Mahadeva Temple (Itagi)

The Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in Koppal district, Karnataka state, India, was built in c. 1112 CE by Mahadeva, a commander ("dandanayaka") in the army of the Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI. Itagi is located about convert|22|mi|km|0|lk=on east of Gadag and convert|40|mi|km|0|lk=on west of Hampi. The temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. The well-executed sculptures, finely crafted carvings on walls, pillars and the tower make it a good example of complete Western Chalukyan art which speaks volumes about the taste of the Chalukyan artisans. An inscription dated 1112 CE in the temple calls it "Emperor among Temples" ("Devalaya Chakravarti").Cousens (1926), p. 101] Kamath (2001), pp. 117–118] cite web|title=Emperor of Temples crying for attention|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/10/stories/2002061003760500.htm |author=Rao, Kishan|publisher=The Hindu|work=The Hindu, June 10 2002|accessdate=2006-11-10] Art critic Henry Cousens has called this monument the "finest in Kannada country after Halebidu".Quote:"A title it fully deserves, for it is probably the finest temple in Kanarese districts, after Halebidu"(Cousens 1926, p101)] These Western Chalukya monuments, regional variants of pre-existing dravida (South Indian) temples, defined the "Karnata dravida" tradition.Hardy (1995), pp. 6–7] The Mahadeva temple is officially protected as a national monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Details

Temple plan

The temple plan consists of a shrine (cella) which is connected to a closed "mantapa" (hall) by a vestibule (antechamber). The closed "mantapa" leads to a open pillared "mantapa", with the temple as a whole facing the east. Some parts of the temple, such as the cornice and parapet over the outer edge of the roof of the open "mantapa" are missing.Cousens (1926), p. 100] The main temple, the sanctum of which has a "linga" (symbol of Shiva), is surrounded by thirteen minor shrines, each with its own "linga". The temple has two other shrines, dedicated to Murthinarayana and Chandraleshwari, parents of Mahadeva, the Chalukya commander who consecrated the temple.cite web|title=Emperor of Temples' crying for attention |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/10/stories/2002061003760500.htm|author=Rao, Kishan|publisher=The Hindu|date=2002-06-10|work=|accessdate=2007-11-09]

Mantapa (hall)The closed "mantapa" has a doorway on each side, with the eastern doorway leading to the open "mantapa", and the western doorway to the sanctum. The door panels are well wrought and the ceiling of the porches have a ribbed design in them. The decoration of the outer walls follows the same pattern as that of the shrine. The great open "mantapa" has 64 pillars, 24 of which are full pillars which start from the floor and support the main ceiling. The remaining are half pillars (or "dwarf pillars") which start from the bench (parapet wall) that surrounds the "mantapa" and support the sloping eaves. The pillars in this hall bear similarities to the porch pillars at the Dodda Basappa Temple at Dambal and the lathe-turned pillars (whose rounded sections are lathe turned) at the Kasivisvesvara Temple at Lakkundi.The square ceiling of the open "mantapa" which are supported by the four central pillars exhibits interesting fretted stonework. The ceiling here has been worked into a decorative arabesque foliage and "makara"s (mythical beasts) which flow from the mouth of a "Kirtimukha" (gargoyle or demon face). This type of stonework is considered as high a quality as any. In stark contrast, the interior of the closed "mantapa" and the sanctum are plain and simple. It is believed that bracket figures that once adorned the outside pillars are now missing. These forward leaning bracket figures (Salabhanjika), which normally represent female forms in various poses (such as dancing or adorning themselves), would have rested on small blocks on the shaft of the pillars (capital), finding support from the underside of the overhanging cornice via a slot in their upper end.Cousens (1926), p. 102]

Notes

References

*
*cite web|author=Rao, Kishan|title=Emperor among Temples crying for attention|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/10/stories/2002061003760500.htm|publisher=The Hindu|work=Southern States - Karnataka |accessdate=2006-11-10
*
*
*