The Lakshmi Devi temple is an early 12th-century Hindu temples complex located in Doddagaddavalli village in
Hassan District, KarnatakaIndia. The main temple consists of four-shrines that share a common mandapa (hall), each sanctum being a square and aligned to a cardinal direction. The eastern shrine has Goddess Lakshmi, the northern shrine is dedicated to Kali-Durga, the western to Shiva, and the southern is empty and likely Vishnu. The complex has a separate Bhairava shrine to the northeast of the main temple, and four small shrines at the corners inside a nearly square prakara (compound). All nine temples are notable for its pyramidal north Indian style Nagara shikhara – likely an influence from Maharashtra and an evidence of active flow of ideas between the southern, central and northern India. The complex has additional smaller shrines.[1]
Location and date
Doddagaddavalli is called Gadumballi in historic inscriptions. It is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest from
Hassan city, about 16 kilometres (10 mi) south of Halebidu, and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast from Belur (NH 373). The temple is to the south side of the modern village, on the banks of a historic water reservoir. The Lakshmi Devi temple, was built in 1113 CE by a wealthy merchant Kullahana Rahuta and his wife Sahaj Devi during the reign of Vishnuvardhana.[1]
Architecture
Kadamba shikhara (rear, left and right) and dravidashikhara (front) Lakshmi Devi temple at Doddagaddavalli
The temples complex is within a seven feet high prakara (compound), almost a 115 feet square. It had a dvara-mandapa to its west and a dvarasobha to its east, but these along with the original compound decoration is now missing except for the door frames and the mandapa-like structure.[1] It is likely that the original town was near the manmade reservoir. Inside the historic prakara were four small shrines at each corner, a design called parivaralayas in Sanskrit texts. In addition, to the northeast of the main temple, there is a fifth independent shrine dedicated to Bhairava. At the center is the chatuskuta (four-shrine) main temple with a shared mandapa. Thus, the complex consists of nine shrines.[1]
The Lakshmi Devi Temple is one of the earliest known temples built in the
Hoysala style. The building material is Chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone.[2]
The temple does not stand on a
Kadamba Nagara architecture.[3] Of the nine shrines in this complex, eight vimanas are simple phamsana and symmetric within each set. The ninth vimana that opens to the east is different – it is a tritala (three storey) superstructure and is dedicated to goddess Lakshmi, thus making her the primary deity and giving this temple its dedicatory name.[1]
Each of the three vimanas that share a mandapa has an ardha-mantapa (vestibule) connecting it to the central larger square ranga-mantapa. On top of the vestibule of each shrine is a
sukanasi (or "nose" because it looks like low extension of the main tower over the shrine). The sukanasi is a tier lower than the main phamsana tower over the shrine. All the four sukanasi are intact and so are the kalasha (decorative water pot like structure) on top of the main towers.[4] The Hoysala emblem (the sculpture of a legendary warrior "Sala" fighting a lion) is mounted atop one of the Sukanasi.[4]
Doorjamb and lintel relief decoration before the Shiva cella
The mantapa is open and square. It and the extension to the Kali shrine has a jali (perforated stone screens) to let light into the temples. The ceiling of the main hall is supported by eighteen lathe-turned pillars. Near Kali's shrine, there is stone statue of an emaciated skeleton-like goblin (vetala), a reminder of her horrifying fierceness and power to inflict death.[1][5]
According to art critic Gerard Foekema, overall the temple has shows the pre-Hoysala elements of architecture. There is only one
gods, goddesses and their attendants is however missing. Instead, the entire space is taken up by decorative miniature towers on pilasters (called aedicule).[7]
The main shrine facing east has a 3-foot-tall (0.91 m) image of the goddess
Linga (the universal symbol of the god Shiva). A sculpture of Tandaveswara (dancing Shiva) exists in the circular panel at the center of the ceiling of the mantapa. Other notable artwork are those of Gajalakshmi (form of Lakshmi with elephants on either side), Tandaveshwara and Yoganarasimha (avatars of Vishnu) found on the doorway of the temple.[6] The main attraction of this beautiful temple is that it includes the worship of both Shaivism and Vaishnavism. However recently on November 20, 2020, the temple was subjected to theft and destruction.[8]
^Quote:"An idiom common to Western Chalukyas as well", Kamath (2001), p.136. Quote:"The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas", Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, Takeo Kamiya
^Quote:"The most prominent feature of the Kadamba architecture is their Shikhara called Kadamba Shikhara. The Shikhara is pyramid shaped and rises in steps without any decoration with a apex called stupika or kalasa at the top, Kamath (2001), p.38 . Quote:"This type of tower is common throughout Karnataka and is also called a Pamasana, Foekema (1996), p.58
^ abQuote:"The kalasa is a water pot like structure that forms the highest point of the tower", Foekema (1996), p.27
^Quote:"The open mantapa of Hoysala temples are generally in a staggered square pan, called a cross in square", Foekema (1996), p.22
^ abQuote:"An eaves is a projecting roof overhanging the wall", Foekema (1996), p.93
One of two entrances
Prakara wall (west side)
Makara-pranala, a spout to drain sanctum ritual water
Kadamba nagara shikhara (tower)
Ornate lintel over entrance into sanctum in Lakshmi Devi temple at Doddagaddavalli
Emaciated goblin near Kali's shrine
An Ornate Elephant balustrade at the main temple entrance
Ornated bay ceiling inside the temple
Ornate ceiling
Old Kannada inscription
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