Yellamma Devi Gudi / எல்லம்மா தேவி கோயில், Badami, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Yellamma Temple is on the west side banks of Agasthya Lake 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 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.

எல்லம்மா தேவி கோயில்.

இந்த எல்லம்மா தேவி கோயில், பூதநாத கோவில்களின் தொகுப்பு கோயிலுக்கு முன்பாகவே அகத்தியர் ஏரியின் மேற்கு கரையில் கிழக்கு நோக்கி அமைந்துள்ளது. இக்கோயில் ஜமத்கினியின் மனைவியும், பரசுராமரின் அம்மாவுமான ரேனுகா தேவிக்கானது. கோயில் கருவறை, இடைநாழி மற்றும் ரங்கமண்டபத்துடன் முக மண்டபத்துடன் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. முகமண்டபத்தின் வெளிப்புற தூண்கள் சதுரமாகவும், ரங்க மண்டபத்தின் தூண்கள் லேத்தின் மூலம் கடையப்பட்ட தூண்களாகவும் உள்ளது. வட இந்திய கட்டிடக்கலையின் கடம்ப நாகர அமைப்பாக கல்யாண சாளுக்கிய காலத்தில் கட்டப்பட்ட விமானம் கலசமும் ஸ்தூபியும் இன்றி காணப்படுகின்றது ( கீழே தரையில் காணப்படுகின்றது ). விமானத்தில் முதல்தளத்தில் சுகநாசி நீண்டு காணப்படுகின்றது. கருவறை சுவற்றில் எந்த கோஷ்ட சிற்பங்களும் இல்லை.

மீயூசியத்தில் தற்போது உள்ள 1139 CE கல்வெட்டு இக்கோயில் கல்யாணி சாளுக்கியரின் காலத்தில், "பரமானந்ததேவா" என்பவரால் மஹாவிஷ்ணுவின் அவதாரமான யோக நாராயணருக்காக கட்டப்பட்டது என்றும், இறைவன் "யோகேஸ்வர நாராயணன்" என அழைக்கப்பட்டார் என்றும் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Yellamma Devi Gudi, before The Bhutanatha Group of Temples

This Yellamma Devi Temple is on the west side banks of Agasthyar Tank. Yellamma Devi is the local name for Renuka Devi, who was the wife of Sage Jamadgini and mother of Parasurama. Parasurama is one of the 10 incarnations of Maha Vishnu. This temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam with ranga mandapam. The open mukha mandapam is supported the square pillars on the out side and inside pillars are lathe turned pillars.

  View from Cave No-2

The curve-linear sikhara is on the sanctum sanctorum without kalasa ( Kalasa is kept at the bottom of the temple ) and stupi. An extended sukha nasi is at the first level. There is no images on the Vimanam and sanctum walls. The temple is the combination of both North Indian Style of Nagara Architecture and South Indian style of Dravida.

The  Yellamma Gudi was built by an ascetic named “Paramanandadeva” during the rule of Kalyana Chalukya king Jagadekamall –II,  in 1139 CE. An inscription records this is kept at Badami  museum. This temple was originally dedicated to Yoga Narayana called “Yogeshwara Narayana”. It is possible that the deity of this temple, a 12^th Century CE idol of Dattatreya is kept at another temple a short distance from here.

HOW TO REACH

The Yellamma Devi Gudi is about 1.5 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

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---