Mahadeva Temple, Itagi – The Temple

Mahadeva Temple, Itagi – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with mahadvara. This Temple is similar in plan to the Annigeri Amruteshwara Temple. The temple consists of sanctum, vestibule, navaranga (closed mandapa) and mukha mandapa (open pillared mandapa). The Navaranga has a doorway on each side. The eastern doorway is connected to the mukha mandapa, the western doorway is connected to the sanctum. The southern and northern doorway with pillared entrance porches leads to the prakaram.

The interior of the closed mantapa and the sanctum are plain and simple. The mukha mandapa is supported by 64 pillars. Twenty-six of these are large ones, standing upon the floor and forming the main support of the roof and the rest are were dwarf pillars, stood upon the surrounding bench and supporting the sloping eaves. The larger columns are of different patterns but are arranged symmetrically with regard to their designs.

The square ceiling of the mukha mandapa supported by the four central pillars exhibits interesting fretted stonework. The ceiling here has been worked into a decorative arabesque foliage and makaras (mythical beasts) which flow from the mouth of a Kirtimukha (gargoyle or demon face). This type of stonework is considered as high a quality as any. It is believed that bracket figures that once adorned the outside pillars are now missing.

These forward leaning bracket figures (Salabhanjika), which normally represent female forms in various poses (such as dancing or adorning themselves), would have rested on small blocks on the shaft of the pillars (capital), finding support from the underside of the overhanging cornice via a slot in their upper end. Nandi can be found in front of the navaranga in mukha mandapa, facing the sanctum. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity in the Linga form.

The shikara over the sanctum is partly damaged at the top and has been recently built with modern construction technique. The outer walls of the temple are almost plain, devoid of any sculptures and carry niches and pilasters with geometric designs, and friezes with minimal carvings. There are two shrines dedicated to Murthinarayana and Chandraleshwari, the parents of Mahadeva, an army commander (Dandanayaka) of the Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI.

There are about 13 shrines enshrining Shiva Lingas can be seen around the main shrine. The temple has a Pushkarni (Theertha) in its front and an open stepped well with an entrance and sloping walls on its other three sides behind the temple. There are loose stones, columns, pillars and sculptures lying against the compound wall. A defaced statue of Brahma has been installed in the middle of the lawn. An inscription dated 1112 CE in the temple calls it "Emperor among Temples" (Devalaya Chakravarty).