The Temple on Ravana’s Hill

The Ravanaphadi cave, located near the Durga temple in Aihole, is the oldest rock-cut structure created by the Chalukyas. This remarkable cave showcases exquisite architecture and sculptures. Among its notable features is a monolithic stone pillar, adding to its uniqueness. The cave also provides insights into the political system of the Chalukyas through the presence of the Saptamatrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses.

By Collection gallery (2018-04-01)

Once upon a time, the Earth was burdened by the atrocities committed by the Kshatriyas. Those who dared to resist them faced dire consequences. Witnessing the people's suffering, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Parashuram, born to Rishi Jamadagni and Renuka.

The king dispatched his men to the Rishi's ashrama to seize Surabhi, the celestial cow. However, since the cow provided sustenance for the entire ashrama, Jamadagni refused. In retaliation, the men killed his father. Enraged, Parashuram vowed to annihilate the Kshatriyas from the face of the planet. After eliminating the Kshatriyas, Parashuram cleansed his axe in the river Malaprabha. The blood and gore on his axe and hands tainted the water, turning it red. Witnessing this, a woman nearby exclaimed in Kannada, "Ayyo, hole!" (Oh no! Blood!). Thus, the place came to be known as Aihole.

The most intriguing feature of this splendid cave is its sculptural plan. On either side of the entrance stand seated dvarapalas, armed and dressed not in traditional Indian clothing, but tunics. Seated dvarapalas are already a rarity, but their foreign attire adds an even more captivating spectacle.

Carved in sandstone around 550 CE, a few years after the Chalukyas ascended to power, the Ravana Phadi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva while featuring abundant Vaishnava images. A seated Nandi stands in front of the temple, ready to serve his lord and convey wishes. A colossal monolithic pole also stands nearby. The three-bayed entrance leads to three more mandapas, with the innermost housing the Shivlinga. Though the entire complex was once adorned with paintings, only a few fragments remain today.

Upon crossing the threshold into the mandapa, we are greeted by the graceful and rhythmic Ardhanareeswara, symbolizing the union of nature and life force. Inside the mandapa, we find images of Nataraja with Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya, and intriguingly, the Saptamatrikas.

As we enter the main mandapa, we encounter Harihara—a composite image of Vishnu and Shiva—and another depicting Shiva alongside the three primary river goddesses. The main mandapa connects to two additional mandapas. The northern one contains images of Shiva, Vishnu, and Mahishasurmardini, while the eastern one remains an empty shrine. The temple's surroundings showcase a vast expanse of greenery and a serene sky, enhancing the site's beauty.

This detail is significant not only because it had never been seen before in Deccan architecture, but also because the Chalukyas were newcomers seeking legitimacy to rule. They claimed that their dynasty was favoured by these goddesses, and incorporating them into the sculptural plan was an attempt to associate themselves with a royal shrine.

Aihole, also known as Aivalli, Ahivolal, or Aryapura, was a prominent town under the Badami Chalukyas and flourished alongside the nearby towns of Badami and Pattadakal. It boasts over a hundred temples and is revered as the birthplace of Indian architecture and the workshop of the temple guilds that carved the temples of Pattadakal and Badami. A rock resembling an axe near the Malaprabha river is often linked to the legend of Parashuram, and the enormous footprints found on the riverbed are believed to be his.

Among Aihole's treasures is one of India's oldest rock-cut temples, known as the Ravanaphadi Temple. Situated not far from the renowned Durga Temple, the Ravana Phadi temple holds immense importance in tracing the development of Early Medieval Deccan architecture. It exhibits a stylistic uniqueness within the Aihole region, influenced by the styles of Buddhist Chaityas and Viharas.

Inscriptions and literary texts may be biased, but architecture does not lie. The Chalukyas' secular mindset is evident in their ability to incorporate diverse traditions into their architecture. This temple, with its blend of distinctive features, also provides a glimpse into the Chalukyas' political mindset. Situated in a picturesque location and serving as a powerful reminder of the Chalukya legacy, the Ravana Phadi temple rightfully holds a significant place in the Chalukyas' architectural journey.

By G41rn8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40094492

The Pillar in front of Nandi By Ms Sarah Welch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62819641

By Itsmalay~commonswiki - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72675951

Mahishasur Mardini Sculpture By VasuVR - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101068754

By Ms Sarah Welch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62819639

By Dineshkannambadi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19877895

Aihole Fort rubble walls near the Meguti Hill Jain Temple By Manjunath Doddamani Gajendragad at en.wikipedia - Own workTransferred from en.wikipedia, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17255498