The Star Shaped Temple at Dambal

Muskaan Gupta

The Star Shaped Temple at Dambal

The Doddabasappa Temple, situated in Dambal, Karnataka, India, is a splendid illustration of 12th-century Indian temple architecture. Devoted to Lord Shiva, the temple's remarkable architecture and intricate carvings can be attributed to the renowned Western Chalukyas. Constructed in a distinctive star shape, the temple draws devotees and tourists alike throughout the year.

The unique Doddabasappa temple at Dambal I Source: Wikipedia

India, the realm of spirituality and divinity, boasts an array of splendid temples strewn across its subcontinent. These temples stand not only as symbols of faith and devotion but also as masterpieces of unparalleled architectural finesse and craftsmanship. Among these treasures, nestled far away in the city of Dambal, situated about 20 kilometres from Gadag city in Karnataka, lies a remarkable gem.

Named the Doddabasappa Temple, it stands as a testament to 12th-century Indian temple architecture. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple's awe-inspiring design and intricate carvings are attributed to the legendary Western Chalukyas. Fashioned in a distinct star-shaped pattern, the temple draws devotees and tourists year-round.

In the annals of history, during the rule of the Western Chalukya Empire, also known as the Chalukyas of Kalyana, this temple emerged as a marvel. This distinguished dynasty, active from the 11th to the 13th centuries, was renowned for its patronage of art and architecture. The tranquil villages of Kukkunur, Ittagi, Lakkundi, and Dambal in Karnataka's Gadag district showcase the spectacular temples erected during their reign.

Once known as Dharmapura, Dharmapuri, and Dharmavolal, the town of Dambala was once a prominent Shaiva centre. Inscriptions on its stones reveal generous donations made in 1095 to the Viharas of Buddha and Arya-Tara Devi. These historical remnants bear witness to the former prominence of Buddhism in the region. With the construction of the Doddabasappa Temple in Dambala, previously a Buddhist hub, the temple architecture of the Chalukyas of Kalyana reached its zenith. Unlike conventional rectangular layouts, this temple adopted a stellar arrangement, setting it apart in beauty and uniqueness.

Erected between 1124 and 1126 AD, the Doddabassappa Temple, originally known as Ajjameshara Temple, was named after its builder, Ajjayanayaka. The temple later earned the moniker Doddabasappa due to the imposing bull (Nandi) statue guarding its entrance.

The temple's navaranga features entrance porches on its eastern and southern sides, each supported by meticulously crafted half-pillars embellished with intricate carvings. Though these pillars possess intricate carvings, they may not exude the same grace as those found at the Kasivisvesvara Temple in Lakkundi. The temple is graced with dual entrances, east and south, each adorned with a portico. A colossal Nandi bull, Lord Shiva's mount, majestically guards the eastern entrance. Remnants of what must have been a splendid lintel design flank the entrance facing east. Positioned axially and sheltered in an open pillared mandapa, the monumental recumbent Nandi gazes towards the presiding deity, Lord Shiva.

Through the ages, the Doddabasappa Temple continues to allure both worshippers and tourists. Its impressive architecture and intricate carvings stand as a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of artists and architects who crafted this marvel over eight centuries ago.

While the Doddabasappa Temple adheres to the Dravidian architectural style, featuring a sanctum (cella), an antarala connecting to the mandapa, a main mandapa, a vimana, and shikhara, it represents the mature evolution of Chalukyan art that emerged from the foundational Dravida architecture of South India. The temple's construction primarily employs soapstone and showcases a distinctive 24-pointed unbroken and uninterrupted stellate (star-shaped) design. This temple draws inspiration from the 32-pointed interrupted stellate plans seen in the Bhumija temples of central India. Remarkably, Karnataka and Maharashtra rarely boast 6-, 12-, or 24-pointed stellate temples, making the Doddabasappa Temple an exceptional creation.

Intriguingly, the stellate form incorporates orthogonal (right-angle) projections in the cardinal directions, resulting in star points with occasional omissions. The layout of the garbhagriha's superstructure mirrors the rotation of a square around its centre, creating equidistant projections. The star shape graces the gopuram, bestowing the temple with a captivating allure.

The entire structure, including the sanctum sanctorum and the pillared hall, boasts a stellated plan that ascends to the top tala of the shikara. While the storied arrangement found in Dravida designs is not distinctly present here, the seven-tiered architecture is a masterpiece, crowned by a top projection resembling a cogged wheel with around forty-eight indentations. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is lavishly adorned with floral motifs, musicians, dancers, and an intertwined mithuna pair. Within the sanctum lies a Shiva linga. The vertical lines extending from the base of the sanctum cella, connecting the horizontal courses, along with angular projections on the exterior wall, enhance the temple's grandeur. An antarala connects the sanctum cella to the mandapa. Within the main mandapa, three images grace the space: two of Surya, the Sun God, and one of the "five-headed" Brahma with his vahana, the goose. The exterior walls are adorned with pilasters and turrets at regular intervals. Prominent features of the wall reliefs include Krithimukha Pilasters and small motifs reminiscent of Dravidian architecture. The fusion of basement ornamentation and intricate wall carvings creates a captivating ensemble that defines the structure.