Badiger Gudi / படிகார் கோயில், Aihole, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Badiger Gudi at Aihole 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 மரபு நடைக்குழு, between 24^th December to 28^th December 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to the organisers Mrs Radha and Mrs Nithya Senthil Kumar and Mr Senthil Kumar.

HISTORY OF AIHOLE

Aihole, is located in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district in northern Karnataka.  Situated on the bank of the river Malaprabha, Aihole was the cultural capital during the period of the Western Chalukya dynasty of Badami ( 543-757 CE ) founded by Pulakeshi-I ( 543-566 CE ) with Vätäpi - Bādāmi as the capital latter led by Pulakeshi- II ( 610-642 CE ) and latter the succeeded by Rashtrakuta’s of Malkhed ( 757-950 CE ) and the Chalukya’s of Kalyana ( 950-1250 CE ). The town had trading and administrative importance with a guild known as Ayyavole Ainuruvarr, ( a guild of 500 elders ) mentioned in numerous ancient inscriptions.

The legend

The name Ayyavolal is derived from Aryavolal or Aryapura ( the valley of the elders ). In the local language, it is known as Aivalli /Aiholli.

As per the legend, Parashurama, after killing the kshatriyas, is said to have washed his axe in the Malaprabha river. The waters of the river turned red due to blood, causing the people to exclaim, "Ai Holi" ( Ai, the river ). Hence the name Aiholi, which has got corrupted to the present name of Aihole.

TEMPLES OF AIHOLE COMPLEX

This Aihole Temple complex consists of about 6 temples, constructed during early Chalukyas since mid fifth Century, within the fortification alone in groups and there are more than 50 temples can be seen out side. Some of the temples visited during our Heritage Visit are….

1. Durga Temple

2. Surya Narayana Temple

3. Ladkhan Temple

4. Gaudaragudi / Gaudara Temple

5. Chakra Gudi

6. Badiger Gudi

7. Ravanaphadi Cave

8. Huchchimalli Temple, Ravana phadi.

படிகார் கோயில்… 

ஆரம்பத்தில் இக்கோயில் சூரியனுக்காக, கடம்ப நாகரபணி கட்டிடக்கலை அமைப்பில் சுமார் 9 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் பாதாமி சாளுக்கியர்களால் கட்டப்பட்டது. சூரியனின் புடைப்பு சிற்பம் விமானத்தின் முன்பகுதியில் காணப்படுகின்றது. இக்கோயில் கருவறை, ரங்க மண்டபம் மற்றும் முக மண்டபத்துடன் கட்டப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இங்கு காணப்படும் தக்ஷபிரம்மா சிற்பம் ஒரு சிறப்பு வாய்ந்தது ஆகும்.

Badiger Gudi… 

Originally it was called as temple of Sun, a Kadamba nagara styled crest / Vimanam is on Garbhagruha. Assigned to the 9^th  century this is originally a Surya temple as is indicated by the Surya image on the projection of the Rekha-nagara (Curve-linear) Vimana /tower on the Garbhagruha and the temple has in addition to the Garbhagruha, a Ranga mantapa and mukha mantapa and there are images of Dakshabrahma in the temple. This is a Badami Chalukyan monument.

Ref

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

2. A Hand book on Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal & Aihole issued by VVS in Tamil. 

3. Temple architecture and Art of Early Chalukyas Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Aihole by George Michell.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---