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.