Mallikarjuna Gudi / மல்லிகார்ஜுனா கோவில், Mallikarjuna Group of Temples, Badami, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

The visit to this  Mallikarjuna Temple under Mallikarjuna Group of Temples before Bhutanatha Group of Temples at Badami was a part of “Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and Aihole temples Heritage visit” organized by வரலாறு விரும்பிகள் சங்கம் Varalaru Virumbigal Sangam – VVS and எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு,  between 24^th December to 28^th December 2022.  I extend my sincere thanks to the organizers Mrs Radha and Mrs Nithya Senthil Kumar and Mr Senthil Kumar.

Monuments at Badami

Badami, also known as Vatapi, was the capital of the Chalukyan empire ( 6^th  to 8^th  cent. CE.), which extended in the time of Pulikesin-II from Kanchi in Tamil Nadu to the banks of the Narmada and from Orissa to the west coast. After a set-back for a while owing to the attack of the Pallavas under Narasimha Varman-I, the Chalukyan kings regained their territory and gave impetus to the revival of Hindu religion and art under royal patronage Mahakuta, Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami became great centers of experimentation in temple building

Attracted by the scenic beauty and natural defences provided by the majestically standing hills and the vast sheet of water below. The Chalukyan kings shifted their early capital from Aihole to Badami. The remains of which can still be seen in the valley on the northern slopes. The natural gorge leading to the hill-city and embellished with temples and gateways is one of the major attractions of Badami apart from the famous rock-cut Brahmanical and Jaina caves which contain some of the finest sculptures known for their grace and vigour. The Chalukyan rulers built several structural temples along the edge of the lake and hill-tops which the visitor should not miss to see. Even while experimenting in temple building they evolved the proto type of the famous southern vimana style which the Malegitti Sivalaya. The lower Sivalaya and the upper Sivalaya represent.

The curve-linear sikhara of the Yellamma Devi temple represents the northern style. While the Bhutanatha temples with stepped pyramidal roof represent the Kadamba-nagara type. Within a distance of 48 kms. More than one hundred and fifty temples were built by Chalukyan kings. The rock-cut temples-(caves - 1 to 4 are ornamented with exquisitely carved animal and human figures, gods and demi-gods. Floral and geometric patterns and scenes recalling the great episodes from the epics and puranas. Although the Chalukyans were Vaishnavites they encouraged construction of Jaina and Saiva temples also. After the fall of the Chalukyan empire the Rashtrakutas and Vijayanagar rulers and finally Tippu sultan occupied Badami the fort walls and other edifices built by them can also be seen here Badami abounds in a number of inscriptions, some of which are indispensable for writing the history of India. Among them mention may be made of the Pallava inscription on the boulder near the north gate and that of Mangalesha in cave 3. Here lived "Prasanna Venkatadasa", a great Vaishnava saint of the 16^th century CE, who used to meditate and sing devotional songs on a platform near the north-gate.

மல்லிகார்ஜுனா கோவில்

இந்த மல்லிகார்ஜுனா கோவில் பூதநாதா தொகுதி கோயில்களின் முன்பாக அமைந்த மற்றொரு முக்கியமான கோவில்களின் தொகுப்பு ஆகும். அகஸ்திய ஏரியின் வடக்குப்பகுதியில் அமைந்துள்ள இந்தக்கோயில் சாளுக்கிய கட்டிடக்கலை பாணியின் முக்கிய அம்சமான ரேகா நாகர விமானம் மற்றும் அடித்தளப் பீட அமைப்பின் மீது எழுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்தக் கோவில் சிவனுக்கு அர்பணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்தக் கோவில் விமானத்தின் பிரமிடு வடிவ ஃபம்ஸான சிகரம், வேலைப்பாட்டுடன் கூடிய கல் உத்தரங்களைத் தாங்கும் தூண்கள், நேர்த்தியான கைபிடிச் சுவர்களைக் கொண்ட திறந்த மண்டபம் போன்றவை காணப்படுகின்றன.  இந்த கோவில் மண்டபத்தின் முழுத் தூண்கள் சதுரம், பல்கோணபட்டையுடன் கூடிய உருளை வடிவக் கட்டு, சதுரம், தரங்க வடிவ போதியல்களுடன் அமைப்புகளோடு உத்திரத்தை தாங்குகின்றன.

The mukha mandapa is with sloping / slanting  kodungai.

Mallikarjuna Gudi, Mallikarjuna Group of Temples.

This Mallikarjuna temple is under the Mallikarjuna Group of Temples just before Bhutanatha group of temples, on the north side of the Agasthya lake. This temple was built as per the Kadamba Nagara / Chalukya’s architecture and dedicated to Shiva. The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam with hand rails.The ceiling was supported by the square, octagonal and virutha pillars. The Vimanam above the sanctum sanctorum is of pyramidal form, amalaka and stupi with extended sukanasi. The walls are plain with out koshtas. The mukha mandapa is with sloping / slanting  kodungai.

pyramidal form of Vimana

HOW TO REACH

The Mallikarjuna Group of Temples is about 2 KM from Badami Bus Stand and autos are available from the base of the caves also.

The Bhutanatha Temple is about 22 KM from Pattadakal, 36 KM from Aihole and 453 KM from Bengaluru.

Nearest Railway station is Badami, about 7 KM.

Ref

1. A Hand book  on World Heritage series Badami, published by Archaeological Survey of India.

2. A Hand Book on விஜயநகர் - சாளுக்கிய மரபு நடை கையேடு - Hampi Badami, Pattadakal & Aihole issued by VVS in Tamil

3. Temple Architecture and Arts of Early Chalukyas Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta Aihole by George Michell. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

GPS Co-ordinates : 15.921278, 75.686932

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Extended Sukhanasi with image

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