LAKKUNDI
Lakkundi (lakkunDi), (ಲಕ್ಕುಂಡಿ) now a small town at a distance of approximately eleven
kilometers from Gadag town has a long and illustrious history. It was known as ‘lokkiya
gunDi’ during ancient times. It was one of the eighteen ‘agraharas in the ‘beLvola’
region during the 11th and 12th centuries. Being a Brahman
settlement it was renowned for vaidic scholarship and luxurious life style. There
was an on going war between Bhillama of the Sevuna dynasty and Immadi Ballala of
the Hoysala dynasty for the possession of the strong fort in Lakkundi. Bhillama
was made to retreat in the famous war at soraTuru and Ballala established an ancillary
capital in Lokkigundi. This town lost its importance after the twelfth century.
It housed a well known mint during the regime of Kalyani Chalukyas. Gold coins minted
here known as ‘Pon Gadyana’ are mentioned in many inscriptions.
Lakkindi is associated
with Danachintamani Attimabbe.
The famous ‘Brahmajina Alaya’ at Lakkundi was built by her munificent donations
and she was also responsible for securing sufficient grants for its upkeep from
the Chalukya King Iriva Bedanga Satyashraya.
There are more
than twenty temples in Lakkundi built at various points of time during its long
history. Manikeshvara, Veerabhadra, Someshvara, Nanneshvara and Mallikarjuna are
among the better known temples. Many inscriptions belonging to the Chalukya, Kalachurya
and Hoysala dynasties were found here providing invaluable historical information.
“The large Jaina temple,
among the many temples at Lakkundi, also near Gadag, is perhaps one of the earliest
examples of temples in this area built of a kind of fine-textured chloritic schist
as distinct from the hitherto-used sandstone of this region. The new material, because
of its less thick quarry-sizes and tractability, reacted on the workmanship, with
the result that the masonry-courses became reduced in size and the carvings more
delicate and highly finished. The temple, perhaps built in the latter half of the
eleventh century, has a five-storied vimana, square on plan from the base to the
sikhara, and had originally a closed square navaranga in front, though an open mandapawas
added in front later on. The central bay of the navaranga is a larger square than
the peripheral eight around it. The second storey, as in the Jaina temple at Pattadakkal,
is functional and has an antarala-mantapa in front over the vestibule of the lower
storey. This raises the total height of the vimana considerably. The three
upper storeys are symbolic and had the suka-nasika projected in front. The kudu-ornaments
on the cornices, though flat, retain their arched shape and are characterized by
simha-mukha (lion-mask) finials. The pilasters on the walls are slender and between
pairs of them are tall nasika-fronts; in the recesses occur for the first time the
'decorative pilaster'-a pilaster carrying a shrine-pavilion on the top of its abacus-a
characteristic of contemporary Chola temples in the south-framed inside a torana
carried on two flanking pilasters.” (Information taken from the Website of the ‘Archaeological
Survey of India’)
Kashi Vishvanatha
temple at Lakkundi bears witness to the glory of Hoysala sculpture. This temple
was a victim of the invasion of the Chola kings. Many inscriptions found on the
ceiling of the temple reveal that this deity was once known as ‘Kavataleshvara’.
Some carvings depicting the story of Ramayana are found on the outer walls of the
temple.
However Brahmajinalaya
is the most well known among the monuments of Lakkundi. This is built as per the
architecture of Kalyani Chalukyas. The statue of Teerthankara Mahaveera is now broken.
The statues of Brahma and Sarasvathi are found on either side of the sanctum sanctorum
(garbha gudi) Parshvanatha Basadi is another Jaina temple in Lakkundi.
There are numerous
ancient wells in Lakkundi, of which the Chateer Bavi, Kanne Bavi and Musukina Bavi
are popular for their carvings and architectural beauty. Most of the wells are carved
with tiny Siva shrines in the form of niches into the walls.
Lakkundi has
an architectural and sculptural beauty which goes unnoticed many a time.
1.
References:1.
Lakkundi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3. www.jainheritagecentres.com>
Jainism In India> Karnataka> Lakkundi