The Navabrahma Temples of Alampur- II

Muskaan Gupta

The Navabrahma Temples of Alampur- II

Where the two rivers of Tungabhadra and Krishna collide, there stands Alampur, a town concealing the glory of its former heyday, housing an ancient marvel—The Navabrahma Temples.

The Kumara Brahma Temple (Source- hindutemples-india.blogspot.com)

The Navabrahma temples in Alampur were built at a distance of about 325 kilometers east of Badami, the capital city of their royal patrons, the Chalukyas. They represent the distinct Badami Chalukya architectural style of Hindu temples in Aihole, Badami, Alampur, and later Pattadakal. Each one of the nine temples located within the complex is a historic and architectural specimen in itself, though some of them stand in ruins.

Probably the oldest of the nine temples, the Kumara Brahma Temple is situated, like the others, on a jagati. A perforated screen on the exterior walls allows sunlight to enter the circumambulation path. The ceiling's pillars and beams are all decorated with peacock motifs and little figurines. With the Sikhara of tribhuni class of design, the tower is split into venukosha, uccheda, and madhyalata. The Ganga and Yamuna deities, as well as two dvarapalas, flank the sanctuary entry. The temple, constructed in the traditional Nagara style, is likely the first temple here to be constructed on an elevated platform.

The temple, like many others, is made up of a sanctum, mukha mandapam, and maha mandapam, as well as a brief circumambulatory route for performing pradakshina. Miniature sculptures of the Gandharvas, Kubera, Ganesha, and the infatuated lovers in the Mithuna scenarios, along with floral patterns, can be seen on the pillars and ceilings of the mukha mandapam, whose gateway contains seven female heads that appear to be pulling a chariot. The temple's outside walls are largely plain and unadorned.

After the Bala Brahma Temple, Vishwa Brahma Temple is the most well-preserved of the Navabrahma Temples. The windows and niches of this northernmost temple are finely carved, and the entire building is decorated with beautiful carvings. This temple's design is similar to that of Pattadakal's Galaganatha Temple. The temple's jagati is richly carved with musicians, dancers, foliage, birds, geese, and ganas. The temple consists of an eighteen-pillared maha mandapam and sanctum with a small circumambulatory pradakshina path. Inside the mandapam, the temple pillars feature fluted shafts above the sitting lion. The temple also bears sculptures of Panchatantra and scenes depicted from Sanskrit epics.

The plan of Vishwa Brahma Temple is similar to that of Svarga Brahma Temple, with the exception of the mukha mandapam. Four pillars with sculptures depicting episodes from the Ramayana, Gandharvas, lions, and other animals support the sanctum. Beautiful carvings of Nagabandha and a lotus are executed on the ceiling. The main entrance's gateway features a chariot-riding Garuda. On the rear of the sanctuary is a beautifully crafted statue of Bhagiratha undertaking penance to bring Ganga to earth. The mahamandapam's pillars are decorated with lovely floral patterns.

The exteriors have sculptures and carvings of Vyakhana Dakshinamurti, Gangadhara, a dancing Shiva, and scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The Archaeological Survey of India’s museum nearby houses the idols that were set in the niches outdoors.

Lord Vishnu and various floral toranas are etched onto the doorway's entryway. The maha mandapam is decorated with sculptures of Gajalakshmi, Uma Maheswara, Kubera, elephants, swans, passionate lovers in the Mithuna scenarios, and people astride legendary creatures, as well as peacock motifs. In the maha mandapam, a sculpture of the Saptamatrikas and Ganesha is also there.

The temple consists of a circumambulatory pathway around the mahamandapam and the sanctum. From the outside, the temple seems unadorned, yet the mahamandapam, which has cubical, unadorned pillars, is filled with many sculptures. An unusual element of the Shivalinga inside the sanctuary is a naga image. The temple's vimana was damaged during an invasion by the Bahamani Sultans in the fourteenth century.

The inner sanctuary’s entryway is adorned with dvarapalakas and lion figures as well as with representations of Goddess Lakshmi, Ardhanareeswarar, Vinayaka, Kalabhairava, and others. Along with a giant dancing Shiva on the ceiling, the inner mandapam features carvings of Mahishasura Mardhini, Sapta Matrikas, Indra, and Agni. Another distinct feature is the image of Yogamurthi praising Lord Shiva depicted on a pillar. Figures of Kanyakumari, Hanuman, Ganesha, and Umamaheswara are present on the inner circumambulatory pathway. Yama, Chitragupta, Kubera, and Surya also find representation in scale statues in the outer verandah.

The largest and most impressive temple in the complex is the Bala Brahma Temple. The festival of Shivaratri is annually observed at this operational temple that holds regular pujas. The temple, which is the second oldest in the area, is located close to the Jogulamba Temple and features a sizable verandha with pillars on both sides for pradakshinas. The temple contains a sizable mukha mandapam, a maha mandapam, and a sanctuary with an inner circumambulatory path. The Shivalinga in this temple is fashioned in the shape of a bull's footprint. A lot of the complex’s sculptures are located in this one temple, and they are all mostly in good condition.

Situated on the southern side of the previously mentioned Vira Brahma Temple, the Arka Brahma Temple is especially in ruins. The temple’s art has been destroyed, with just the Ganga and Yamuna goddesses discernible at the sanctum's entrance. A few of its sculptures, such as Ashtadikpalakas, are housed in the nearby museum built by the Archaeological Survey of India. The names of the artists who worked on a particular sculpture (now lost) are listed in an inscription written in the Siddhamatrika script, and these appear in the Kannada and Telugu languages.

These five temples are spectacular examples of the Badami Chalukyan style of temple architecture so evident in the town of Alampur.