Some famous temples built by the Western Chalukyas, referred to as the "Later Chalukya art" that flourished in and around the Tungabhadra River districts of modern Karnataka state, India, are included in the table below. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Famous Western Chalukya temples in Karnataka (973–1200) | |||
Name | Location | District | Period |
Bhutanatha | Badami | Bagalkot | 11th century |
Mallikarjuna group | Badami | Bagalkot | 11th century |
Yellamma | Badami | Bagalkot | 11th century |
Amrtesvara | Annigeri | Dharwad | 1050 C.E. |
Brahma Jinalaya | Lakkundi | Gadag | 11th century |
Kasivisvesvara | Lakkundi | Gadag | 1086 C.E. |
Veeranarayana | Gadag | Gadag | 1098 C.E. |
Nannesvara | Lakkundi | Gadag | 11th century |
Muktesvara | Chavudayyadanapura | Haveri | 12th century |
Siddhesvara | Haveri | Haveri | 11th century |
Tarakesvara | Hangal | Haveri | 12th century |
Ganapati | Hangal | Haveri | 12th century |
Galageshwara | Galaganatha | Haveri | 11th century |
Sarweshwara | Naregal | Haveri | 11th century |
Parsvanatha | Shravanabelagola | Hassan | 1083 C.E. |
Arvattukhamba | Bankapura | Haveri | 1091 C.E. |
Shambulinga | Kundgol | Dharwad | 11th century |
Santesvara | Tilavalli | Haveri | 12th century |
Kaithabesvara | Kubatur | Shimoga | 1100 C.E. |
Trimurtinarayana | Bandalike | Shimoga | 1160 C.E. |
Mahadeva | Itagi | Koppal | 1112 C.E. |
Mallikarjuna | Kuruvatti | Bellary | 11th century |
Bhimeshvara | Nilagunda | Davangere | 1075-1100 C.E. |
Kallesvara | Bagali | Davangere | 986 C.E. |
Kedareshvara | Balligavi | Shimoga | 1060 C.E. |
Tripurantakesvara | Balligavi | Shimoga | 1070 C.E. |
Gandabherundesvara | Balligavi | Shimoga | 1060 C.E. |
Trikutesvara & Sarasvati | Gadag | Gadag | 1070 C.E. |
Dodda Basappa | Dambal | Gadag | 12th century |
Chandramaulesvara | Unkal | Dharwad | 11th century |
Jod-Kalasa Gudi | Sudi | Gadag | 1060 C.E. |
Mallikarjuna | Sudi | Gadag | 1030 C.E. |
Kumbhesvara | Lakkundi | Gadag | 11th century |
Naganatha | Lakkundi | Gadag | 11th century |
Manikesvara | Lakkundi | Gadag | 11th century |
Basavesvara | Basavana Bagevadi | Bijapur | 1050 C.E. |
Somesvara | Lakshmeshwara | Gadag | 12th century |
Kallesvara | Hirehadagali | Bellary | 1057 C.E. |
Kadambesvara | Rattihalli | Haveri | 12th century |
Kamalanarayana | Degaon | Belgaum | 12th century |
Dattatreya | Chattarki | Bijapur | 12th century |
Kallesvara | Huvvinahadagalli | Bellary | 12th century |
Kallesvara | Ambali | Bellary | 1083 C.E. |
Mahadeva | Jalsingi | Bidar | 12th century |
Vikramaditya VI became the Western Chalukya King after deposing his elder brother Someshvara II, a political move he made by gaining the support of Chalukya vassals during the Chola invasion of Chalukya territory. Vikramaditya's reign is marked with the abolishment of the Saka era and the start of the Chalukya-Vikrama era. He was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the title Permadideva and Tribhuvanamalla. He had several queens who ably assisted him in administration. One of his queens, Chandala Devi, a princess from the Shilahara ruling family of Karad was called Abhinava Saraswati for her skills as an artist. Queen Kethala Devi administered the Siruguppa region and Savala Devi was in charge of an Agrahara in Naregal. According to the historian Kamath, Vikramaditya VI was a "great king who ruled over South India" and he finds a "pride of place in Karnataka history". More inscriptions in Kannada are attributed to Vikramaditya VI than any other king prior to the Vijayanagara era.
Balligavi a town in Shikaripura taluk Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, India, is today known as Belagami or Balagame. Its ancient names are Baligrama, Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. Dakshina Kedara means Kedarnath of the South. A place of antiquity, it is known for its ancient monuments. Balligavi is located 72 km from Shivamogga city and 21 km from Shikaripura town and 2.3 km from Shiralakoppa in Shikaripura taluk. Balli in Kannada means creeper or vine.
Western Chalukya architecture, also known as Kalyani Chalukya or Later Chalukya architecture, is the distinctive style of ornamented architecture that evolved during the rule of the Western Chalukya Empire in the Tungabhadra region of modern central Karnataka, India, during the 11th and 12th centuries. Western Chalukyan political influence was at its peak in the Deccan Plateau during this period. The centre of cultural and temple-building activity lay in the Tungabhadra region, where large medieval workshops built numerous monuments. These monuments, regional variants of pre-existing dravida temples, form a climax to the wider regional temple architecture tradition called Vesara or Karnata dravida. Temples of all sizes built by the Chalukyan architects during this era remain today as examples of the architectural style.
Doddabasappa Temple is a 12th-century Western Chalukyan architectural innovation in Dambal, Karnataka state, India. Dambal is about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Gadag city and 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Ittagi in Koppal district. The sanctum contains a Shiva linga, the symbol of the presiding deity, God Shiva. The temple interior is a standard construction and consists of a sanctum (cella), a vestibule (antarala) and a main mantapa. The vestibule connects the sanctum to the mantapa. The Western Chalukya monuments, regional variants of existing dravida temples, defined the Karnata dravida architectural tradition.
