Rajarani Temple

Rajarani Temple is an eleventh century Hindu temple located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha (Orissa previously), India. It is locally known as a "love temple" because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple. (But I did not see any such sculptures in this temple. Probably it was there during those days). But according to Orissa tourism – the name   Rajarani is because of the local sandstone used to build it – I would believe this.

Rajarani Temple is built on a raised platform with two structures: a central shrine called the vimana (sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear spire) over its roof rising to a height of 18 m (59 ft), and a viewing hall called jagamohana with a pyramidal roof. The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani". 

At present there is no idol inside the sanctum, and hence it is not in worship.This temple too roughly belongs to the same period as that of Jagannath Temple of Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable one being the Khajuraho temples!

Rajarani Temple is famous for its sculpted figures and the successive tiers of projections rising to form its 18 m tower. 

This temple is also famous for the tall and slender nayikas (temple figures) carved in high relief on the walls-figures in amorous dalliance and in such acts as fondling her child, looking into the mirror, taking off her anklet, caressing the bird, playing instrument, holding branches of trees. 

Presently this temple is not under worship and it is declared as a monument by Archaeological Society of India. Photography is allowed in this temple. 

Alampur Group of temples

Alampur is a tiny village on the boarder of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh! It is around 200 kms from the capital city of Telangana – Hyderabad.

This village is of tremendous archaeological and historical importance!  This region was under the rule of Pulakesi I during the 6th century. Subsequently it was ruled by various kings of Chalukyan Dynasty till it was invaded by Moguls during 1350 CE. During the Chalukyan rule starting from Pulakesi I various kings have built many temples in Alampur.

There are three clusters of temples in Alampur - Papanasi group of temples, Navabrahma temples and The Sangameshwara Temple.

Papanasi Temples are a group of twenty three Hindu temples dated between 9th- and 11th-century.

Navabrahma Temples are a group of nine early Chalukyan Hindu temples dated back to 7th century and are located near the meeting point of Tungabhadra River and Krishna River at the border of Telangana - Andhra Pradesh.

Then the stand alone temple of Sangameshwara Temple which was originally built at Kudaveli village, by the confluence (sangam) of two major sacred rivers the Tungabhadra and Krishna. Sangameshwara comes from the word Sangam meaning confluence of two or more rivers. The Sangameshwara Temple was constructed by Pulakesi I (540 CE to 566 CE) - in a similar style to the Navabrahma Temples.

When the Srisailam Dam was about to be built across Tungabadhra river, it was certain that this 7th century temple would be submerged in the waters of the catchment area of the dam. It was then the Archaeological Survey of India came out with the brilliant idea of uprooting the entire temple from its original place of construction and rebuilding it far away in a safer place so that this wonderful temple could be saved for posterity!  

So what we see today as Sangameshwara Temple is actually a reconstructed temple by Archaeological Survey of India.

The temples are significant for their simple square plans, intricate carvings of themes of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. They also contain early examples of friezes that narrate legends from Hindu texts. The temples were a significant influence on the later era Kakatiya Hindu temples. 

The Alampur Navabrahma temples were badly damaged and some razed to the ground during the Islamic invasion of this region in 1390. They were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers, and early 8th-century inscriptions are found at the site which suggests that the site also had a Hindu monastery which has not survived. Their ruins have been restored by the Archaeological Survey of India after 1980.

All the temples in Alampur are under the care of Archaeological Survey of India. Still photography is allowed in every temple. 

Unusual sculptures

In many Hindu temples we see bas-reliefs of animals and humans which are different from other sculptures.

In some we can see two or more images of the same or different animal/human share a certain portion of the body. With the result it gives a sort of optical illusion. Multiple images sharing a common portion of the body!   

I have seen from two images to six images in the same sculpture! Obviously it takes a very talented and super imaginative sculptor to make.

This kind of sculpture is not very common and can be seen only in very few temples.

Here I have posted pictures of such sculptures which I have seen and photographed!

This is called Rishaba Kunjaram - A bull & an elephant - 2 images sharing the head

Another Rishaba Kunjaram 

Three images sharing the head & trunk.

Three images sharing the head & trunk.

Three images sharing the head & trunk.

Four images

6 images sharing the head and trunk

Jalasangvi - Kamalishwara Temple

A tiny village in Karnataka stands testimony to the Kalyani Chalukiya dynasty’s ability to build temples with outstanding  sculptures. King Vikramaditya VI of the Chalukya dynasty has built a small temple to lord Shiva called Kamalishwara Temple. 

