Pranala

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Brihadisvara Temple
in Thanjavur
Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

In

IAST: praṇāla) is a discharge outlet attached to the wall of the sanctum. It discharges the lustral
water or other liquids poured over the idols.

History

The earliest evidence of the pranalas can be dated back to 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE in Kankali Tila archeological site in northern India. The pranalas continued to be used in the subsequent years, including the Gupta period. However, the elaborately sculptured pranalas first appear only in the 8th century CE. The pranalas were common in several parts of India; they were less common in the Hindu architecture of Southeast Asia, except in Java.[1]

The pranala is also known as praṇāli, nāla, nāli,[2] gomukha, or nirgama.[3] Some 20th century French archaeologists have used the term "soma-sūtra" to describe the pranala, but Indian texts clearly distinguish between these two terms: a soma-sūtra is a line along which the pranala is placed.[4]

Designs

Pranalas are used to drain out the abhisheka-teertham water, milk, ghee, etc. poured over the temple idols.[5]

The most common type of pranala in historical temples is the makara-pranala, which is similar to the European

makara (also called graha).[1] The popularity of the makara-pranala probably results from the creature's association with water.[6] The 11th century text Samarangana Sutradhara recommends making a pranali (that is, pranala) drain all around the sanctum, with an outlet in the shape of a graha (or makara). Vishvakarma's Vastushastra, a late 11th century compendium on the Māru-Gurjara architecture, also mentions the pranala.[1] Aparajita-prchchha, dated late 12th to early 13th century, refers to the makara-pranala used to clear the water out of the temple's jagati (platform).[7]

The next most common type of pranala is the grasa-pranala, which depicts the grasa (also known as

gorgon of the early Greek temples inspired the Indian grasa-pranala, which in turn, inspired the similar motifs in South-East Asia, particularly Java.[8] The grasa-pranala is common in the historical temples of south India;[9] a few examples have also been discovered in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.[10]

The simha-pranala, which depicts a lion, is similar to the grasa-pranala.[10] It is probably inspired by the lion-head spouts that were common in Classical Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman temples.[8] A variation of this form is the simha-nala, which features a tube coming out of a lion's mouth: the tip of the tube may depict another lion's mouth (this type is called simha-mukha-nala), or another object, such as a lotus bud.[11]

Other forms include:

Pranalas with unique designs also exist: for example, the Koteshwara Temple in

Nandi figure.[16]

Examples

Some notable examples of the pranala are:

