Context:
The recent discovery of two Badami Chalukya temples and a label inscription in Mudimanikyam village, along the banks of Krishna, sheds new light on the historical and architectural heritage of Telangana.
Recent Discovery:
- Badami Chalukya Temples –
- Date – Between 543 AD and 750 AD.
- Architectural Style – Kadamba Nagara style in the Rekha Nagara format.
- Significance – Exceptional examples of Badami Chalukya architecture, unique in Telangana.
- Label Inscription –
- Date – 8th or 9th century AD.
- Inscription- Reads as ‘Gandaloranru’ and is inscribed on a pillar of a group of 5 temples
- Significance – 5 temples, known as Panchakuta, can be attributed to the late Badami Chalukya period based on the age of the label inscription.
Badami Chalukya temples:
- Badami Chalukya Temples – Hindu and Jain cave temples in Badami.
- Caves 1 to 4 –
- Sandstone Formation.
- Cave 1 – Tandava-dancing Shiva as Nataraja
- Bhutanatha group of temples –
- Situated along – Agasthya Lake.
- Religion -Came under the influence of Jains for a while and was later taken over by the Lingayats
- Style – Blend of North Indian and early South Indian temple architecture.
- The Mallikarjuna Temple –
- Belongs to – Period of the later Chalukyas, the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
- Style – It has tiered pyramid structure characteristic of Western Chalukya Architecture.
- Shikhara – Dravidian type.
Chalukyan Temple Architecture:
- Style – Vesara Style (Mixture of Nagar and Dravida styles)
- Important sites – Pattadakal, Aihole, Badami.
- Characteristics –
- Mainly dedicated to – Different Hindu deities like Durga, Shiva, Vishnu
- Pillars of the Chalukya temple are monolithic shafts
- Cornice tops used for downward movement of rainwater
- Doorway panels of Chalukya temples are highly decorated
- Chhajja, a double-curved projective eave, is generally seen in Chalukyan temples
Badami Chalukyas:
- Period – AD 543 – AD 755
- Capital – Badami (Vatapi)
- Location – Present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
- Established by – Pulakeshin I
- Political Rivals – Pallavas
- Other important rulers – Kirtivarman I, Pulakesin II and Vikramaditya I
Source: Times of India
Previous Year Question
With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2013 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. Barabar Caves are the oldest rock-cut caves in India.
Statement 2 is not correct. Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Ashoka.
