Papanatha Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka
Papanatha 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. This temple has been dated to the mid-8th century
by ASI. The Papanatha temple is situated apart from the main cluster of eight
monuments. It is about half kilometer to the south of Virupaksha and has been
dated towards the end of the Early Chalukya rule period, approximately mid-8th
Century.
This temple is known as Mukteshwar temple in the
inscription. It appears to have been originally a modest structure but in all
probability was extensively renovated at the time of construction of Virupaksha
temple (AD 740). The monument is a
protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
History
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The Temple
The temple is noted for its novel mixture of Dravida,
and Nagara, Hindu temple styles. The unusual layout of the temple is possibly
due to its construction, which occurred in three stages, but there is a lack of
epigraphical evidence to support this hypothesis. Its architectural and
sculptural details do show a consistent and unified theme, indicative of a
plan. The temple is longer, incorporating two interconnected mandapas, one with
16 pillars and another with 4 pillars. The decorations, parapets and some
parts of the layout are Dravida in style, while the tower and pilastered niches
are of the Nagara style. The Temple boasts of a vimana of the
northern style with an elaborately carved sukanasa at front.
Lamentably, both
the amalaka and kalash are missing. It is the largest
temple in the compound in the rekha nagara (northern) style and seems to
have undergone additions and modifications outside those of the original plan.
It is possible that the temple, in the beginning, consisted of the typical
composition consisting of a sanctum, a rectangular mandapa and a
separate Nandi mandapa. Later modifications aimed to enlarge the existing mandapa
and incorporate an enclosed circumambulatory path around the sanctum. This was
extended in such a way that the once separate Nandi mandapam became a part
of it.
This east facing temple has on plain Garbha Griha, Ardha
Mandapam, Sabha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam provided with Kakshasana. Curiously
the eastern half of the Sabha Mandapam accommodates a huge monolithic Nandi
instead of a separate Nandi Mandapam. This temple is built on unusually huge
plinth with the usual mouldings, embellished with elephants and other animal
motifs. The wall above is relieved with a large Kudu type of Deva Kostas at
regular intervals accommodating Shaiva and Vaishnava deities and perches
sheltering stone windows.
Only one of the dvarapala now survives at the
entrance of the mandapa. Pillars and pilasters inside the hall are
resplendently covered with figures in tribhanga mudra (thrice-bent
pose), foliage motifs and other elements. Images of Shiva and Parvati,
Anantasayana Vishnu surrounded by Dikpalas, Nagaraja, Gajalakshmi are carved on
the ceiling while narrative panels depicting episodes from Kiratarjuniya,
Ramayana and other ancient texts adorn the walls.
The façade of the garbha griha is beautifully
decorated with a Garuda on
the lintel and decorative pilasters on either side, accompanied by gracefully
sculpted figures of Ganga &
Jamuna. Outside, in the mandapas, are images of single women and couples, in
courtship and different stages of mithuna. Many panels show musicians with
different types of musical instruments. The sabhamandapa has 16 pillars with
medium size sculptures of men & women. There is also a sculpture of
Mahishasura Mardhini with 8 hands.
The pillars in mukhamandapa have wonderful carving of
couples and mythical animals on three sides. The sides of mandapa have several
lattice windows with miniature temple towers engraved inside with different
sculptures like Rama Killing Vali, Vanaras building bridge to Lanka, Srirama's
Coronation, Arjuna's penance, Ravana lifting mount Kailash, Narasimha &
Hiranyakasipa fighting, Indra riding Airavata, Dasharatha performing
Putrakamesthti yagna, Indrajit & Kumbhakarna attacking vanara army, etc.
Connectivity
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