The Bhimeshvara temple (also spelt Bhimesvara or Bhimeshwara) is a temple in the town of Nilagunda (also spelt Neelagunda) in the Davangere district of Karnataka state, India.
Decorative lintel and door jamb at entrance to vestibule in the Bhimeshvara temple at NilagundaKirtimukha relief sculpture on tiered superstructure over shrine in the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the construction of the temple was under taken in the last quarter of the 11th century during the rule of the Western Chalukyas (also known as Kalyani or Later Chalukyas) over the region.[1] Art historian Adam Hardy dates the temple to the 12th century and classifies the architectural style as "Later Chalukya, non-mainstream", with Hoysala influences. The temple has four sanctums (chatuskuta vimana) with a superstructure (shikhara) surviving only over the main west facing shrine. The building material is soapstone.[2] The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.[1][3]
Temple plan and decorationedit
Of the four sanctums in the temple, the ones in the north, west and south each have a vestibule (called antarala) and a common hall (called sabhamantapa or just mantapa). The common hall opens to a porch entrance (called mukhamantapa) in the east which has a minor fourth shrine attached to it. The entrance to the porch is a lateral one. According to the historian Kamath, Western Chalukya temples usually exhibit vesara style superstructure (called shikhara), and this is confirmed by the Archaeological Survey of India which designates the overall plan as vesara (a fusion of south and north Indian styles). The superstructure as a 3-tiered tower (called tritala).[1][4]
The outer wall of the temple has projections and recesses creating niches. In these niches are miniature decorative towers in relief (called aedicula or turrets), the execution of which evolved during the Later Chalukya rule. The vesara style aedicula are supported by double pilasters while the dravida (south Indian) style aedicula are supported by single pilasters. The art historian Percy Brown calls the Later Chalukyan style of wall decoration "exceptionally well rendered", and according to Kamath, the miniature towers are wrought in a "most artistic refrain".[5] Each tier of the superstructure has a kirtimukha (gargoyle like face). Below each kirtimukha, is a relief of a deity such as the Nataraja or Maheshvara (both forms of the Hindu god Shiva). Worthy of mention is the ornate relief on the lintel and door jamb at the entrance to each sanctum (garbhagriha) which exhibit Saivadvarapalas ("guardians" to a shrine of the god Shiva) flanked by female umbrella (chauri) bearers. Facing the west sanctum is a small sculpture of Nandi the bull. There are sculptures of various deities from the Hindu pantheon in the niches in the interior wall of the temple, such as Ganesh (elephant headed god of "beginnings" in Hinduism), Mahishasuramardhini (a form of Durga) and the Saptamatrika (the seven Hindu goddesses). The ceiling in the common hall is supported by four polished lathe turned pillars, which according to Kamath is also a characteristic feature of Western Chalukya temples.[4]
Notesedit
^ abc"Bhimesvara Temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^"Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka". Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
"Bhimesvara Temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
Adam Hardy, Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries, Abhinav, 1995, New Delhi, ISBN81-7017-312-4.
"Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka". Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda.
