Kashi Vishwanatha Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka
Kashi Vishwanatha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located in Pattadakal in Bagalkot District of Karnataka, India. This
temple is part of Pattadakal Group of Monuments, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Temple complex is
located on the west bank of the Malaprabha
River. The Temple is also known as Kashivishweswara Temple. The
temple has been variously dated to the late 7th century, early 8th
century or the mid-8th century. Kashi Vishwanatha Temple is situated
adjacent to Mallikarjuna Temple. This 8th century structure is one amongst the
jewels of Pattadakal built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. The monument is a
protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
History
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
This is probably the last temple built in this compound,
datable to the middle of the 8th century CE. In plan, the temple follows the
general pattern of Early Chalukyan architecture as evidenced in other temples
of this location. It showcases the wonderfully developed style of rekha nagara shikhara rising in
five stages, unfortunately the amalaka and
kalash are missing. Sculptures
of Ardhanariswara (half-Shiva, half-Parvati) and Lakulisha are carved into the
northern wall of the temple mandapa, but these have been damaged and
defaced.
The kapota (cornice) are decorated with motifs
and carved with ganas (playful dwarfs) carrying garlands; brackets show flying
couples and kirtimukhas. A well-preserved sukanasa adorns the front of the shikhara with an image of Uma-Maheswara carved within a chaitya arch. The whole shikhara surface is designed in
a mesh-like manner. The temple has only sanctum and antarala left and the
remaining parts are collapsed.
The sanctum is supported by two pillars and has a
Shivalinga carved out of black stone. The temple also features a pranala,
a stone structure used to drain out water used during devotional activities,
and an antarala,
or foyer, connecting to a mandapa with a ruined entrance porch. The
river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna are still visible at the entrance to the
mandapa. Beyond the mandapa,
further east a small Nandi mandapa,
now largely ruined, is placed.
The temple sits on a raised platform, with five layers
of mouldings, decorated with 8th-century carvings of horses, elephants, lions,
peacocks and flowery vine designs. The wall surfaces have pilaster pairs
supporting chaitya-style arches. The entrance door features a Shaiva dvarapala
(guardian) on each side. The doorway of the sanctum has a carving of Garuda
holding snakes. Bottom of the doorway has nice sculptures of female figures in
different postures.
Inside the temple are pillars and pilasters intricately
carved with friezes depicting the Bhagavata
Purana (Vaishnavism), the Shiva
Purana (Shaivism) and the Ramayana.
One frieze shows the demon Ravana lifting mount Kailasha,
others show the playful pranks of Krishna,
while another narrates the Kalyansundarmurti (marriage of Shiva and Parvati). One
relief show Shiva coming out of the cylindrical Linga. The mandapa ceiling
has carvings of Shiva, Nandi and Parvati holding Kartikeya. This image is
concentrically surrounded by the ashta-dikpalas (eight directional
guardians). There are also few pillar reliefs of men riding mythical animals.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location
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