Context: 

A 1,300-year-old temple belonging to the Badami Chalukyan period was discovered in Telangana recently.

Badami Chalukya Temples and Inscriptions Discovered Along Krishna River

• Archaeologists from the Public Research Institute of History, Archaeology, and Heritage (PRIHAH) discovered Two ancient temples along with a rare inscription.
• Site of discovery: In the Mudimanikyam village of Nalgonda district, Telangana, along the banks of the Krishna River. 
• Architectural styles: The temples  date between AD 543 750 and blend the  Badami Chalukyan style with the Kadamba Nagara influences (A pyramid-shaped shikhara with rising steps, topped by a pinnacle kalasha).
  • Some influence of Rekha nagara architecture is also seen in the structure witnessed by a typical northern Indian shikhara with a slightly curved tower having four sides of equal length.

• Artifacts discovered: 

• • A  Panavattam (base of a Shiva lingam) in the sanctum sanctorum has been found.
  • A Vishnu idol was recovered.
  • An  inscription was also found which reads as ‘Gandaloranru’ dating back to the 8th – 9th Century AD. Ganda in Kannada means Hero.

About Chalukya Dynasty:

• It is a Hindu dynasty ruling southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries
• It comprised three related yet individual dynasties,
  • Badami Chalukyas: They were the original dynasty, with its capital in Vatapi (modern Badami) ruling from the middle of the 6th century.
  • Eastern Chalukyas: They emerged in eastern Deccan after the mid-7th century and ruled from Vengi until about the 11th century. 
  • Western Chalukyas: They were the descendants of the Badami Chalukyas and emerged in western Deccan in the late 10th century. They  ruled from Kalyani (modern Basavakalyan) until the late 12th century.

Chalukyas of Badami:

• Badami Chalukyas were the vassals of the Kadambas of Banavasi. They were an indigenous Kannara family with Kannada as their mother tongue.
• Founder king: The Chalukya dynasty was established by Pulakeshin I in 543 AD
• Notable Rulers:
  • Pulakeshin II: The most important ruler of the dynasty who extended the Chalukya Empire up to the northern extents of the Pallava kingdom and defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the river Narmada.
    • He died fighting in the  battle of Vatapi  with Pallava Narasimhavarman in 642 AD
  • Vikramaditya I:  He took the title “Rajamalla” (Sovereign of the Mallas/ Pallavas) after defeating the Pallavas and recapturing his empire after the death of Pulakeshin II
  • Vikramaditya II (733–744 AD): The kingdom reached its zenith under his reign with numerous invasions and victories over Pallava Nandivarman II and victory over the 3 southern kingdoms of Chola, Cheras, Pandyas.
• Decline: Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga 753AD overthrew the last ruler Kirtivarman II marking the end of the Badami Chalukyan dynasty.

• Historical source:

• • Inscriptions: 
    • Kannada: The Badami cave inscriptions (578 AD) of Mangalesa,  Peddavaduguru inscription of Pulakesi II, the Kanchi Kailasanatha inscription and Pattadakal Virupaksha Temple inscriptions of Vikramaditya II 
    • Sanskrit: The earliest inscription of the Badami cliff dated 543 of Pulakesi I, the Mahakuta Pillar inscription (595 AD) of Mangalesa and the Aihole inscription dated 634 AD of Pulakesi II.
  • Traveller accounts: 
    • Hiuen-Tsiang (Chinese traveller) visited the court of Pulakesi II

• Badami Chalukya Architecture:

  • It is a style in Hindu temple architecture that evolved in the 5th – 8th centuries CE in the Malaprabha river basin, in Bagalkot district of Karnataka.
  • Vesara style architecture: Chalukyan architecture is a mixture of Nagar and Dravida styles which is known as Vesara style of temple architecture 
    • This style originated and flourished at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal of Karnataka between 5th century to 7th century and further is being evolved by the Hoysalas.
    • Example: Parvati Temple at Sanduru.  It has a staggered base plan and consists of nagara style vimana (tower) and dravida style parts, has no mantapa (hall) and consists of an antarala (vestibule) crowned with a barrel-vaulted tower (sukhanasi).

  • Basic Features: 

    • Stone used: A  reddish-golden Sandstone was used.
    • Technique of construction:  They are created through a “subtraction” technique  and are basically excavations, cut out of the living rock sites they occupy. Thus they are more  sculptural than structural style.
    • Elements: Exterior are plain  but interiors are sculptural marvel  consisting of a pillared verandah, a columned hall (mantapa) and a cella (shrine, cut deep into rock) which contains the deity of worship.

  • Phases of Development:  

• • • Early: It began in the late 6th century with three elementary cave temples at Aihole and  4 developed structures at Badami.
    • The second phase: Aihole became the most prominent site for temple construction and is being called “one of the cradles of Indian temple architecture” beginning 600 AD
      • The curvilinear and pyramid like shikhar (A Dravida architecture feature) was  first developed  in the Lad Khan temple 
      • Examples: Lad Khan Temple ; the Meguti Jain Temple 634 AD; the Durga Temple; Jambulingesvara Temple at Badami; Mahakutesvara Temple and the Mallikarjuna Temple at Mahakuta.
    • Mature phase: The structural temples at Pattadakal of the 8th century mark the  mature phase of Badami Chalukyan architecture. There are ten temples at Pattadakal, six in southern dravida style and four in the northern nagara style.
      • They are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site
      • Examples:  Dravidian style: Sangamesvara Temple 725 AD; Virupaksha Temple (740–745 AD) and the Mallikarjuna Temple (740–745AD).
      • Vesara style :  The Papanatha temple (680 AD) and Galaganatha Temple (740 AD)

News Source: India Today