Aihole
| Aihole | |||
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| State : |
 India
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| State : | Karnataka | ||
| District : | Bagalkot | ||
| Sub-district : | Hungund | ||
| Location : | 16 ° 1 ′ N , 75 ° 53 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 521 m | ||
| Residents : | 3,403 (2011) | ||
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Aihole ( Kannada : ಐಹೊಳೆ Aihoḷe [ ˈaihoɭe ]) is a larger village with around 3,400 inhabitants and over 100 Hindu and some Jain temples in the Indian state of Karnataka .
location
Aihole is located in the Bagalkot district in the Taluk Hungund in the north of Karnataka at an altitude of about 600 m above sea level. d. M. and about 45 km to the northeast from Badami ; it is easy to reach from there by bus. The place is near the Malaprabha River , a tributary of Krishna . According to the 2011 census, the population is 3,403.
history
In the early 6th century, Aihole (the original name was Ayyavole or Ayyapura ) was the capital of the Chalukya Empire. Its rulers Pulakesi I (ruled 543-566) and Kirtivarman I (ruled 566-583 or 597) moved the capital to Badami in the middle of the 6th century. Nevertheless, Aihole remained an important economic and religious center for another hundred years before the power of the Chalukyas came to an end in the second half of the 7th century. However, the religious importance of the place was preserved and so even afterwards - especially under the younger Chalukya dynasty - further temples were built in the 11th and 12th centuries.
temple
More than 100 - mostly undated - temple buildings have been preserved in Aihole and the surrounding area, which are divided into 22 groups and classified by researchers in the 5th to 12th centuries - in the following only the most important temples are mentioned. Characteristic of the early architecture of the Chalukyas in Aihole (e.g. compared to the older Gupta temples ) is:
- the lack of elevated platforms ( jagatis ); instead, high base zones
- the construction consisting of large pillars with large stone slabs inserted in between
- the significant expansion in length and width of the buildings made possible by the many pillars
- the extensive lack of roof structures; the Shikhara towers of the early temples may have been added later
Lad Khan Temple
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The Lad Khan Temple is dedicated to the god Shiva ; its dating is controversial. Some researchers advocate a date of origin as early as the 5th century, which seems hardly possible in view of the differentiated construction methods and the range of sculptures - the vestibule may have been added, the roof attachment in any case later. The hall-like pillar construction of the Lad Khan Temple, which is unusual in India, is often viewed as an architectural reminder of assembly halls or royal halls - built from wood and thus not preserved.
To protect against floods ( monsoons ) and wild animals, the temple is built on an approximately 1.20 m high substructure ( adhishthana ), which is completely covered by the structure and therefore could not serve as a platform. On the other hand, the surrounding floor area was probably covered with stone slabs in earlier times so that a ritual walk ( pradakshina ) around the temple was possible here. The temple itself consists of a - somewhat smaller - vestibule ( mandapa ) and a hall-like sanctuary area with a cella with a Shiva lingam on the west . The middle of the room is occupied by a Nandi bull, the pack animal ( vahana ) of Shiva , who was later placed here . The sanctuary area is only slightly illuminated by several Jali windows with geometric motifs.
A chamber-like structure rises above the center of the temple, which was only accessible via ladders and possibly contained valuable cult objects or the temple treasures (coins, precious stones or deeds of ownership). The entire roof area - two-tier (including the slightly lower vestibule, even three-tier) - consists of thick stone slabs, the joints of which are covered in the manner of wooden rafters with long and narrow stone beams, some of which are inclined.
The relief decoration of the pillars inside the portico is simple, but thematically rich: there are musicians, dancers and an acrobat standing upside down. Next to it appears the popular motif of the gajalakshmi , which is doused with water by two elephants from jugs - a popular symbol of fertility and good luck in India; In addition, there are various jug and vase motifs from which foliage oozes ( kalashas ). The figurative reliefs on the outward-facing pillars show 'Heavenly Lovers' ( mithunas ) and various images of gods; Vishnu , Surya and a goddess are depicted on the chamber-like roof structure . The external figures, the jalis and the smaller vestibule, the balustrades of which are decorated with jug reliefs, probably come from a later phase. Otherwise, the inner and outer walls are only structured by narrow pilaster- like projections and are essentially stone-transparent. Three old lingam stones were placed on either side of the staircase.
