TheMahakuta group of temples is located in Mahakuta, a village in theBagalkot district ofKarnataka state, India. It is an important place of worship forHindus and the location of a well-knownShaiva monastery. The temples are dated to the 6th or 7th century CE and were constructed by the early kings of theChalukya dynasty ofBadami. The dating of the temples is based on the style of architecture which is similar to that of the temples in nearbyAihole[1] and the information in two notable inscriptions in the complex: theMahakuta Pillar inscription dated between 595–602 CE (written in theSanskrit language andKannada script);[2] and an inscription of Vinapoti, aconcubine of kingVijayaditya, dated between 696–733 CE and written in theKannada language and script.[3]
The Karnataka artisans of the 7th century achieved a certain eclectism in their architecture by building south Indiandravida style temples adjacent to north Indiannagara style temples.[4] Further, theirdravida andnagara styles were local, indigenous variants and unrelated to the architectural styles that prevailed in modernTamil Nadu to the south, andCentral India ("Madhyadesha") to the north.[5] They achieved this by combining the basic plan of one style with characteristics of the other. Thedravida style temples here have a tiered tower over the shrine which is capped with a dome like structure. Thenagara style temples use a curvilinear tower over a shrine which has a square plan, and is capped by a ribbed stone.[4] The development of this hybrid style, achieved by combining the typological features of the two basic architectural styles, is considered a peculiarity of the Karnataka region and defines the beginnings of theVesara style of architecture.[6]
A natural mountain spring flows within the temple complex and feeds fresh water into a large tank called theVishnu Pushkarni ("Lotus pool of godVishnu") and an ablution tank calledPapavinasha Tirtha ("Tank of Ablution"). Among the several shrines in the complex, the Mahakuteshvara temple, built in thedravida style, and the Mallikarjuna temple are the largest. There is a small shrine in the centre of theVishnu Pushkarni tank and in it is aShivalinga (universal symbol of god Shiva) calledPanchamukha linga ("five faced linga"), one face for each direction and one on top.[1]
The Mahakuta complex has provided historians two important 7th century inscriptions. TheMahakuta Pillar inscription,[7] dated variously between 595–602 CE records a grant made by Durlabhadevi, a queen ofPulakeshin I (the father of kingMangalesha). The queen supplemented an earlier grant with an endowment of ten villages, includingPattadakal and Aihole to god Mahkuteshvara Natha. In addition, the inscription provides important information about the Chalukyan lineage, their military expeditions, their conquests and early monuments.[2] The pillar goes by the nameDharma-jayastambha ("Pillar of victory of religion") and is on exhibition at aBijapur archaeological museum.[3] The other inscription, ascribed to Vinapoti, king Vijayaditya's concubine, is inscribed in the porch of the Mahakuteshvara temple. It describes a grant ofrubies and a silver umbrella to the deityMahakuteshvara in addition to a piece of land.[3]
Cousens, Henry (1996) [1926].The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India.OCLC37526233.
Sinha, Ajay (2000) [2000].Imagining Architects: Creativity in the Religious Monuments of India. Delaware: University of Delaware Press.ISBN978-0-87413-684-5.
"The Mahakuta Pillar and Its Temples, Carol Radcliffe Bolon".JSTOR3249519.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)
