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Saturday 8 April 2017

Durga Temple Aihole In Karnataka


                                                         Durga Temple Aihole

Durga Temple Aihole, the cradle of temple architecture in Karnataka built between the 7th – 8th centuries by the Chalukyas. Interestingly, this temple is not dedicated to the Goddess “Durga”. It takes the name after the word “Durg” or fortress which probably refers to a fort built close by . Almost all the monuments in this town are between 1200-1300 years old.  W e are celebrating Karnataka Rajyoutsav or the day when Karnataka as a state was formed today.  And what better way to celebrate than to visit a destination that is very ancient and filled with rich heritage.
"Aihole" is one among those places in India where the temples outnumber the houses. Aihole is considered as the "Cradle of Hindu Temple Architecture" or "Primary school for South Indian Temple Architecture". This place served as a capital to the Western Chalukyan rulers. It can be also linked to pre historic age, Buddhist and Jainism. There are around 140 temples in this region and the sad part is that almost all are ruined. There is a continuous effort on the part of the ASI to improve and restore the place. Aihole can also be considered a Laboratory, since there was experimentation with various architectural styles in which the temples were constructed .



This temple is the circumambulatory provision inside the temple (corridor around the shrine that continues to the Mandapa). The outer walls of the temple have intricately carved figures of Narasimha, Mahishasuramardini, Varaha, Vishnu, etc . Pierced windows are provided with pleasing patterns to allow light into the hall. The shikara seems to be influenced from the North Indian style of architecture

Mythological Origin:-

One of the most notable places in the history of art in the State, Ayyavole and Aryapura are the names mentioned in the inscriptions. Now the place is called as Aihole, Aivalli and Ayyhole.Mythologically, It is believed that Saint Parusharama after fulfilling his vow of avenging his father’s murder is said to have come down to the Malaprabha River and washed his blood stained hands and the Axe.The river water turned red due to the blood on the axe. A local lady saw the red water and shouted Ayyo, Hole! (Oh No, Blood!) and hence the name Aihole.
Agasthya is believed to have killed Vatapi’s brother, the giant Ilvala, here and thus the name ‘Ilavalapura’ according to another version.Another version said that The name “Aihole” came from the words Ayya hole, or city of scholars (in Sanskrit, Arya Pura).

The origin of the name is not the Durga goddess, but a fortress, maybe an enclosure which surrounded the temple or it was a part of fortification, probably of Maratha rulers.

It is dedicated to either Vishnu or Shiva as the representations of Vishnu are as numerous as those of Shiva. The most original feature of the temple is a peristyle delimiting an ambulatory around the temple itself and whose walls are covered with sculptures of different gods or goddesses.

Two staircases provide access to the porch at the entrance of the temple itself. The sober and square pillars are decorated with characters around the porch and the entrance to the peristyle. The parapet is carved with niches and small animals. The porch gives access to rooms with pillars ('mukhamantapa' and "sabhamantapa") to get into the heart of the shrine (garba griha).


Legend Of Durga Temple Aihole:-

Situated on the banks of River Nandini, amidst beautiful surroundings, is the spiritual energy center of South Kanara district. Goddess Durga is the loving and caring mother of the people of South Kanara. Surrounded by lush green fields and beautiful hills, Kateel has become a famous pilgrimage and a tourist center over the years.
The legend behind this place of worship goes something like this. A severe drought hit this place and it had not rained for years. There was absolutely no vegetation and Even Brahmins were forced to eat meat and the people were on the verge of giving up their principles. The great Sage Jabaali disturbed by this situation used his 'Jnana Drishti', and found out that Arunasura the demon who escaped from death and fled when Goddess Durga killed Shambasura had made the people stop all yagas and yajnas as a revenge against the 'devas', thus leading to drought and scarcity for years.
In the mean time Arunasura acquired a boon from Brahma that he would not suffer death from any two legged or four legged being or from any weapon. Brahma also powered him with Gayatri Mantra. After acquiring these powers, Arunasura defeated the devas and conquered heaven. The Devas prayed Goddess Durga for help.
One day Goddess appeared in Arunasura's garden as a beautiful woman. Seeing the lady, ArunasuraDurga Temple, Durga Temple tours, Visit Durga Temple of Karnataka, Temple tour of Durga Temple, Religious placeapproached her. The beautiful lady reminded him that she had killed Shambasura and from whom Arunasura had escaped death. Arunasura got angry and tries to kill the woman with sword. The Goddess suddenly turned into a stone. Arunasura slashed the stone with the sword, then a vast swarm of bees emerged from the stone and stung him.
Devotees and followers from all over the world come to Kateel every year in huge numbers to participate in Simhamaasa, Navarathri and other holy occasions. Several educational institutions are also run through the temple's trust. The temple's trust also encourages several forms of arts. Notable among them is the yakshagana dashavathara mela, which was started as an offering to the goddess. During dussera, navaratri and other annual celebrations several sacred rituals like, Chandika Havana, thula bhaara, Veda parayana, hari kathas etc are performed.

