Galaganatha Group of Temples, Aihole, Karnataka

Galaganatha Group of Temples, Aihole, Karnataka

Galaganatha Group of Temples are a group of ancient Hindu temples, located on the banks of the Malaprabha river in the heart of Aihole, an historical town, in Bagalkot District in Karnataka, India. It is a large cluster of over thirty medieval Hindu temples and monuments. The temple is located at about 2.5 Kms to the south of the Durga temple, near the river dam, close to the Veniyar and Ramalinga shrines.

History

The temples are dated between 7^th and 12^th centuries CE by the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. The temples are protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

The Group of Temples

The Galagnath Group of Temples has three main sub clusters of shrines. Almost all the shrines are aligned in east-west direction. The Galagnath Group consists of almost thirty shrines and most of them are in ruined state with signs of intentional damage. The main shrine is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform. The main shrine consists of sanctum, sabha mandapa and mukha mandapa.

The mukha mandapa and sanctum are square on plan and sabha mandapa is rectangular on plan. The mukha mandapa is supported by four pillars. There is a sculpture of dvarapala to the left side of the mukha mandapa. The sabha mandapa is supported by eight pillars in two rows. The ceiling in front of the sanctum has an image of Lord Brahma seated on his mount, goose.

There is a slab with carvings of Sapta Matrikas can be seen on the left side of the sabha mandapa. The lintel of the door of the sanctum has an image of Garuda in flying posture holding two snakes in his two hands. Ganga and Yamuna can be seen on the doorjambs on either side. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga. The sanctum is crowned with a Kadamba Nagara style pyramidal shikhara of shrinking squares concentrically placed.

The finial over the shikara is missing. The shikara of the shrine has images of Vishnu on three sides. The exterior walls of the sanctum has three niches on the three sides. There is a huge sculptural slab of Lord Vishnu on Garuda with attendants and devotees below and flying couples above is in front on the shikara over the roof of the sabha mandapa.

The Shiva panel from the ceiling of the main temple, along with several sculptures from this temple group has been moved to a Mumbai museum. The group of temples are decorated with deities from Hindu pantheon, Durga, Harihara, Maheshvari, Saptamatrikas, mythical makaras, foliage, various styles of auspicious pot motifs, floral motifs, birds and social life.

There is a 9^th century CE temple with dravida style vimana and 10^th CE century trikutachala temple found in this group. The archaeologists found the 7^th century complete life-sized nude Lajja Gauri in birthing position with a lotus head in this temple site only. The sculpture is currently housed at ASI Aihole museum near Durga Temple.  

Connectivity

The temple complex is located at about 2.5 Kms from Aihole Bus Stand. Aihole is located at about 13 Kms from Pattadakal, 30 Kms from Badami Railway Station, 33 Kms from Bagalkot Junction Railway Station, 34 Kms from Badami, 38 Kms from Bagalkot, 88 Kms from Gadag, 136 Kms from Hubballi Airport, 164 Kms from Belgaum Airport, 277 Kms from Goa and 446 Kms from Bengaluru. Aihole is situated on Pattadakal to Amingad route.

Location