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The capital of the early Chalukyas, Badami is, rather
picturesquely located at the mouth of a ravine, between two rocky hills. Badami is famous
for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sandstone on the precipice of a hill. In its
ancient temples and forts, Badami preserves an important chapter in the history of
architecture, in Karnataka.
Situated in North Karnataka, Badami was the capital of the Chalukya empire, founded by
Pulakesin I in the 6th century A.D. The Chalukyas are to be credited with pioneering a new
architectural style, examples of which can be seen in Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and other
neighbouring areas. They built a number of temples, and other monuments that marked the
beginning of the Hindu style of architecture. This new style combined the |
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best of two distinct styles - the North Indian, Indo-Aryan
Nagara style and the South Indian Dravidian style. Known as the Chalukyan style, this
style is manifested in many cave temples, dedicated to Brahmanical deities, as well as the
many Buddhist and Jain monasteries in the region.
The cave temples of Badami which date back to 600 and 700 A.D. are carved out of sandstone
hills. Each has a sanctum, a hall, an open verandah and pillars. What makes these cave
temples remarkable, are the large number of exquisite carvings and sculptures. In the
skilful hands of the Chalukyan artisans, the sandstone seems to have become as pliant as
putty. There are many beautiful murals as well. The free standing stone temples in Badami,
provide enlightening information about the development of the Chalukyan style of
architecture, as many seem to have been experimental constructions. The early temples
appear to be like large court halls to which shrines were attached. The Ladkhan temple at
Aihole belongs to this early phase. The next phase of development is visible in the
Gowdaragudi temple which is a more complex structure.
One of the many masterpieces to be found in these caves is the famous, 18-armed Nataraja
(Shiva) who if observed closely, strikes 81 poses. Cave 4, the last cave, is the only Jain
Temple in Badami. The 24th Tirthankara- Mahavira, is seated in a uniquely comfortable pose
here, against a cushion in the inner sanctum. On the other bank of the ancient Bhutnatha
lake, astride whose shores the caves stand, is the shrine of Nagamma, the local serpent
goddess, within a massive tamarind tree. Nearby, are two Shiva temples, which deify Him as
Bhutanatha, God of Souls. Within the inner sanctum, on the edge of the water, He sits in a
rare pose, leaning back, in all his awesome majesty.
En route to Pattadakal, one comes across Banashankari, the goddess the village is named
after.The goddess is black, riding a ferocious gold lion, eight-armed, sheer magnetism
emanating from Her. Outside the shrine is the tank the goddess is said to have been
transformed into. Further ahead, in Mahakuta, at the famous Mahakuteswara Temple, is Kashi
Tirtha, a natural spring, the cold and clear waters of which are said to cleanse one's
sins.
It is said that the better known caves of Elephanta and Ellora were modelled on the ones
in Badami. The Kailashnatha temple at Ellora, has been hewn out of an entire hillock, cut
out from the parent hill and combines the best of cave and free-standing temples.
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