Architure  Durga Temple, Aihole:-



The Durga temple is an example of southern (Dravidian) architectural type, with a later northern type superstructure imposed upon it-an incongruity apparent from the fact that the superstructure is a square structure clumsily fitted over an apsidal cella. The temple stands on a high moulded upapitha (sub-base), apsidal on plan and carrying a peripheral row of columns on its edge that surround the moulded adhishthana and walls of an apsidal vimana and its front mandapa. Thus the colonnade forms a covered circumambulatory with a sloping roof. The open mandapa is continued forward on a base of smaller width. The peripheral pillars of the front mandapa and those at the forward end of the circumambulatory have large statuary on them. The adhishthana inside is again apsidal, moulded with all the components, and carries the apsidal wall enclosing the inner apsidal wall of the cella or garbha-griha and a closed maha-mandapa in front of it, with two linear rows of four columns in each row that divide it into a central nave and lateral aisles.



The central nave has a higher flat roof raised over a sort of clerestory in front of the cella-entrance, and two lateral aisles have sloping roofs, at a lesser height than the central roof. The aisles of the maha-mandapa are continuous on either side, with a closed inner circumambulatory between the inner or outer walls of the cella, which again has a sloping roof. The adhishthana of the apse is projected forward into the porch like front mandapa of a lesser width with four pillars in two rows.



The reliefs on the adhishthana and outer wall are cantoned by pilasters and enclose niches which are framed by shrine-fronts of all the patterns of northern and southern vimanas, kuta, sala, panjara, udgama, etc., and contain bold sculpture. The four recesses, two each between the three bays on the north and south sides and two more between the three bays round the apse-end, are provided with perforated windows. Over the inner wall of the cella perhaps rose the original apsidal griva and sikhara, as in the temples at Ter and Chejarla either with a wholly-solid core or supported by props inside.



The advanced features of the temple, the variety of evolved shrine-fronts displayed in its niches, the style of its sculpture, its diverse corbel-forms and the existence in it of a chute, water-spout and the gargoyle-like pranala-a late feature-would justify placing the temple in the eighth century. This is also indicated by an inscription of Chalukya Vikramaditya II (733-46) on the ruined gopura at the south-eastern part of the enclosing-wall. The name 'Durga' for the temple is misleading, since it was not dedicated to Durga, and is due to the fact that till the earlier part of the last century the temple formed part of a fortification (durga), probably of the Marathas.



Oblong and apsidal plan marks the structure of this Durga temple. This ensures that the pillared corridor that is found between the porch and the main shrine contains the main sanctum sanctorum and has enough space for the devotees to do a circumambulation ritual around the principal shrine. The pillars have tiny openings through which the apse gives an outward view.



As per the ancient architectural definitions of the Hindu religion, the style of this Durga temple is classified as “Gajaprastha”, meaning the backside of an elephant. This pattern is a little unusual for Hindu temples and it was believed that this style was an inspiration of architecture in Buddhist monasteries. However, it was later revealed that the Indian architecture had mentioned about this style years before the Buddhist style of architecture was formed. The Garba Griha or the main sanctum sanctorum has a huge tower which signaled the construction of future towers and vimanas.