January 01, 1970
bhimeshvara, temple, nilagunda, bhimeshvara, temple, also, spelt, bhimesvara, bhimeshwara, temple, town, nilagunda, also, spelt, neelagunda, davangere, district, karnataka, state, india, bhimeshvara, templevillagebhimeshvara, temple, 1075, 1100, nilagunda, dav. The Bhimeshvara temple also spelt Bhimesvara or Bhimeshwara is a temple in the town of Nilagunda also spelt Neelagunda in the Davangere district of Karnataka state India Bhimeshvara TempleVillageBhimeshvara temple 1075 1100 AD at Nilagunda in Davangere districtBhimeshvara TempleCoordinates 14 17 N 76 05 E 14 283 N 76 083 E 14 283 76 083Country IndiaStateKarnatakaDistrictDavanagere districtTalukHarpanahalliLok Sabha ConstituencyDavanagereLanguages OfficialKannadaTime zoneUTC 5 30 IST Contents 1 Bhimeshvara Temple 2 Temple plan and decoration 3 Notes 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBhimeshvara Temple edit nbsp Decorative lintel and door jamb at entrance to vestibule in the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda nbsp Kirtimukha relief sculpture on tiered superstructure over shrine in the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda According to the Archaeological Survey of India the construction of the temple was under taken in the last quarter of the 11th century during the rule of the Western Chalukyas also known as Kalyani or Later Chalukyas over the region 1 Art historian Adam Hardy dates the temple to the 12th century and classifies the architectural style as Later Chalukya non mainstream with Hoysala influences The temple has four sanctums chatuskuta vimana with a superstructure shikhara surviving only over the main west facing shrine The building material is soapstone 2 The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India 1 3 Temple plan and decoration editOf the four sanctums in the temple the ones in the north west and south each have a vestibule called antarala and a common hall called sabhamantapa or just mantapa The common hall opens to a porch entrance called mukhamantapa in the east which has a minor fourth shrine attached to it The entrance to the porch is a lateral one According to the historian Kamath Western Chalukya temples usually exhibit vesara style superstructure called shikhara and this is confirmed by the Archaeological Survey of India which designates the overall plan as vesara a fusion of south and north Indian styles The superstructure as a 3 tiered tower called tritala 1 4 The outer wall of the temple has projections and recesses creating niches In these niches are miniature decorative towers in relief called aedicula or turrets the execution of which evolved during the Later Chalukya rule The vesara style aedicula are supported by double pilasters while the dravida south Indian style aedicula are supported by single pilasters The art historian Percy Brown calls the Later Chalukyan style of wall decoration exceptionally well rendered and according to Kamath the miniature towers are wrought in a most artistic refrain 5 Each tier of the superstructure has a kirtimukha gargoyle like face Below each kirtimukha is a relief of a deity such as the Nataraja or Maheshvara both forms of the Hindu god Shiva Worthy of mention is the ornate relief on the lintel and door jamb at the entrance to each sanctum garbhagriha which exhibit Saiva dvarapalas guardians to a shrine of the god Shiva flanked by female umbrella chauri bearers Facing the west sanctum is a small sculpture of Nandi the bull There are sculptures of various deities from the Hindu pantheon in the niches in the interior wall of the temple such as Ganesh elephant headed god of beginnings in Hinduism Mahishasuramardhini a form of Durga and the Saptamatrika the seven Hindu goddesses The ceiling in the common hall is supported by four polished lathe turned pillars which according to Kamath is also a characteristic feature of Western Chalukya temples 4 Notes edit a b c Bhimesvara Temple Archaeological Survey of India Bengaluru Circle ASI Bengaluru Circle Retrieved 19 May 2015 Hardy 1995 p 340 Alphabetical List of Monuments Karnataka Bangalore Bangalore Circle Karnataka Archaeological Survey of India Government of India Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts Retrieved 19 May 2015 a b Kamath 2001 p116 Kamath 2001 p 117Gallery edit nbsp Sculpture of Shiva and Parvati in the mantapa of the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda nbsp Mantapa with lathe turned pillarssupporting bay ceiling in the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda nbsp Close up of the lintel over shrine entrance in the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda nbsp Profile of the Bhimeshvara temple at Nilagunda nbsp Profile of the Bhimeshvara temple at NilagundaSee also editKalleshvara Temple BagaliReferences edit Bhimesvara Temple Archaeological Survey of India Bengaluru Circle ASI Bengaluru Circle Retrieved 19 May 2015 Adam Hardy Indian Temple Architecture Form and Transformation the Karṇaṭa Draviḍa Tradition 7th to 13th Centuries Abhinav 1995 New Delhi ISBN 81 7017 312 4 Alphabetical List of Monuments Karnataka Bangalore Bangalore Circle Karnataka Archaeological Survey of India Government of India Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts Retrieved 15 July 2012 Kamath Suryanath U 2001 1980 A concise history of Karnataka from pre historic times to the present Bangalore Jupiter books LCCN 80905179 OCLC 7796041 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhimeshvara Temple Nilagunda Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhimeshvara Temple Nilagunda amp oldid 1189257886, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
