Thursday, May 28, 2020

Nanesvara Temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka

Nanesvara Temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka
Nanesvara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Lakkundi Village near Gadag Town in Gadag District of Karnataka. The Temple is a mid-11th century Hindu temple in the Later Chalukya style (also called Western or Kalyani Chalukya). It stands across the street from the ornate Kasivisvesvara Temple. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Lakkundi Bus Stop.



The Temple
The Nanesvara Temple follows the same basic plan as the Kasivisvesvara Temple, minus the auxiliary shrine. The temple consists of a garbhagriha, antarala, navaranga and mukhamandapa in east-west axis. While the first three parts are covered the last one is open and gives the impression of later addition but the contrast it provides is highly pleasing and that is the uniqueness of this temple. The mukhamandapa has sixteen pillars, each with a square pedestal and circular mouldings above.



The temple has an open mandapa with beautifully decorated pilars leading to a small mandapa that leads to the Garbhagriha housing the Shiva Linga. The square Garbhagriha has a doorway which is full of decoration consisting of creeper and floral ornamentation. Gajalakshmi is found on the lintel. In the centre of the Garbhagriha is a pedestal on which is found a Shiva Linga called Naneshvara in the inscription. The sikhara over the garbhagriha has three tiers with a kalasa at the top and gives an elegant appearance. The temple is built on a raised platform (jagati) of about four feet height.



The platform relating to the hind parts have carved mouldings over which the wall of the temple rises. There are niches along with pilasters as decorative motifs and at the roof level is decorated eave. The material used, soapstone, is a Chalukyan architectural innovation that became popular in 12th and 13th century Chalukya and Hoysala constructions. There are two inscriptions here and one of them is dated 1180 AD. On this basis this temple can be dated to the middle of the 12th century AD. 



Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location

No comments:

Post a Comment