Aihole
Durga temple
The Durga temple, a former Hindu temple, is located in Aihole in the state of Karnataka, india. The temple was built between the 7th and the 8th century by the dynasty of the Chalukyan. The architecture of the temple is predominantly Dravida with Nagara style also is used in certain areas. The Durga Temple is considered a unique and magnificent temple of the Chalukyan period.
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
View of Durga temple Aihole.
Lad Khan Temple Aihole.
The Lad Khan Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is one of the oldest Hindu Temple and is located in Aihole in the state of Karnataka, India. It was built in the 5th century by the kings of the Chalukyan Dynasty. It is located to the south of the Durga Temple. The temple is named after a person named Lad khan, who turned this temple into his residence for a short period and this is the oldest temple of Aihole.
The temple consists of a shrine (Garbh) with Mandapain front of it. The mukha mandapa is situated in front of the sanctum and consists of a set of 12 carved pillars. The sabha mandapa leads to the maha mandapa and the pillars are arranged to form two concentric squares. The walls have floral patterns on them and the windows have lattice work done in the northern style. Facing the sanctum, a second smaller sanctum is situated above the center of the hall whose outer walls have many carved images.
Originally dedicated to Vishnu, now the main shrine houses a Shiva with a Nandi. The temple was built in a Panchayatan style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction. The special feature of this temple is that it starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square structure. Based on a wooden construction design, the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof, which is an adaptation of wooden styles in stone.
The maha mandapa is open to exterior by large windows between the pillars. The roof above the maha mandapa shows a turret as a first version of the futures towers Sikaras and Vimanasa.
Ravanaphadi and Huchchimalli Temple, Aihole
Aihole was the cradle of ancient Hindu Temple Architecture. It has more than 70 temples. Experimentation with styles was undertaken by the artisans. The artisans worked on the rocks to create the earliest rock-cut shrines. The artisans graduated to the full-fledged Chalukyan style of architecture.
The early Chalukyan inherited architectural styles largely from their neighbors to the north and south of their kingdom. Usage of curved towers decorated with blind arches came from northern India. Plastered walls with panel inserts are a southern Indian style. The usage of Deccan style is in their balcony seating, angled eaves and sloping roofs, and elaborately carved columns and ceilings (George Michell, 1997). In short, they artistically brought together the prevailing styles in their neighborhood to create the Chalikyan style.
Typical features unique to Badami Chalukyas architecture include mortar less assembly, an emphasis on length rather than width or height, flat roofs, richly carved ceilings, and, sculpturally, an emphasis on relatively few major figures, which tend to be isolated from each other rather than arranged in crowded groups. The aesthetic sensibility of sculpture from this period also seems to retain a certain classical quality whose impulse does not carry over into later periods of Indian art (Susan Huntington, 1985).
Halegannada inscription
The inscription is found at Aihole in Karnataka state, India. The Aihole inscriptions were written by the Ravikirti, court poet of Chalukya King, Pulakeshi II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE. The poetic verses (Shilalekh) of Ravikirti, in praise of the king, can be read in the Meguti temple, dated 634 CE. The inscription is in the Sanskrit language, which uses the old Kannada script.
Aihole inscription of Pulakeshi II mentioned as akrantatma-balonnatim Pallavanam patim, means that the Pallavas had attempted to prevent the rise of the Badami Chalukyas. The conflict of the two powers before the campaign of Pulakesin II against the Pallavas Inscription, which was prepared by Pulakeshi II (634 AD) and found in the Jain Temple at Aihole. Scholars have used this inscription, which is related to the Mahabharath War and Kaliyuga. In the Aihole inscription referred that Mangalesh'ss(Paramabhagavat) victory over the Kalachuris and the conquest of Revatidvipa. According to the Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II, a civil war between Mangalesha and Pulakeshin II, due to Mangalesa's attempt to secure the succession for his own son, which was the end of Mangalesha's reign. The inscription of Amoghwarsh I found at Aihole, mentioned his new administration (navarajyam geyye).
Ravanaphadi Coordinates: 16°1'20"N 75°53'3"E
Huchchimalli Temple Coordinates: 16°1'25"N 75°52'59"E