Type Location Date Style Source
makara-matsya (fish)
IN-UP: Kankali Tila (now at Mathura Museum
) 		c. 1st century BCE-2nd century CE probably Satraps of Mathura [17]
makara-matsya
IN-UP: Mathura Museum
 c. 1st century-2nd century probably Kushana [17]
makara
IN-UP: Rajghat, Varanasi
 c. 1st century-2nd century Satraps-Kushana or Tribal [17]
simha-mukha (two pieces) LK-7: Anuradhapura: Thuparamaya c. 2nd-3rd century ? [18]
grasa
IN-MH: Brick temle, Gondia
 c. 5th century
Vakataka
 [8]
grasa
IN-MP: Tigawa
 c. 5th century Gupta [19]
grasa
IN-MP: Bhumara Temple
 c. 5th century Gupta [19]
grasa
IN-MP
: Mahdia temple 		c. 5th century Gupta [19]
makara
IN-RJ: Gupta temple, Nagari
 c. mid-5th century Gupta [20]
makara
IN-MP: Gupta temple, Deogarh
 c. late 5th century Gupta [20]
makara pranalas (two pieces)
IN-UP: Sarnath Museum
 c. 5th-6th century Late Gupta [21]
grasa / matanga-makara
IN-MP
: Shiva temple, Tala 		c. 6th century Post-
Vakataka
 [22]
bhuta
IN-TN: Dharmaraja Ratha, Mahabalipuram
 c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava) [23]
kapi (monkey)
IN-TN: Dharma-raja ratha, Mahabalipuram
 c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava) [23]
kalamakara (vyala-makara hybrid)
VN-27: Trà Kiệu
, Vietnam 		c. mid-7th century Champa [24]
makara
IN-KA
: Lakulisha temple, Siddanakolla 		c. 700 Early Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
makara
IN-TG: Sangameshvara temple
, Kudaveli 		c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Andhra school (early Chalukya) [26]
grasa
IN-KA:Galaganatha Temple
, Pattadakal 		c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Alampur school (early Chalukya) [10]
grasa
IN-KA:Virupaksha (Lokeshvara) Temple
, Pattadakal 		c. 725-733 Early Chalukya [10]
grasa
IN-KA:Sangameshwara Temple
, Pattadakal 		c. 740 Early Chalukya [10]
matanga-nakra
IN-MP: Teli ka Mandir
 c. mid-8th century Early Gopadri [19]
damaged
Ellora
 c. 756-776 Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta) [27]
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura Museum c. 8th century or earlier [28]
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura (Isurumuniya) c. 8th century [29]
makara (graha)
ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia
 c. 8th century Javanese [30]
ghata held by Nagaraja
IN-AP: Madhukeshwara Temple, Mukhalingam
 c. 8th century (last quarter) Early Kalinga (Bhauma-Kara) [12]
ghata held by two vidyadharis
Amber Museum
) 		c. late 8th century Sapadalaksha (probably early
Chahamana
) 		[13]
grasa
ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia
 c. 800 Javanese [31]
bhuta
IN-TN: Kaveripakkam
 c. 800 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) [32]
makara
KH-13: Prasat Krahom
, Cambodia 		c. 825-875 Cambodian [24]
makara
IN-RJ: Vishnu temple, Kusuma
 c. mid-9th century Maha-Gurjara [9]
simha
IN-AP: Nakkala gudi temple at Biccavolu
 c. 9th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) [33]
bhuta
IN-TN: Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam
 c. 875 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) [32]
simha-nala
IN-TN: Apatsahayesvarar Temple
 c. 884 Cholanadu (early Chola) [34]
makara
VN-27: Mỹ Sơn
, Vietnam 		c. 9th or 10th century Champa [24]
grasa
IN-KA
: Akka-Tangai temple, Manne 		c. early 10th century Early Karnata (
Rashtrakuta
) 		[10]
grasa
IN-KA: Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali
 c. early 10th century Late Karnata (Chalukya) [10]
snapana-griha
IN-GJ: Trinetreshvara temple, Tarnetar
 c. 10th century (2nd quarter) Maha-Gurjara (
Chapa
) 		[14]
makara
IN-KA: Lakshmaneshvara temple, Avani
 c. 934 Nolambavadi (Nolamba) [25]
simsumara (a sea-creature)
IN-AP: Bhimeshvara temple at Bhimavaram
 c. 10th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) [35]
ghata held by a vidyadhara
IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
 c. 954 Jejakabukti (
Chandella
) 		[36]
bhuta
IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
 c. 954 Jejakabukti (
Chandella
) 		[32]
makara
KH-17: Pre Rup
, Cambodia 		c. 947-965 Cambodian [24]
snapana-griha
IN-RJ: Ambika Mata Temple
, Jagat, Rajasthan 		c. 961 Maha-Gurjara (Guhila) [37]
simha-nala
IN-TN: Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple
 986 Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [34]
makara
IN-KA
: Nandappa temple, Sirwal 		c. 10th century (last quarter) Later Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
nala
IN-TN: Enadi Siva Temple
 c. late 10th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) [34]
nala
IN-TN
: Kandalishvara temple, Tenneri 		c. 995 or earlier Cholanadu (Later Chola) [38]
kari-makara, a hybrid of an elephant and a makara
Indian Museum, Kolkata, found in Bihar
 c. 10th-11th century Early Magadha (late Pala) [39]
ghata held by a vidyadhari
IN-MP: Gurgi (Gurh); now at Ahmedabad
Municipal Museum 		c. 10th-11th century Dahala (Chedi) [36]
marala-pali / ghata held by a human figure, possibly Chandesha
IN-RJ: Nagada
 c. 1000 Maha-Gurjara [37]
nala, with a lion figure at the bottom
IN-TN
: Ganapati shrine, Sakalabuvaneswarar Temple complex, Tirumeeyachur 		c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [40]
simha-mukha with floral ending
IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Muyarchinatheswarar Temple
complex 		c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [41]
simha-mukha
IN-TN: Kailasanathar temple, Brahmadesam
 c. early 11th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) [42]
ghata held by a human figure
IN-GJ: Shiva temple, Kevan (near Shravana, Sabarkantha
) 		c. early 11th century Maru-Gurjara (
Chaulukya
) 		[37]
vyala
IN-KL: Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur
(main temple and Rama shrine) 		c. early 11th century Middle Kerala [21]
makara
Jain Temple, Lakkundi
 1008 Later Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
bhuta
Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
 1010 Chola [43]
nala with makara
IN-KA: Galageshvara temple, Galaganatha
 c. 1025 Later Karnata (Chalukya) [21]
makara
IN-GJ: Mahavira marble temple, Kumbharia
 c. 1062 Maru-Gurjara style [7]
?
Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh
 c. 1080 Malava (Paramara) [44]
simha-nala
IN-TN
: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Amman shrine 		c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [45]
simha-nala
IN-TN
: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Shrine No. 1 		c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [45]
vyala
IN-KL: Rama temple, Triprayar
 c. 11th century CE Middle Kerala [21]
makara
IN-RJ: Chandravati
temple 		c. 11th century Maru-Gurjara style [7]
makara
IN-MP: Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur
 11th century [7]
makara
IN-MP
: Bijamandala mosque, Vidisha 		c. 11th century Malava (Paramara) style [7]
makara
IN-MP: Adinatha temple, Khajuraho
 c. 11th century (3rd quarter) Jejakabukti (
Chandella
) 		[46]
ghata held by a vidyadhara or Chandesha
IN-MP: Indore Museum
 c. late 11th century Malava (Paramara-Guhila) [13]
kari-makara
IN-BR: Munger, now at Patna Museum
 c. 11th-12th century Late Magadha style, possibly from the Sena period [47]
simha-nala, with bhuta supporting the pranala from below
IN-TN: Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Melakadambur
 c. 1110-1113 Cholanadu (Chola, Late phase) [48]
makara
IN-KA: Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli
 1112 Later Karnata (Hoysala) [28]
makara
IN-KA
: Chennakeshvara Temple, Marale 		1130 Later Karnata (Hoysala) [28]
simha-mukha
IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple
 1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola) [49]
simha
IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple
complex - Daivanayaki-Amman shrine 		1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola) [49]
nala LK-7: Shiva Devale No. 1, Polonnaruwa c. 12th century Later Cholanadu (Later Chola) [50]
makara, with a bhuta below, and a goddess above
IN-AP: Bhavannarayana temple, Sarpavaram
 c. 12th century Later Andhra (Eastern Chalukya) [51]
simsumara (a sea-creature)
IN-AP: Mandavya-Narayana temple at Samalkota
 c. 12th century Late Vengi (Eastern Chalukya) [52]
makara
Taranga
 c. 1165 Maru-Gurjara style [7]
matanga-makara (elephant-makara)
IN-AP: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam
 c. 1238-1268 Andhra-Kalinga style (Ganga) [52]
makara
IN-MH: Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar
 c. 13th century Seuna-desha style [7]
makara
IN-MP: Bhoramdeo Temple
, Madhya Pradesh 		c. 13th century Dahala-Andhra (Chedi-Kakatiya) style [46]
nakra (crocodile)
IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple
complex 		c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga) [53]
matanga-makara or saunda-makara (elephant-makara hybrid)
IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple
complex 		c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga) [53]
nandi
IN-AP: Koteshwara Temple, Srikakulam
 c. 15th century Vijayanagara [16]
nala
IN-TN: Vaishnava temple, Srimushnam
 c. 15th century Nayaka [48]
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth
IN-TN: Amman shrine, Ambika temple complex, Kalakadu
 c. late 15th century Nayaka [16]
simha-nala
IN-TN: Avudaiyarkoil
temple 		c. late 15th or early 16th century Madurai Nayaka [16]
simha-nala
IN-TN: Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi
 c. 15th-16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth
Cheranmahadevi
 c. early 16th century Nayaka [16]
nala with floral petals
IN-KA:Rameshvara temple, Keladi
 c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka [55]
nala with floral petals
IN-KA:Virabhadra temple, Keladi
 c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka [55]
nala with lion head at orifice, and lotus bud at the tip
IN-KA: Vitthala temple
, Hampi 		c. 16th century (first half) Vijayanagara [49]
simha-nala
IN-KA: Aghoreshvara temple, Ikkeri
 c. 1515-1545 Ikkeri-Nayaka [55]
nala
IN-KA: Amman shrine, Vitthala temple complex
, Hampi 		c. 16th century Vijayanagara [21]
simha-nala
Chandramouleeswar temple, Thiruvakkarai
 c. 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [55]
simha-nala
Vedagiriswarar temple
 c. late 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
simha-nala
IN-TN: Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
 c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
simha-nala
Swaminathaswamy temple, Swamimalai
 c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
nala
IN-TN
: Raghaveshvara temple, Darasaguppe 		c. 16th-17th century Nayaka [21]
nala
Brihadishvara temple complex, Thanjavur
 c. 17th century Nayaka [21]

