Mallikarjuna Temple | |
|---|---|
Hindu temple | |
 Mallikarjuna temple (1234 A.D.) at Basaralu inMandya district | |
 Interactive map of Mallikarjuna Temple | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Mandya District |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
TheMallikarjuna temple, dedicated to the Hindu godShiva, is inBasaralu, a small town in theMandya district, Karnataka state, India. Basaralu is close toNagamangala and about 65 km from the culturally important city ofMysore. The temple was built by Harihara Dhannayaka around 1234 A.D. during the rule of theHoysala Empire KingVira Narasimha II.[1][2] This temple is protected as a monument of national importance by theArchaeological Survey of India.[3]
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The temple is highly ornate example ofHoysala architecture. The temple plan is that of atrikuta (three shrined),[4] though only the middle one has a superstructure (tower orshikhara) and asukhanasi (nose or tower over thevestibule).[5][6][7] The three shrines are connected by a common hall (mantapa) which is unique in that it mixes characteristics of an open and a closed hall. The lateral shrines are connected directly to the hall while the middle shrine has a vestibule that connects the sanctum (cella orvimana) to the hall.[7][8][9]
Since the lateral shrines have no tower over them and are directly connected to the hall without a vestibule and its corresponding tower like projection, they do not appear like shrines from the outside. Rather, they are absorbed into the walls of hall. The central shrine on the contrary is highly visible because of its tower and thesukhanasi that projects prominently from the tower.[9] The cella in the central shrine has alinga (the universal symbol of the godShiva) while the lateral shrines contain an image ofsurya (the sun) and a pair ofnagas (snakes).[10]
The temple stands on a platform calledjagati, a feature common to many Hoysala temples. The platform, in addition to its visual appeal, is meant to provide devotees a path forcircumambulation (pradakshinapatha) around the temple. It closely follows the outline of the temple, giving it a good elevated look. It has two flights of steps leading to each lateral entrance of the temple.[4][9][11] The tower over the central shrine and the vestibule (sukhanasi or nose) are intact and highly decorative. The other standard features of a Hoysala temple; the large domed roof over the tower (called "helmet" oramalaka), thekalasa on top of it (the decorative water-pot at the apex of the helmet) and the Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over thesukhanasi are all intact, adding to the decorative look.[9][12] The dome is actually a heavy, well sculptured "helmet" over the tower and is the largest piece of sculpture in the temple (2x2 meters). Its shape usually follows that of the shrine and hence can be either square or star shaped.[12]
The decorative plan of the walls of the shrines and themantapa (hall) is of the "new kind", with two eaves that run around the temple. The wall panel images have the same quality of workmanship seen in the more famous temples atBelur andHalebidu, though the images are smaller and simpler.[10] In the "new kind" of decorative articulation, the first heavy eaves runs below the superstructure and all around the temple with a projection of about half a meter. The second eaves runs around the temple about a meter below the first. Between the two eaves are the miniature decorative towers (Aedicula) onpilasters. Below the second eaves are the wall panel of images of Hindudeities and their attendants inrelief.[13]
Below this, at the base are the six equal width rectangularmoldings (frieze). Starting from the top, the friezes depicthansa (birds) in the first frieze,makara (aquatic monsters) in the second (though often interrupted withkirtimukhas in this temple), epics and other stories in the third (which in this case is from the Hindu epicRamayana, theMahabharata, and stories ofKrishna), lions in the fourth (instead of the more commonly seen leafy scrolls), horses in the fifth and elephants at the bottom.[7][14] At the entrance to the hall are elephant balustrades. Notable among the wall panel sculptures and depicting scenes from the epics and puranic stories are the 16-handed Shiva dancing on the head of a demon called Andhakasura, dancing images of a 22-armedDurga andSaraswati, KingRavana lifting MountKailash, thePandava princeArjuna shooting the fish target, andDraupadi rushing forth with garland, and the slaying of the demon Gajasura.[2]
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