Aihole Chalukya Arch

Temple Architecture of
Chalukya Period
Dr. Manoj Kumar

Deptt. of AIHC & Archaeology
IGNTU, Amarkantak
General Introduction
• From the 5th century CE onwards (535-757CE), the Chalukyas of Badami were the leading force in
Deccan. They were indigenous Kannara family with Kannaras as mother tounge.
• Their early inscriptions indicate that they worship both Vaishnavite and Shaivite deities.
• The temple architecture of Chalukya Period is actually the mixture of Nagar and Dravida styles.
However, this style has been termed as Besar style.
• This style originate and flourished at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal of Karnataka state between 5th
to 7th century CE.
• These temples are located in Hungund taluka of Bagalkot district.
• The Chalukya kings shifted their capital from Aihole to Badami and again from Badami to
Pattadakal hence, the temples were also constructed in same chronological sequence.
• These three places provide the various stage of development of Chalukyan temple architecture .
• Raw material – Sandstone
• Most of the temple are located near the Malprabha river
• Many temples have been listed in UNESCO list of World Heritage Monuments
Aihole group of Temples
• Aihole is a small town about 46 km n.e. of Badami. It was the capital for about 200 years. Originally
there were 125 temples in the area of 3 sq. mile, hence considered as the ‘cradle of Indian temple
architecture’
• In old inscriptions it is known as ‘Aryapura’ and ‘Ayyavole’
• Now only 60-70 temples are lying in various state of preservation in which 30 temples are located
within an enclosure wall.
• Most of the temples are Brahmanical but there are few Jain temples also
• Blocks of stone were used for vertical construction
• Here one can seen the temples with a simple structure having crudely made cella in veranda like
construction to the mature temple with mukhmandap, sabhamandap , pradakshinapath and
garbhgriha
• From the simple beginning in Ladh Khan, Konti-gudi group to more evolved form at Durga temple,
Huchimalli-gudi and Gadagnath
• The curvilinear and pyramid like shikhar developed here not in the south
Aihole group of Temples
• Ladh Khan temple is considered as the earliest temple of Aihole group, while the Konti-gudi group is of little
late date, consist of three temples located in the heart of village
• In late publications, on the basis of ground plan of Konti-gudi group temples, many scholars accepted them
as the earliest temple. However, in the text of earlier writers (Percy Brown, Henry Cousens) the Ladh Khan
temple is mentioned as oldest temple.
• Out of three shrines of Konti-gudi group, two are attached with each other by a pillared portico and facing
each other in east west direction
• The first temple shrine of Konti-gudi group is placed in an open verandah and the shrine set in the back
wall
• The idea of central enclosed mandap had not yet evolved. The idea of temple yet to evolve.
• At the entrance there are six pillars while eight more pillars inside supporting the ceiling and between the
two back pillars at centre are shrine
• The arrangement of pillars at Konti-gudi also represent primitive design
• The entire temple movement at Aihole mainly flourished from the reign of Pulkeshin I(553-67 CE), to
Pulkeshin II (609-42 CE). However, the temples of Konti-gudi groups were built during Jaysimha & Ranrag
• This temple takes a step further forward in the Ladh Khan Temple
evolution Named after its former owner
• Though it is simple but certainly better than Konti-
gudi group temples
• It has mukhamandapa and sabhamandapa
• The mukhmandapa is supported on 12 pillars in
three rows in which side pillars joined with low
parapet wall
• The sabhamandapa is a square hall rest on 12 pillars
• A small sanctum against the back wall with lingam
• On the roof of the mandapa is another shrine with
images carved on it three exterior walls; image of
Surya on western wall
• On roof the stone logs placed on joints of slabs
indicates the imitation of older wooden architecture
• Some scholars suggests that originally it was
community house , later converted in a temple
Durga Temple Complex
• One of the finest temple of Aihole, Durga Temple dominates among 14 other
temples lying within an enclosure. It represents later construction
• Apsidal in plan this Brahmanical temple seems to influence with buddhist chaitya
plan
• No cementing mortar was used , stone were fixed by making grooves and offsets
• The temple rests on high moulded adhisthana with curvilinear shikhar and
impressive portico which pillars are striking also forming pillared corridor.
Externally all these pillars are caved with beautiful sculptures
• It has mukhmandap, sabhamandap, garbhgriha and pradakshinapath
