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Friday, February 1, 2019

Papanatha Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka

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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