GANGA ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE

GANGA ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE

The architectural and sculptural achievements of the Ganga dynasty which ruled in South Karnataka for many centuries have not survived in bulk. There is nothing like an exclusively Ganga style of architecture and the architects seem to have adopted the Dravida style and imbibed other minor influences depending on the historical context. They were also influenced by Pallava and Badami Chalukya styles. Many edifices have remained either as they were conceived or in transformed versions. Relics and ruins spattered about in various parts of South Karnataka do hint at possibilities. Unfortunately ‘talakADu’ the long time Capital city of the Gangas has not retained any enduring monument. This note does not propose to discuss the architecture of the Eastern Gangas in Orissa and other places. But many towns and villages in South Karnataka have retained temples that depict various stages of Ganga architecture.

Wood, brick and mortar seem to have provided building materials, to the Ganga architects during the early stages. Stone came in to picture much later. Many inscriptions mention temples built by early Ganga kings such as Harivarma, Avineetha, Sripurusha and Shivamara. Hardly anything remains to identify them Jaina temples at ‘manDali’ in Shivamogga district and ‘noNamangala’ near Malur in Kolar district belong to this category.

Manne, (‘maNNe’) an important city during the regime of Gangas, has retained some brick temples built during the eighth century. (MAnyapura, Nelamangala talluk, Bangalore rural district) They are kapilEShvara and sOmEshvara temples along with a Jaina basadi which is now called ‘sULeguDi’. These temples contain stone pillars, nandi manTapa and ‘jAlandhra’ which are typical of the architecture adapted by the Gangas.

The rAmalingEshvara (rAmEshvara?) temple at narasamangala in Chamarajanagara talluk is one of the earliest and the best models of the Ganga brick temples. This temple has survived for more than 1200 years even though it is built entirely with brick. The foundation however is made of black granite. The sanctum sanctorum, the tower and the idols made of brick and mortar are still in tact. The panels made along the inner wall contain carvings depicting stories from Ramayana and Panchatantra. The idols of naTarAja, aSTa dikpAlakas and sapta matrukas are very attractive

Some brick temples built by the Gangas were later recast in stone by Chola architects. KOlAramma temple in Kolar, rAmEShvara temple in kittUr (Heggadadevanakote talluk) the kallEshvara temple at araLuguppe and many more such temples belong to this category. The stone walls built later are not imposing. However the grandeur of the Ganga style is evident, once a visitor enters the temple. The carvings on the inner ceiling of the araLuguppe temple are charming.

Most of these temples have some features that may be described as unique to the Gangas. Small navaranga, open sukanAsi, small sanctums, short, thin and circular pillars and carvings on the ceilings of the navaranga are some of these features. (M. Hanumanta Rao) MANastambha and brahmastambha are also features unique to the Ganga style.

Gangas have not built cave temples even though they might have carved some idols on the rocks found in natural caves.

Some simple stone temples built by the Gangas are found in villages such as tOTagere, sampigepura, gangavAra, maLUru and bannUru. All of them are quite ancient.

BOga nandIshvara temple at Nandi, AdinAtha basadi at kambadahaLLi and the cAvunDarAya basadi at shravana beLagola are the most important places containing many illustrations of the Ganga architecture and sculpture. Chandraprbha basadi built during the reign of Shivamara-2 and iruve brahmadEva of 9^th century are beautiful. The Chavundaraya basadi (10th century) is one of the largest structures in the area, and is dedicated to Neminatha. Its Vimana has two more stories, in addition to the lower storey, which is long. The Panchakuta basadi at Kambadahalli is another fine monument of this period.

Some Ganga temples are also found in Tamil country, in Erode (MahimEshvara temple) and Srinivasanallur, (koranganAtha temple) indicating they had ruled over this territory either as sovereign kings or as feudatories of the Pallavas.

The sculpture of Gangas exhibit variety. The range begins at thin carvings on hard granite reminiscent of Buddhist sculptures to well rounded full fledged idols. Many hero stones built during the Ganga regime are unique for their regional styles and simplicity. They are full of details narrated in relevant inscriptions. Jaina, Shaiva and Vaishnava idols have retained their individuality. MahiSAsuramardini icon at Kunigal and nandi, natarAja and umAmahEshvara idols at araLuguppe and DharanEndra yaksha idol at kambadahaLi are remarkable.

Of course no discussion about Ganga sculpture is complete with out a mention of the great monolithic statue of BagavAn bAhubali at shravaNabelagoLa. This 57’ statue commissioned to be built by cAvunDarAya is one of the most celebrated idols in the country.