AIHOLE
Aihole (aihoLe)(ಐಹೊಳೆ)
along with Badami and Pattadakallu is one of the most important architectural
and sculptural sites of Karnataka. This village is located in Hunagund talluk
of Bagalakote district in
Even though Aihole is now associated with the
dynastic rule of Badami Chalukyas, archaeological findings point to human
inhabitation as early as sixth and seventh century B.C. during the Iron Age.
The box like cysts found on the ‘Meguti Hill’ near Aihole and the foundations
of brick buildings as well as some pottery found during recent excavations near
the temples prove this fact beyond doubt.
However Aihole grew in to a big town during the
regime of the Chalukyas of Badami starting from the sixth century A.D. Many
inscriptions found here belong to that period. Many well known temples of
Aihole were built during this period. The glory which lasted for almost 250
years dwindled after the last days of Badami Chalukyas. Even though some
temples were built and inscriptions were erected during the reign of Kalyani
Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas they were of an inferior quality and far less in
number. Gradually Aihole lost all importance and became a nondescript place
till its Architectural and sculptural glories were rediscovered in the
twentieth century.
Aihole was known for scholarship and trade during
it’s hey days. This was perhaps the head quarters of a group of traders.
(AiyyAvoLe AinUrvaru)
Aihole contains approximately 125 temples small and
big and the Archaeological Survey of India has divided them in to 22 groups.
Some of them are now housed inside a fort and the remaining are scattered in
its surrounding regions. It is not possible to give even a cursory introduction
to all of them in this short note. This fort is the oldest surviving stone fort
in Karnataka as evident by the seventh century inscription etched on its walls.
Durga temple inside the fort is perhaps the most
celebrated among all the temples of Aihole. This is not a temple for Goddess
Durga. It is named like that because it is inside a durga. (Fort) It contains
the idols of many Hindu gods and goddesses carved on the walls and placed in
mantaps. (Koshta) “The photogenic Durga or the fortress temple is planned along
the lines of a Buddhist chaitya, a high molded adisthana and a tower -
curvilinear shikhara. A pillared corridor runs around the temple, enveloping
the shrine, the mukhamandapa and the sabhamandapa.” “Dedicated to Vishnu, the temple appears to
be a Hindu adaptation of the Buddhist chaitya (hall) with its apsidal end.
Standing on a high platform with a 'rekhanagara' type of Shikhara, it is the
most elaborately decorated monument in Aihole. The columns at the entrance and
within the porch are carved with figures and ornamental reliefs.” Couple of
inscriptions found here does not provide any information about the temple. It
contains another small temple and a pond belonging to the same period in its
vicinity.
The Ladkhan temple derives its name because a person
by the name is supposed to have lived there for some time. This is the oldest
temple in Aihole and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sculptural details are
intricate and well preserved. The carvings of Garuda, Basava, Linga, Surya and
some carvings of erotic couples (Mithuna) are noteworthy in this temple. Some
inscriptions installed at a later period are interesting.
The following list gives an introduction to other
important groups of temples in Aihole.
1.
Gowdara Gudi 2. Suryanarayana Gudi 3. Chakra Gudi 4. Badigera Gudi 5. Rachi
Gudi 6. Huchchappayyana Matha 7. Halabasappana Gudi 8. Kunti Gudis (Group) 9. Jaina temples (Group)
10. Ambigeara Gudi group 11. Chikki Gudi group 12. Huchchimalli group 13. Ravalaphadi
group 14. Mallikarjuna Gudi group 15. Jyotirlinga Gudi group 16. Jaina cave 17.
Galaganatha Gudi group and 18. Ramalinga Gudi group.
A special mention must be made of
many temples found on the way to and atop the small hillock in the South East
direction of the town. These temples by and large have Jaina and Buddhist
overtones. Padmasanastha Buddha and Jaina Yakshini statues help us in arriving
at this conclusion.
Aihole
is often referred to as the laboratory for the sculptors of the Badami Chalukya
style. Many experiments which were started here have borne fruits else where in
Karnataka and
References: 1.
Monuments of India,
Part II, Early Chalukya, Aihole
2. Pictures, Photos of Aihole, India
3.
Archaeological Museum, Aihole - Archaeological Survey of India
4. In Praise of Aihole,
Badami, Mahakuta, Pattadakal, 1980, Marg Publications,
5.
The Durga Temple at Aihole: a historiographical study / / Gary Michael
Tartakov, 1997,
bibliographical
references (p. [143]-150) and index.
6. Deccan
sculpture as the unification of north and south
7. The
Trading World of the Tamil Merchant: Evolution of Merchant Capitalism in the
Coromandel By Kanakalatha Mukund Published by Orient Blackswan, 1999 ISBN
8125016619, 9788125016618, 206
pages
8. The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts Cousens, Henry.