• In main hall a well carved man –Garuda is shown in flying posture
• The pillars and slabs of ceilings are impressively decorated, pillars are square in
section with two sided or three sided capitals
• The main hall is divided in central nave and two sided aisles by two rows of
colonnades
• The roof is made of four tiers one upon another
• Percy Brown – 6th CE, Saundarajan- 7th CE. There is an inscription which states the
donation of Vijayaditya
Adjoining temple, Huchchimalli-Gudi
• In next plan of evolution the shrine becam detached from
sabhamandapa and this feature first time evident from a temple located
adjoining to Huchimali-gudi group of temples
• This first example of this is a small temple (25 x 11 feet) which exterior
resembles Tigawa temple but in plan there are some difference
• At Tigawa the portico open directly straight into the shrine but here it
opens in small sabhamandapa
• The shrine/sanctum is detached and larger than sabhamandapa
• The another important feature is the total absence of pillars in
sabhamandapa so it became small in size
• The outer wall of sanctum and sabhamandapa are plain, due to four
offsets at the corner the sanctum is not perfect square
• There is no shikhar either above the sabhamandapa or sanctum; the
ceiling is flat
• In later temples this experiment was carried out more successfully
• These type of temples were made during middle of 6th century CE
Gaudar-gudi Temple
• Gaudar-gudi temple is the first temple which introduces the circumbulatory
passage (pradakshina path)
• This important feature was absent from all earlier constructions
• This temple is located south-east of Ladh Khan
• Another peculiar feature of this temple is its pillar support. Like the Ladh Khan,
the ceiling of this pillar is supported by heavy pillars all round. Sixteen pillars
are built all round the temple to support the sloping roof
• The doorway of the shrine is beautifully decorated with floral carving and other
figures
• Upto the linter, the charming figure of Garuda in human form with spread out
wings
• It has Dravidian type of shikhar which is topped by beautifully carved amlaka
with kalash on top
• The shikhar is seen in such developed form here that one gets impression that it
evolved here in Deccan itself; infornt of shikhar are chaitya arches in which
careve female figures can seen
• The shrine itself is rectangular in shape and there in no any image or linga
Meguti Temple
• The final phase of Temple development is represented by Meguti Jain Temple ,
stands on Meguti hill
• Built during the reign of Pulkeshin II and his famous Aihole inscription is fixed
on the eastern wall of this temple with date of 634-35 CE. This is the earliest
inscriptional reference to poet Kalidas and Bharavi. Written by Ravikirti.
• It stands on high plinth facing north and having the plan of mukhmandapa,
anti-chamber (antarala) and sanctum/shrine inside a large hall
• A number of cross walls and pilasters divide the circumambulatory passage in
to small chambers. On the back a cross wall closing the passage which seems
later activities
• Close to the back wall , on a rectangular slab is the crudely carved image of
Tirthankara
• The pillared mukhamandapa has a stone staircase leading to the roof above
where is another shrine just above the shrine of ground floor. This also contains
a Jain image. The shikhar of upper shrine is now in ruins.
• By this time the art of construction and dressing stone had been perfected
Summary : Aihole group
• The entire temple movement at Aihole was confined to the reign of Pulkeshin I(553-67 CE), Kirtivarman
(567-97 CE), Manglesh ( 597-609 CE) and Pulkeshin II (609-42 CE).
• The evolution of architectural styles can be marked in following stages :
The verandah shaped temple with the sanctum built in the back wall
The temple with the addition of pillared portico and pillared mandapa ; sanctum in back wall
The sanctum detached from the main hall, a pillared portico and pillared mandapa, presence of Shikhar
The temple with or without portico but having a main mandapa in which sanctum with passage around
The temple with pillared portico, a main hall, an anti-chamber and sanctum, with or without passage
• The temples of first two groups (Konti-gudi, Ladh-khan) were made before the reign of Pulkeshin I.
• The pradashin path first time appered in Gaudar-gudi ,Durga Temples and many other temples, which
indicates that now the rituals related to Hindu worship were gradually being evolved
• Besides temples many caves (Ravanphadi cave- Brahmanical temple) were also excavated
Badami Group of Temple

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Temple Architecture of

Dr. Manoj Kumar

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