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You are here : Home >> Photo Gallery>>Karnataka >> Pattadakal Temples

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Now Showing: States of India / Karnataka / Pattadakal Temples    [Viewed 4419 times]
Pattadakal is less than an hour`s drive from Badaumi which is about 3 hrs drive from Hubli. The monuments here are a contribution by the Chalukyas of Badaumi. It lies on the banks of the river Malaprabha, is a world heritage site. You see an overview of the temple complex., Left to right is Kadasiddeshwara T, Jambulinga T, Galaganath T, Sangameshwara T, Virupaksha T, Kashi Vishveshwara T and Mallikarjuna T. The Papanath Temple is a few minutes walk from this complex. There is a Jain Temple ie a few minutes drive. Temples made here mark the blending of the Rekha-Nagara-Prasada and the South India Vimana styles of temple building. Vibrant and graceul sculptures provide panoramic glimpses of the contemporary society in its various dimensions.There are 10 temples of North and South Indian styles. Rest have been ruined by nature and partly by ignorant villagers. Pattadakal was a important religious centre during the days of early Western Chalukyas from 500-757 A.D. Name of Vikramaditya II is closely associated with the beautifying of Pattadakal. Jnana Shivacharya, a scholar from a kingdom north of the Ganga settled down in Pattadakhal indicates the cultural contact between North and South India in those days. You see board outside Kadasiddeshwara Temple. Temple probably built in the middle of the 7th century. It shows an experimental stage in the development of temple architecture. All temples in Pattadakal are east facing and barring the Jain temple are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Every temple mainly has 2 parts: the sanctum sanctorum (garbha- grihas) proper and in its front the auxiliary parts: the vestibule (antarala or ardha-mandapa), pillared hall (sabha-mandapa), portico (mukha-mandapa) in the front along the same axis. The interior of the former is plain. The latter is meant for various cultural and religious activities.Board outside Jambulinga Temple. In the past Pattadakal had another name: `Kisuvolal` (kisu=red, volal=valley city) as also Raktapura (Red City). Temples are Northern and Southern styles.
Jambulinga Temple probably built in the middle of the 7th century, in the Nagara style. The façade of the vimana above the entrance shows Dancing Shiva with Parvati and Nandi watching. In the Northern style from above the square (nagara) garbha-griha rises a square tall superstructure (shikhara) of curvilinear profile (rekha) divided horizontally but distinctly into 3 or 4 or 5 zones (bhumi). It is crowned with a cushion like circular, flattish, solid member releived on the edge into series of parrallel sharp vertical ridges allround looking like a gadroom (amalaka). On it are a pot (kalasha) and needle like staff (suchi) one on the other. In pic no 7 you can see the amalaka and kalash. In the front of Sikhara is a sculptural replica of the deity enshrined in the garbha-griha which you can see in the center of the picture.Board outside Galaganath Temple was built around 750 A.D. and is in Northern or Nagara style. Art historians call Pattadakal site as `the laboratory of Indian temples` as also `Cradle of Indian temple architecture` so is Aihole.The most striking feature of this temple is its majestic Shikhar. You see the temple plinth is quite big which seems to indicate that the temple was originally a much larger one. The high curvilinear sikhara comprises 4 bhumis marked by the karna-amalakas and has a vertically bold jalaka of laced tiny niches. The Galaganatha, Kadasiddheswara, Jambulinga, Papanatha and Kashi Visvesvara temples are made in the North Indian style.Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lingam inside the temple made on black granite, highly polished on a high moulded red sandstone pitha as you can see in this picture. Sangamesvara, Mallikurjana and Virupaksha are made in South Indian style.
On walls of temple you see a beautifully carved sculture of 8 handed as Andhakasurari Siva. There are also base reliefs of Ganga and Jamuna at the bottom and elaborately carved Nataraj accompanied by musicians on the lintel.Sangameshwara Temple made around 720 A.D. This temple is dedicated to Vijayeshwara named after the builder of the temple Vijayaditya. Made in South Indian style vimana the super structure rising from above the square garbha-griha consisting of retreating storeys generally ranging from one to three or more. The topmost storey is crowned with a square (nagara) or circular (vesvara) or octagonal (dravida) stupi ie sikhara with a constricted neck (griva) below. The sikhara carries atop a kalasa and stupi. A two tier south Indian type of Shikar tops the shrine representing an experimental type of Vimana type immediately preceeding that of the Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna temples. The structure on the immediate right of the picture is Vijay Sthamb made when King Vikramaditya II defeated the Kanchi king. Very well made temple. The Nandi mandapa is outside the temple. You can see it is a large structure but the temple is effective. The sculptures are unfinished which indicate that the structure was left incomplete for some reason. Inscriptions indicate name of sculptor as Paka. Since this picture taken from a distance can see the ruins. To the right of picture is the Galaganatha Temple. What you see in front are ruins of earlier structures.
A close up of the temple. As you can see it is made on a plinth having a moulded base divided by Deva Koshtas. Pillars are characteristically plain and heavy. To right of picture you see pillars in the sabha-mandapa. There are four rows of four heavy pillars each. You can see beautiful sculptures of Vishnu, Varaha, Shiva in the niches of the outer walls. Something special about temple design and make.Extreme left you see Galaganatha temple, in the centre is Jambulinga temple and right is the Sangameshwara temple. Temple on left is made in Northern style while that on right is in Southern style makes it easy to know the difference in styles.Virupaksha Temple. It is the largest and finest temple made in South India style. It has a large court and fine hall for Nandi. Porch on eastern side has two pillars that are decorated with couples. Flanking the entrance are 2 Dwarapalas. It is built after the pattern of Kailasnatha temple Kanchi. It is also called Lokeshwar temple that was built by Lokadevi, the Queen of Vikramaditya II in 740 A.D. in commemoration of the victory over the Pallavas. It measures 224 feet east-west and 105 feet north-south with one central shrine and two subsidiary shrines and a Nandimantapa that you cannot see in this picture. This picture is actually a post card. Extreme left you see the Vijay Sthamb that you saw in an earlier picture.
A side view of the temple. Note the sculptures on the walls of the temple. Remember the temple was made in stone.A rear side view of the temple.Took this picture to give you an idea of temple size. This is the western side.Virupaksha Shiv temple in right and center of picture. If it is a Shiv temple some distance away will be a Nandi-mandapa ie a pillared pavilion enshrining the sculpture of Nandi. Structure that you see on extreme left of picture houses the Nandi that you shall see later. Could have clicked better pictures of temple exterior. If any of you have better pictures please mail me me - id above.Inner ceiling of the main entry porch ie eastern side has a large ceiling panel displaying Surya, the sun god, an an excellent eg of balance and composition. The god is accompanied by Usha and Pratyusha with bow and arrow to dispel darkness, in the chariot drawn by seven horses controlled by Aruna, the charioteer-welcomed by gods, semi divine beings in the cloud sky.

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  1. Comment By - Sethu Madhavan Date - 11 Mar 2011 Time - 7:19PM

  2. World Heritage well preserved by the concerned State and by esamskriti in its own way.-Sethumadhavan


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