Chalukyan architecture

Prepared By :

Bharat Agarwal (2012UAR1631)

Deepak Chejara (2012UAR1412)

INTRODUCTION

The rule of the Chalukyas marks an important milestone in

the history of South India.

It is also called as a golden age in the history of Karnataka.

Though they ruled a vast empire, the Chalukyan workshops

concentrated most of their temple building activity in a

relatively small area within the Chalukyan heartland.

The Chalukyas were greatly interested in temple

architecture.

HISTORY

The Chalukyan Dynasty was a dominant

power in northern karnataka during the 6th

century.

This dynasty is attributed with having

introduced its own style of temple

architecture called Chalukyan Architecture.

This architecture blends the finer aspects of

the Dravidian and Nagara temple

architecture.

Hence it is also referred as Vesara

architecture.

CHALUKYAN TEMPLES

They built a number of rock-cut cave-temples and

structural temples of brick dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu

and Brahma.

Some exquisite sculpted monuments have been

excavated at Aihole, Badami, Pattadakal and

Mahakuta.

Badami Architecture style is called as the Vesara style

and Chalukya style.

The Chalukya style mainly originated in Aihole and

badami and was perfected in Pattadakal and

Mahakuta.

AIHOLE

Aihole is a small vilage on the banks of River

Malaprabha, located near Badami in the state of

Karnataka.

The village of Aihole contains over 125 temples

from the Early Western Chalukya and later

periods (6th - 12th century).

Aihole, often termed as the ‘cradle of Indian

architecture’

The artisans worked on the rocks to create the

earliest rock cut shrines and graduated to the full

fledged Chalukya style of architecture.

TEMPLES OF AIHOLE

Ravana Phadi

Durga Temple

Hucchimalli gudi

Lad khan

RAVANA PHADI

It is the earliest rock cut temple in chalukyan dynasty.

The 6th century cave temple is dedicated to Shiva. A broken column lines up

with the cave entrance, which opens to the southwest. The cave is dramatically

recessed on a deep ledge, with free-standing shrines on either side.

It is carved out of the sandstone outcrop.

it has retained its originality quite well with the lapse of time. It is Dedicated to

Shiva,A Nandi sculpture, lined up with the column below the ledge, faces towards the cave entrance.

The column's pincushion-shaped capital is displayed in the center of the lawn.

RAVANA PHADI

• Shiva, in his ten-armed form (compare ElloraCave 29), dances beside Ganesh and Parvati (left, hidden behind pillar).

• The panel is located in a shallow chamber on the left side as you face the linga shrine.

• Shiva's elongated torso, high hat, and pleated garments are markers of the Early Western Chalukya style in sculpture.

• There is a Sivalinga in the inner room

(cella or sanctum sanctorum, where the

idol of the deity is kept). The walls and

sides of the temple are covered with large

figures

DURGA TEMPLE

• The name "Durga" refers to a fort, not to the goddess; apparently at one time the building was used as a military outpost (durg).

• It is not known to which deity the temple was originally dedicated. The entrance is in east .

An incomplete tower perches on the roof above the sanctuary.

The Shikhara seems to be inspired from North Indian temple.

• Temple was built roughly between 7th – 8th century BC.

“Rekhanagara”

type shikhara

PLAN

• The temple's unusual apsidal form is thought to imitate the earlier Buddhist chaityahalls.

• An inner wall of similar shape encloses the sanctuary.

• A colonnaded corridor runs around the temple enveloping the shrine, the

mukhamantapa and the sabhamantapa and also allows parikrama or

circumambulation.

ENTRANCE PORCH

• The porch faces east. Entrance stairs run up sideways, behind the frontal barrier wall in the foreground.

• The columns are decorated with couple sculptures.

•There are intricate lattice windows and a riot of carvings on the

walls and ceiling.

• The medallion depicts a stylized lotus pond. A school of fish, encircled by a band of lotus plants, converges radially to a central nub.

• The design is symmetric, with plants arranged in alternating closed and open views. The formal pattern is much enlivened by the naturalistic rendering of its fish and plant motifs.

•A naga king, his body coiled into a circle, is accompanied by female attendants.

• In his right hand, the naga carries a garland (not his tail, as it may seem at first).

•In his left hand, he bears an offering platter, which, like those of the attendants, is filled with fruits of the earth.

CEILING ARTICULATION

SCULPTURES IN TEMPLE

Shiva with Nandi Narasimha Vishnu with Garuda

VarahaDurgaHarihara

SCULPTURES IN TEMPLE

HUCCHIMALLI GUDI TEMPLE

•Hucchimalli is a 7th-century Hindu temple (gudi). The building faces west, and consists of a mandapa plus sanctuary.

•It was the first south indian temple with a porch.

A distinctively slanted roof covers the circumambulatory passage around the temple shrine.

NORTH SHRINE

The tower of this small detached shrine appears to be fashioned in pyramidal style, unlike the curving tower of the main temple.

The pierced stone screen between porch and shrine is a later addition.

HUCCHIMALLI GUDI TEMPLE

LAD KHAN TEMPLE

The temple's design contains other unusual features (plan). The porch fronts a

square mandapa. In the center of the mandapa, a Nandi faces the small interior

shrine, which abuts the rear wall of the mandapa. Instead of the usual tower, a

rooftop shrine (the structure on top of the roof in this photo) is positioned over

the center of the mandapa.

LAD KHAN TEMPLE

ROOFING

LAD KHAN TEMPLE

LAD KHAN TEMPLE

GAUDARA GUDI

Gaudura Temple appears to be the oldest of all Aihole temples. The temple has

16 pillars, a sanctum and parikrama path.