Closed mantapa and shrine with linga in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur

Nandi mantapa facing shrine in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur

The Arakeshvara Temple, dedicated to the

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

god

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, is located in the village of Hole Alur in the

Chamarajanagar district Chamarajanagar or Chamarajanagara is the southernmost district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in 1998. Chamarajanagar town is the headquarters of this district. It is the third leas ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

state, India. According to the historian Sarma, the temple which dates back to the middle of the 10th century rule of the

Western Ganga Dynasty Western Ganga was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 CE. They are known as "Western Gangas" to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over Kalinga (mo ...

appears to have been renovated in later periods. It was constructed by King Butuga II around 949 A.D. to celebrate his victory over the Cholas of Tanjore in the historically important

battle of Takkolam The Battle of Takkolam (948–949) was a military engagement between a contingent of troops led by Rajaditya, crown prince and eldest son of the Chola king Parantaka I (907–955), and another led by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III (939–96 ...

. It was a military engagement between crown prince

Rajaditya Rajaditya Chola (''fl.'' mid-10th century AD) was a Chola prince, son of king Parantaka I (r. 907–955) and a Chera/Kerala princess ( the Ko Kizhan AdigalNarayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 96-1 ...

, son of the

Chola The Chola dynasty was a Tamils, Tamil thalassocratic Tamil Dynasties, empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated ...

King Parantaka I, and King Butaga II (a powerful vassal of the

Rashtrakuta Rashtrakuta (IAST: ') (r. 753-982 CE) was a royal Indian dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the sixth and 10th centuries. The earliest known Rashtrakuta inscription is a 7th-century copper plate grant detailing their ...

emperor

Krishna III Krishna III whose Kannada name was Kannara (r. 939 – 967 C.E.) was the last great warrior and able monarch of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. He was a shrewd administrator and skillful military campaigner. He waged many wars to bring b ...

).Kamath (1980), p.83Sastri (1955), p.162Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), p.97Sarma (1992), p.21, p.111 The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the central

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...

Temple plan

The temple has a simple plan characteristic of Western Ganga constructions. It has a sanctum (''

garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' or ''sannidhanam'' is the ''sanctum sanctorum'', the innermost sanctuary of a Hindu and Jain temples where resides the ''murti'' (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. In Jainism, the main deity is known as the ''M ...

''), a

vestibule Vestibule or Vestibulum can have the following meanings, each primarily based upon a common origin, from early 17th century French, derived from Latin ''vestibulum, -i n.'' "entrance court". Anatomy In general, vestibule is a small space or cavity ...

(called ''sukhanasi'') that connects to the sanctum a large well sculptured closed hall (''navaranga'' or ''maha

mantapa A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture. Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...

'') and an open, elevated and detached ''mantapa'' outside facing the shrine containing the sculptured image of ''

nandi Nandi may refer to: People * Nandy (surname), Indian surname * Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe * Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi * Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...

'' (the companion of the Hindu god Shiva) facing east (called the ''nandimantapa''). The base on which the temple is raised (called '' adhishthana'') is a simple set of moldings. The overall decoration is simple with dancing celestial maiden (''

apsara An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literat ...

s'') within volutes of scrolls (''lata-patra'', ''lit'', "creeper leaf") which extend over the

door jamb A jamb (from French ''jambe'', "leg"), in architecture, is the side-post or lining of a doorway or other aperture. The jambs of a window outside the frame are called “reveals.” Small shafts to doors and windows with caps and bases are know ...

and linel. On either side of the entrance doorway are two tall rectangular vertical slabs reaching up to the lintel, divided into four panels with relief friezes depicting male drummers (called ''dola-nritya''). The top panel has rustic male dancers who appear to dance to a musicians' ensemble who play the drum, violin, rudra ''

veena The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...

'',

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

and the ''kanjira''. According to the historian Sarma, in no contemporary temple are such native (''desi'') forms of dance depicted.Sarma (1992) p.107 The most interesting

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...

sculptures in the temple, according to Sarma, are the ones on the rounded pillars in the ''nandimantapa'' and the closed ''mahamantapa''. These

relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...

vividly depict the victory of Butaga II over the Chola prince Rajaditya, in addition to themes from the Hindu epics, mythical figures and

demi-god A demigod or demigoddess is a part-human and part-divine offspring of a deity and a human, or a human or non-human creature that is accorded divine status after death, or someone who has attained the "divine spark" ( spiritual enlightenment). A ...

s.Sarma (1992), pp.109-110 The high point of the relief work, in the closed ''mahamantapa'' is the '' ashtadikpalaka'' grid ("guardians of eight directions") in the ceiling with a central dancing Shiva (called ''natya shiva''). There are several independent sculptures in the closed hall, including ''

Mahishasuramardini Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around comb ...

'' (version of the goddess

Durga Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around co ...

slaying an ''

asura Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indian religions, Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, Buddhi ...

''), '' Yago Dakshinamurthy'' (god Shiva as "the teacher"), ''

Saptamatrika Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṝkās, lit. "divine mothers") also called Matar or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses who are always depicted together in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group o ...

'' (seven celestial mothers) and other sculptures that adhere to the 8th-9th century Ganga-Chalukya sculptural idiom.Sarma (1992), p.107

Notes

References

* * * * *

Gallery

File:Ceiling relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur.JPG, "Guardians of eight directions" in relief on ''mahamantapa'' ceiling in Arakeshvara temple at Hole Alur File:Ceiling relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 4.JPG, ''Natya Shiva'' (dancing Shiva) depiction on ceiling in Arakeshvara temple at Hole Alur File:Ceiling relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 7.JPG, A "guardian" ('' dikpala'') on the ceiling in Arakeshvara temple at Hole Alur File:Ceiling relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 5.JPG, A "guardian" on the ceiling in Arakeshvara temple at Hole Alur File:Closed mantapa pillar with intricate relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur.JPG, ''mantapa'' pillar with intricate bas-relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Nandi mantapa pillar with depictions from the battle of Takkolam in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 3.JPG, Nandi mantapa pillar with depictions from the battle of Takkolam in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Musicians in relief on the mantapa wall in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur.JPG, Musicians in relief on vertical slab in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Hero stone with relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 2.JPG, Hero stone with relief sculpture in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Sculpture of a deity in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 1.JPG, ''

Dakshinamurthy Dakshinamurthy () is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as a guru (teacher) of all types of knowledge. This aspect of Shiva, as the original guru, is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. Thi ...

'' in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Sculpture of a deity in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur.JPG, ''

'' in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Deity sculpture in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur 1.JPG, Deity sculpture in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur File:Varaha in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur.JPG, ''

Varaha Varaha ( sa, वराह, , "boar") is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. Varaha is most commonly associated with the lege ...

'' in relief in the Arakeshwara temple at Hole Alur

External links

{{coord missing, Karnataka 10th-century Hindu temples Shiva temples in Karnataka Hindu temples in Chamarajanagar district