Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka

Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka

Mallikarjuna 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. Mallikarjuna temple, also called the Trailokeswara Maha Saila Prasada in a local inscription, is a mid-8^th Century Shiva temple sponsored by queen Trailokyamahadevi. It is located south of the Kashi Vishwanatha temple, southwest of the Sangameswara temple and near Virupaksha Temple. 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;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/01/pattadakal-group-of-monuments-history.html

The Temple

The temple was built about the same time as the Virupaksha temple, with a similar design and layout, but is somewhat smaller and has a few important differences. The temple reflects a fully developed South Indian vimana style architecture. Its garbha griha (sanctum) has a Shiva Linga and features a circumambulatory path (pradakshina patha). In front of the sanctum is an antechamber (antarala) with small shrines for Durga as Mahishasuramardini killing the buffalo demon and another for Ganesha on each side, both currently empty.

Access to the sanctum is through a pillared sabha-mandapa (community hall) with entrance porches, enclosures (prakara) and a gateway (pratoli). The temple has three mukhamandapas on three sides with a partially collapsed stone Nandi mandapa in front of the temple. A large pillared hall is following by sanctum. The temple, though similar to the Virupaksha temple, experiments with new architectural ideas that makes it distinct. 

The depiction of a dancing Shiva, as Nataraja, in the Mallikarjuna temple is set in the shallow arch of the sukanasa. There are only a few noticeable differences between these two, one of them being a hemispherical amalaka as opposed to a four-sided one, and a parapet devoid of certain architectural elements such as kuta (square), Sala (oblong) etc. that correspond to the projections and recesses below. 

The niches on temple walls are also gracefully decorated. The use of stone carvings for storytelling is prevalent throughout the temple. The legends of Hindu epics and the Puranas are depicted on the temple pillars in the community hall. These stories span all major traditions within Hinduism, including Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

The mukhamandapas and the pillars of the hall have wonderful carvings of gods and scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Panchatantra. The ceiling of the temple is also adorned with beautiful figures. The Mahamandapam has sculptures of elephants supporting the ceiling. The rasa leela of Krishna, whose stories are found in the Bhagavata Purana, are shown on friezes as are Hindu fables from the Panchatantra. 

Like other Hindu temples, the friezes of the Mallikarjuna temple show kama and mithuna scenes of amorous couples. In other places, artha scenes such as a worker walking with an elephant carrying a log and single women with different emotional expressions are carved into stone; one of these women carries an 8^th century musical instrument.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/01/pattadakal-group-of-monuments-connectivity.html

Location | Photos