Significance of the Durga Temple Aihole:-

The Durga Temple Aihole is one of the architectural wonders of Aihole. The Durga Temple Aihole is quadrilateral in shape. The contour of the temple exhibits the Gajaprasta style, that is, the backside of an elephant. Durga Temple Aihole is impressive with numerous pillar reliefs which exhibit the unique Chalukya architectural style. Also known as the fortress temple, the Durga Temple Aihole depicts a Buddhist chaitya and is adorned with exquisite carvings. One of the most beautiful sculptures of the Durga Temple Aihole is that of Goddess Durga.
    The seven headed serpent carved at the ceiling of the Durga Temple of Aihole is another impressive work by the artisans. All the walls of the Durga Temple are decorated with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses. The temple also comes with a porch and an entrance to the epistle. Through the porch you can enter the rooms of the temple. There are several rooms within the Durga Temple along with a Garba Griha. This is the main part of the shrine where the spirit of the shrine is located. There are two main pillars of the temple, namely, the Mukha Mantapa and the Sabha Mantapa.The elevated plinth, the high galleries and the moulded adisthana are the other characteristics of the Durga Temple. The fine sculptures of Lord Narashima, Goddess Chamundi and Lord Shiva are the other attractions of the Durga Temple.

Best Time to Visit:-

The climate in Aihole belongs to the tropical-dry type. It is different from other parts of the Karnataka. Summer and winter are the predominant seasons in Aihole. The district experiences reasonable amounts of rainfall between these two seasons. Though other districts experience rainfall all through the year, Aihole witnesses the same only during the monsoon season. The winter season that can be experienced in the months of October, November, December and January, are the best time to visit this place. During this time, the maximum and minimum temperatures in this area are 25 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius respectively.

Nearby Temples:-

There are almost 125 temples at Aihole, the ancient capital of the Chalukya dynasty. Temple architecture of Aihole can be divided into two phases; one is the 4th and 5th century and the other is the 12th century. Numerous temples were built during this time span and every temple is unique in itself. Artisans experimented with the styles and created gems out of rock.

 Some of the famous temples near the Durga Temple are:-

  Lad Khan Temple:-

 Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is one of the oldest Hindu temples of India. Located to the south of the Durga Temple, this rock cut temple is exquisite with floral patterns and delicate lattice work on its floor and walls.
   
Ambigera Gudi Temple:-

 Situated just opposite to the Durga Temple, it is a complex of three temples. The Ambigera Gudi Temple is dedicated to Lord Surya and Lord Vishnu and exhibits a beautifully engraved lotus at its ceiling. This 10th century construction reflects the Nagara style of architecture with shikaras, mandapas and sanctums.
   
Mallikarjuna Temple:-

 Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is located at the small town of Basaralu. Reflecting the Hoysala style of architecture, this shrine comes with a trikuta, which means three shrines are connected with a common hall. Built over a platform, this temple comes with a decorative pot, known as kalasa, a Hoysala crest, that is, the emblem of a Hoysala warrior and decorative walls.
  
 Chikki Temple:-

 This is a Jain temple built in 1204 AD. The temple pillars are engraved with Kannada inscriptions which narrate the era of Ratta King Kartaveerya IV and Sevuna Yadava Krishna.
   
Eniyar Temple:-

 A group of eight temples, this temple complex is located at the western outskirts of the Aihole village. While the first two temples do not have images, the third temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The other temples are adorned with the images of Gajalakshmi, Ganapati and Karthikeya.
   
Hucchimalli Temple:-

 One of the oldest temples of Aihole, the Hucchimalli Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple comes with a large hall and engraved with beautiful works.
   
Jain temple, Meguti temple:-

 This Jain temple is located at a hilltop, just at 16 kms from Aihole. The temple is built with mortar and comes with a 16 columned porch and hall extensions.
   
Ravana Phadi rock-cut temple:-

 This is a sandstone temple of Aihole, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple houses a wonderful sculpture of Nandi, the Vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva. The temple also comes with numerous small pillars.

How To Reach:-

By Air :-

 Kateel is located about 5 kilometers from the Bajpe Bus stand. As such going to Bajpe, using the Kavoor- Marakada Route is the most convenient as the road is well maintained since it is also the access route to the Mangalore Airport.

By Rail :-

 The Nearest Railway station  is Bagalkot.

By Road :-

 Aihole is connected by road to: Pattadakal (17 kms), Badami (46 kms) Bangalore (438 kms). Further the winding roads amidst green hills and valleys make it a very pleasant and memorable experience. Once in Bajpe town, take the straight road leading north to go to kateel. There are service busses plying between Mangalore and Kateel at a frequency of about 10 busses an hour. Cost by Bus About Rs. 10-15/-

3 comments:

  1. Respected Sir,
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