The Tripurantaka Temple was built around c. 1070 CE by the Western Chalukyas. This temple, which is in a dilapidated state, is in the historically important town of Balligavi, modern Shivamogga district, Karnataka state, India. The exterior walls of the temple have erotic sculptures on friezes. These depictions are considered rare in Chalukyan art. Being miniature in size, these are visible only upon close examination. During medieval times, Balligavi was a seat of learning to multiple religious faiths and was home to many monuments and structures built by the Chalukyas. More than 80 medieval inscriptions have been discovered in Balligavi and belong to the Shaiva, Vaishnava, Jain and Buddhist faiths. These inscriptions describe, among other things, the building of temples.
The Kasivisvesvara temple and sometimes called Kashivishvanatha temple is located in Lakkundi, in the of Karnataka state, India. It is 11 km from Gadag city, 24 km from Dambal and about 50 km from Kuknur.
The Kalleshwara temple is located in the town of Hire Hadagali of the Hoovina Hadagalitaluk in Bellary district of Karnataka state, India.
The Mallikarjuna temple is located in the town of Kuruvatti in the Bellary district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was constructed in the early 12th century rule of the Western Chalukya Empire. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Kaitabheshvara temple is located in the town of Kubatur, near Anavatti in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was constructed during the reign of Hoysala King Vinayaditya around 1100 AD. The Hoysala ruling family was during this time a powerful feudatory of the imperial Western Chalukya Empire ruled by King Vikramaditya VI. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the architectural signature of the temple is mainly "Chalukyan". Art historian Adam Hardy classifies the style involved in the construction of the temple as "Later Chalukya, non mainstream, far end of spectrum". The building material used is soapstone The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Kedareshvara temple is located in the town of Balligavi, near Shikaripura in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state, India. Dotted with centres of learning (agrahara), Balligavi was an important city during the 11th - 12th century Western Chalukya rule. The term Anadi Rajadhani used in medieval inscriptions to describe this town tells a tale of great antiquity. Art historian Adam Hardy classifies the style involved in the construction of the temple as "Later Chalukya, non mainstream, relatively close to mainstream". He dates the temple to late 11th century, with inscriptional evidence of additions made up to 1131, by the Hoysalas during their control over the region. The building material used is soapstone. The Archaeological Survey of India classifies the style of architecture as distinctly Hoysala. The Hoysala ruling family was during this period a powerful feudatory of the imperial Western Chalukya Empire, gaining the trappings of independence only from the period of King Vishnuvardhana. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Lesser known temples built by the Hoysala Empire during the period of their ascendancy are included in the table below. These constructions incorporate many of the artistic features usually associated with Hoysala architecture.
Kedareshwara Temple is a Hoysala era construction in the historically important town of Halebidu, in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is located a short distance away from the famous Hoysaleswara Temple. The temple was constructed by Hoysala King Veera Ballala II and his Queen Ketaladevi, and the main deity is Ishwara. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Panchalingeshwara Temple in Govindanahalli, Mandya district, Karnataka state, India, was constructed around 1238 A.D. during the reign of the Hoysala empire King Vira Someshwara. The name "Panchalingeshwara" literally means "five linga". The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. The famous sculptor of Hoysala times, Ruvari Mallitamma, is known to have made contributions to the temple.
The Rameshvara temple at Koodli in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state is a Hoysala construction of the non-ornate variety and is dated to the 12th century. Koodli is a town of great antiquity and is located about 9 km north-east of Shimoga city, the district headquarters. The town gets its name because it is situated at the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra tributaries that form the Tungabhadra river. According to art historian Adam Hardy, the temple is a single vimana with an open mantapa (hall) built with Soap stone. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Akkana Basadi is a Jain temple built in 1181 A.D., during the rule of Hoysala empire King Veera Ballala II. The basadi was constructed by the devout Jain lady Achiyakka, wife of Chandramouli, a Brahmin minister in the court of the Hoysala king. The main deity of the temple is the twenty-third Jain Tirthankar Parshwanath. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Nagareshvara Temple, also called the Aravattarukmbhada Gudi is a 12th-century Western Chalaukya construction. Bankapura is located in the Haveri District of Karnataka state, India. According to the Archaeologist Henry Cousens (1854–1933), during medieval times, the Bankapura fort was considered one of the most important fortifications in the Karnataka region. According to Cousens, the temple suffered much damage when Bankapura fell to the armies of Firoz Shah Bahamani in 1406 CE and later again when it was occupied by the Bijapur Sultan Adil Shah. According to the writings of Farishtah, the Sultan "ordered a superb temple within the fort to be destroyed". However, despite much pillage, the large temple with its majestic "great" hall (mantapa) still retains some of its original beauty. That the temple was built in honor of the Hindu god Shiva comes from two short inscriptions in the temple which begin with a salutation to "Shambu". There are other inscriptions in the temple, two of which are dated 1138 CE and one dated 1091 that record grants to the god "Nagaresvaradeva". The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Jain Temple, Lakkundi or Brahma Jinalaya is located in the historically important temple town Lakkundi in the Gadag District of Karnataka state, India.
The Nanesvara Temple, is a mid-11th century Hindu temple in the Later Chalukya style. It stands across the street from the ornate Kasivisvesvara Temple in the famous temple town of Lakkundi in the Gadag district of Karnataka State, India. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Bhimeshvara temple is located in the town of Nilagunda in the Davangere district of Karnataka state, India.
Govindanahalli is a small village in Mandya district of Karnataka state, southern India.