According to a legend, a local powerful Jain woman, Padmavati, fell in love with a Shaivate merchant, Abbayya, who had come down to Lakshmeshwar.

Abbayya agreed to marry her on the condition that she should adopt Shaivism. After their marriage, the idol of Somanatha, which Abbayya brought with him from Saurashtra was installed inside the structure, which was originally a Jain shrine.

Though this story is not backed by historical evidence, historians opine that the temple was originally a Jain shrine and was called Suvarana Basadi.

It was believed to have been constructed in 1080 AD and has the features of Kalyan Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and Vijayanagar style of architecture.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / December 26th, 2015