Durga temple
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The so-called Durga Temple, only about 100 m away, which may originally have been dedicated to Vishnu, shows an equally extraordinary floor plan reminiscent of Buddhist Chaitya halls; the nearby fortress ( durga ) led to its current name. The cella ( garbhagriha ) is designed apsidal and has two - staggered in height and also apsidial - passages ( pradakshinapathas ), of which the outer one is opened to the outside by massive pillars (alternating with and without a warrior ).
The Durga temple also rises on a multi-stepped base ( adhishthana ) and here too the floor area surrounding the temple is covered with stone slabs. Two flights of stairs lead up to a platform-like porch, from which another flight of stairs opens up an open portico . Another - almost closed - pillar hall with a slightly raised central nave leads to the cella, which forms an independent structure inside the temple. The interior of the temple is only sparsely lit by some rare Jali windows in the shape of a wheel and others with a swastika decoration .
The slightly curved Shikhara- like structure above the cella with its gradations and window niches ( chandrasalas or kudus ) looks more North Indian and in fact both the small-scale decor and the more square floor plan with protrusions suggest that it is a later ingredient ; Whether the upper part was ever completed and possibly later destroyed by lightning is a matter of dispute; In any case, an amalaka ring stone is right next to the temple. Otherwise, the roof of the temple consists of thick, slightly inclined stone slabs.
On the inner wall of the outer corridor ( pradakshinapatha ), which encloses the vestibule ( mandapa ) and the sanctuary area, several impressive and almost sculptural figure reliefs are attached ( Shiva , Narasimha , Varaha , Durga as the slayer of the buffalo demon, etc.). Otherwise, the architectural decoration of the Durga temple is essentially limited to figural reliefs ( mithunas etc.) on the pillars of the portico and the outer corridor.
Due to the open construction of the temple, the almost free plastic figures and the Jali windows, stone or wall vision is greatly reduced. Most researchers therefore date the Durga temple either to the late 7th or early 8th century.
Hucchimalli Temple
The Hucchimalli temple is dated to the 7th century and could well have been a model for the probably somewhat later Durga temple; however, it has only three aisles and no apse. A shikhara tower in the north Indian style with a large blinded window niche ( chandrasala or kudu ) crowns the cella with a Shiva lingam. The temple is worth seeing because of its preserved figural decorations on the portal walls, which have been stepped down several times: Ganga and Yamuna as well as couples in love ( mithunas ), in the middle of the lintel beam decorated with simple vegetable reliefs (Lintel) a winged Garuda figure in knee flight, above images of the god Brahma , Shiva and Vishnu. The wall niches in the vestibule ( mandapa ) show the Vedic gods Indra , Yama and Kubera .
In front of the main temple and a smaller accompanying shrine to the side there is a Nandi bull, the pack animal ( vahana ) of Shiva. About 50 m in front of the temple there is a 6 m deep water tank to catch the rainwater - water was taken from this for cult purposes; Drinking water was obtained from the nearby river.
Ravana Phadi Cave Temple
The Ravana Phadi cave temple, consecrated to Shiva , is not far from the Hucchimalli temple and is framed by two free-standing, simple small temples; Further smaller shrines with lingams have been carved out of the massive rock.
The cave temple - like the Shiva lingam in the cella and the figure reliefs in the anteroom ( mandapa ) - is completely carved out of the rock. The input Shiva and Parvati left as a person (- almost free plastic-made - relief figures to great find on the walls of the porch Ardhanarishvara ), then Shiva as zehnarmiger god of dance ( nataraja ) with his wife Parvati and his sons Ganesha and Karttikeya to his side; to the right of the entrance Shiva with a halo behind his head and accompanied by Parvati (also with a halo) and a skeletal, emaciated ascetic ( bhringi ) standing on only one leg . At the feet of the figures, Ganas , the dwarfish company accompanying the god, cavort. Another relief shows the group of the 'Seven Mothers' ( sapta matrikas ). The ceiling of the vestibule shows a beautiful rosette - framed by two large squares. In the wall niches immediately in front of the Shiva lingam, a representation of the god Vishnu in his boar incarnation ( varaha ) can be seen on the left; the right side shows a depiction of Durga as the slayer of the buffalo demon ( mahisasurmardini ) - both themes are very popular in India.