References

  1. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 121.
  2. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 119.
  3. ^ S. K. R. Rao 2001, p. 103.
  4. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 147–148.
  5. ^ S. P. Gupta & S. N. Vijayakumar 2010, p. 204.
  6. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 134.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 122.
  8. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 141.
  9. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 138.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 139.
  11. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 147–149.
  12. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 143.
  13. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 144.
  14. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 145.
  15. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 151–52.
  16. ^ a b c d e M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 157.
  17. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 132–135.
  18. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 139–140.
  19. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 137.
  20. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 136.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. Appendix.
  22. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 137–138.
  23. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 141–142.
  24. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 132.
  25. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 129.
  26. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 128–129.
  27. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 161.
  28. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 130.
  29. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 130–132.
  30. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 131–132.
  31. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 140–141.
  32. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 142.
  33. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 127, 139.
  34. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 148.
  35. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 126–127.
  36. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 143–144.
  37. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 143–145.
  38. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 151.
  39. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 124–125.
  40. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 149, 152.
  41. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 149, 153.
  42. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 149.
  43. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 152–153.
  44. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 161–162.
  45. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 154.
  46. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 123.
  47. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 125–126.
  48. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 150.
  49. ^ a b c M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 153–154.
  50. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 152.
  51. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 153.
  52. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 126.
  53. ^ a b M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 124.
  54. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 155.
  55. ^ a b c d M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 156.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pranala.
  • OCLC 10541431
    .
  • S. K. R. Rao (2001). Vāstu-Śilpa-Kosha. Vol. 1. Kalpatharu.
    ISBN 978-93-81218-51-8
    .
  • S. P. Gupta; S. N. Vijayakumar (2010). Temples in India: Origin and Developmental Stages. Delhi: Centre for Research and Training in History, Archaeology and Paleo-Environment / DK Printworld.
    ISBN 978-81-246-0496-0
    .
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