and gods) upper portion of the wall is elaborate. The temple walls are decorated with thin pilasters. The open hall has lathe turned pillars.

Veerabhadra Temple[link]

Veerabhadra Temple^[20] located in the Hangal Fort, it is very beautifully carved temple. There is a need to carry out conservation and restoration work form Archeological Survey of India.

Billeshwara Temple[link]

Hangal Billeshwara temple

Hangal Billeshwara temple

Bileshwara temple is in the Hoysala style. Main attraction of this Temple is its elaborately carved jambs of doorframe of garbhagudi. At the lower end of each (right and left sides of doorframe) there are 5 carved figures include Manmatha is in the central projection, Rati is at his side with Daksha (the goat headed god), and both flanked by attendants. It consists of a sanctuary facing (incomplete), the outer walls decorated with design look like temple towers. and has a carved decoration consists of diamond shapes. The square panels with serpents with intertwined tails, animals, musicians, and foliage.

Kumaraswamy Matha[link]

Hangal Kumaraswamy Matha

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[21] Hangal had a population of 25,011. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Hangal has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 60%. In Hangal, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

See also[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hangal

• Coins Issued By Kadambas of Hangal
• Kadambas of Hangal, Toyimadeva, Gold Pagoda
• Kadambas of Hangal, during 1075-1094 AD, Shanti Varma, Gold Punchmarked Coin
• Hangal Tarakeshwara temple complex on Google Maps

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Avtar Kishan Hangal (born 1 February 1917), popularly known as A. K. Hangal, is an Indian character actor in Hindi language films. His most notable roles are as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Rahim Chacha in Sholay and as Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977). He has acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career spanning from 1966 to 2005.

Early life[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2012)

Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, he spent his childhood in Peshawar, where he had performed in theatre for some major roles. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal. However, his primary occupation for the early part of his life was that of a tailor. He was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle. Following his father's retirement, the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi. He moved to Bombay after the Partition of India in 1949 after 3 years in prison in Pakistan. He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings.

Hindi cinema career[link]

He started his Hindi film career at the very late age of 50 with Basu Bhattacharya's Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird, and went on to play as the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the leading men/women in the films in the 70's 80's 90's or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films like Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi, Naram Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor, always was part of the most of the films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero like Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai till Sautela Bhai in 1996. His best performances in his later years was in Shararat (2002) his character roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1997) and Lagaan. In movies he has played a very large number of character roles, mostly positive. He has acted in 225 films so far.

On 8 February 2011, Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.^[1]

Awards[link]

The Government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.

Old age problem[link]

Hangal, who has more than 200 films to his credit in a career that spanned nearly five decades, due to his old age post 2007 found it difficult to meet his medical expenses. His son Vijay, a retired cameraman and former Bollywood photographer, himself is 75 and has not had a full-time job since 2001.With just a gap of 20 years between Vijay and Hangal it was difficult for them to manage their day to day expenses. Earlier, Vijay would take up small jobs but now, he can't do that either because of a back problem. Post 2007 A.K.Hangal has been suffering from a disease and has run into financial troubles in garnering money for treatment (he and his son have to spend 15000 rupees a month on medicines). So income stopped coming into the house from all quarters. When this plight of the veteran 95-year-actor was highlighted by the media and newspapers on 20 January 2011, many filmstars and directors promised to help the 95-year-actor financially. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan pledged to give him Rs 50,000.

Jaya Bachchan, who worked with Hangal in several films including Guddi, Anamika, Bawarchi, Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Doosri Sita, Jawani Diwani, Parichay and Sholay, on getting to know about his condition, said: "Please tell Hangal saab that his daughter was not aware of his condition and I am really sorry about it. My office will be taking care of all his hospital expenses.^[2]

Mithun Chakraborty from the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) asked the association to release funds for the senior actor. On 21 January 2011, Dharmesh Tiwari, the president of CINTAA concurred and said the association has helped Hangal in the past and will continue to do so and that they sending a cheque of RS 50,000. On 21 January 2011 Salman Khan contacted Tiwari on Thursday to pledge his support. Director Samar Khan used then a popular social networking site to spread the word, and by 22 January 2011 evening friends and fans had pledged about Rs 1 lakh. Tiwari said, "If the government can allot some land, we can use it as Hangal saab has suggested to build an old age home for artistes. Mumbai, which is the birthplace of Bollywood, is not paying any heed to us."

Then Ranjan Thakur, the personal secretary to I&B minister Ambika Soni said, "The minister has spoken to Ramesh Sippy and the Film Federation and has asked them to keep us updated on the funds collected for A K Hangal. We are looking at the possibility of a long-term health insurance program for retired actors. Now as per the reports of Times of India dated 24th Jan 2011, he has been offered some help from some from Bollywood fraternity for his medical expenses. On 4th of March, 2011, it was reported that Amitabh promised to take care of his medical expenses and Aamir Khan promised in one of the press conferences, that now, when he has known about it he would go see him and would help him in every way.

The actor had last shot for Amol Palekar's film, Paheli in 2005. In fact, he had not gone out of his house for the last eight months. "We were surprised to see him get out of home. He would have done it only for acting," said his son Vijay and added, "My father had remained at home for the past few months. The show producer Saurabh Tiwari and senior executives from the channel came to our place to offer him the role. Several filmmakers had approached him in the last few years. But father did not take those up due to health issues."

A K Hangal returned to face the studio lights after seven long years. Having reached the sets of a TV Series Madhubala on a wheelchair, the 97-year-old actor wasn't sure he would be able to handle it physically. But once the cameras started rolling, there was no stopping the actor within.

Family[link]

He has a son, and after the death of his wife, he lives alone in his flat in Santa Cruz, Mumbai. His son Vijay Hangal is a retired Bollywood photographer and cameraman who lives in flat adjacent to Hangal. Vijay's wife died before 2000 and does not have any children.

Selected Filmography[link]

Films[link]