Meguti temple
The so-called Meguti temple is a Jain place of worship and is - like many Jain temples - a little off the beaten track in the area of the - elevated - former fort. Due to a long inscription on the outer wall, it can be dated to 634 - so it might be the oldest (preserved) temple in Aihole. The building is elongated with an open portico, vestibule and a slightly wider sanctuary area. There are niches in the outer walls (a rarity in the early temples of Aihole) - but they are very simply designed and do not contain any figurative jewelry. The roof with its thick stone slabs and joint covers is designed in a similar way to the Lad Khan Temple and here, too, there is a chamber-like square roof structure from a later period, as the masonry technology used suggests.
The largely unadorned interior of the temple houses a cult image of a Jain Tirthankaras in the lotus position , which may have been brought here later . Because of the lack of architectural jewelry, many researchers assume that the temple - for whatever reason - was not completed.
A two-story building - often referred to as Buddhist , which, however, is rather unlikely due to its late construction period (approx. 8th century) - is to the left of the staircase. From here or from the fort there is a magnificent panorama of the temple buildings of Aihole. On the hill there are also the remains of about 20 dolmen-like buildings composed of four large stone slabs (see web links), which, however, were very likely not prehistoric tombs, but small hermit temples.
More temples
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Between the temples mentioned and in the vicinity there are other - less significant and z. Also partly ruined - temple buildings that still bear witness to the enormous building activity of the Chalukyas in their first capital: Rachigudi (11th century); Contigudi (7th – 10th centuries); Charanthimatha Jain Temple (11th / 12th centuries); Hucchapayyagudi (8th century) u. a. There are also more than 40 temple buildings on the river (Galaganatha group - over 30 largely ruinous temples from the 8th / 9th centuries; Yeniar group - eight temples from the 12th century; Triyambakeshvara group - two temples from the 12th century. Century; among others).
Temple ponds
In the vicinity of the Mallikarjuna temple there is a temple pond for the ritual cleansing of the brahmins and the believers before visiting the temple. Another with a freestanding and stately-looking portal arch ( torana ) in front of it is nearby; a smaller pond can also be found in the vicinity of the Durga temple.
museum
Not far from the Durga Temple is a museum ('Museum & Art Gallery') run by the Archaeological Survey of India with a number of sculptures that could not be assigned to any of the temples or that were brought here for safety reasons.
meaning
Like few other places in India, Aihole is considered one of the cradles of Hindu architecture - local and regional developments mix with North Indian and South Indian influences here.
Surroundings
The temple site of Pattadakal, about 100 years later, is located about halfway between Badami and Aihole and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List . The worth seeing temples of Mahakuta are easy to reach from Badami.
See also
Other Chalukya temple sites in the Badami area include:
- Badami
- Pattadakal (approx. 30 km northeast)
- Mahakuta (approx. 10 km east)
- Siddhanakolla (approx. 40 km northeast)
- Alampur , Andhra Pradesh (approx. 300 km east)
literature
- Michael W. Meister u. a. (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture - North India, Foundations of North Indian Style. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1988, pp. 278ff, ISBN 0-691-04053-2 .
- Henri Stierlin: Hindu India. Temples and sanctuaries from Khajuraho to Madurai. Taschen-Verlag Cologne 1998, p. 66ff, ISBN 3-8228-7298-9 .
- Marilia Albanese: Ancient India. From the origins to the 13th century. Karl-Müller-Verlag Cologne undated, p. 238f, ISBN 3-89893-009-2 .
Web links
- Aihole Temple Complex, short video
- Hucchimalli Temple, short video
- Ravanaphadi cave temple, short video
- Durga Temple, Lad Khan Temple, etc. a., short video
- Temple in Aihole, photo video
- Lad Khan Temple, photos + brief information
- Aihole, temple - photos
- Aihole and surroundings, photo gallery ( Memento from February 3, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- Photo Durga Temple
- Photo Lad Khan Temple
- Photos of dolmen
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.census2011.co.in
- ^ Census of India 2011.
- ^ Center for Cultural Resources and Training Temple Architecture . Government of India. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ↑ Biswas, Subhash C India the Land of Gods . Partridge India, 2014.
- ^ University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division Corner view of carved pillar, Lad Khan temple . UW Digital Collections. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ GE Kidder Smith Image Collection Lad Khan Temple . MIT libraries. Retrieved July 20, 2015.