This temple is famous for its outstanding sculptures of Salabhanjika or Madanika. The shalabhanjika is a standard decorative  element of Indian sculpture, a graceful stone sculpture representing a young female under a stylized tree in various poses,  such as dancing, grooming herself or playing a musical instrument. The salabhanjika's female features, like breasts and hips,  are often exaggerated. Frequently these sculpted figures display complex hairdos and an abundance of jewellery.

The sculptures of the Jalasangvi temple were the source of inspiration for the later Hoysala bracket-figures of Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura. This chalukya temple is built on a star-shaped plan.

It is mind-blowing to see the exterior walls of this temple decorated with intricate sculptures. They are heavily exaggerated and decorated with ornaments and attires. The most prominent is a woman writing an epigraph in Kannada. 

 

Jalasangvi is a small village in Bidar district of Karnataka near Basavakalyan, the capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas. It is 10 kms from Humnabad. The Kamalishwara or Kalleshwara temple is said to have been built around 1100 AD.

This temple is under the care of Archaeological Survey of India and it is a protected national monument. Photography is allowed in this temple. There is hardly anyone in this temple and when I visited even the priest of the temple was not there! 

Salabhanjika or Madanikas

The concept of Tree Goddess was used to decorate temples in some parts of India. The power of the tree goddess was frequently invoked due to her association with fertility and it was shown in sculptures by the tree bursting into bloom when the goddess’s heel touches its trunk. 

Images of these semi-divine beings were positioned in temples at points of transition from the mundane to the sacred space; as auspicious guardians they blessed the worshipper’s journey to the central shrine of the temple. This work, characteristic of sculpture dating from the period of the Hoysala dynasty (late twelfth to early fourteenth century), features intricate foliage, jewellery and costuming balanced by smooth volumes and polished surfaces. 

These sculptures are called Salabhanjika or Madanika. They are sculptures of women displaying stylized feminine features, standing near a tree grasping a branch. 

This standard decorative element of Indian temple architecture is seen in various poses of dancing or a woman grooming herself or playing a musical instrument. Mostly they are in tribhanga posture - the beauty of the sculpture is unparalleled as the nymph is found in a rare position bending her body in triple flexion, even while keeping an intense and beautiful expression on her face!  The salabhanjika's female features, like breasts and hips, are often exaggerated. Frequently these sculpted figures display complex hairdos and an abundance of jewelry. Placed at an angle, salabhanjika figures were also used in temple architecture as a bracket figures. 

Some of the most renowned salabhanjika sculptures are to be found in the 12th-century Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura, in south-central Karnataka. These figures were also extensively used to decorate the temples of Odisha. These figures of Madanikas are used as bracket figures in Ramappa Temple near Warangal!

Super sized Nandis of South India

If it is a Shiva temple, there must be a sculpture of a Nandi (bull). Nandi is the vehicle for the Hindu god of Shiva. In Hindu mythology, Nandi is the bearer of truth and righteousness. Nandi is said to be Shiva’s main form of transportation and most ardent devotee.  As his most astute follower, Nandi is in charge of leading all of Shiva’s followers.  Along the same lines, Nandi is regarded as the gatekeeper and protector of Shiva as well as Shiva’s consort the Hindu Goddess Parvati.  Nandi is always seated and facing the main temple as protector.  The name, Nandi, is even used as metaphor meaning “to stand in the way of”.  It is said that one must first gain the approval of Nandi before being allowed worship of Lord Shiva himself.

In this post I am posting five super sized Nandis of south India.

1. Nandi of Brihadiswarar temple, Tanjavur

In The Big Temple or Brihadeeswarar Temple of tenth century is a big statue of sacred Nandi  carved out of a single rock. It is at the entrance of the temple facing the lingam or the main deity of the temple. It measures sixteen feet long and thirteen feet high. It is said that it weighs about 20 tonnes!

2. Nandi at Hoysaleswara temple

The eleventh century temple of Hoysaleswara, at Halebidu is most well known for its exquisite sculptures and has a large statue of Nandi. Hoysaleswara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has one of the largest monolithic Nandi statues. It is elaborately decorated and made of soapstone. 

3. Nandi at Veerabadra Swamy temple

The colossal monolith of Nandi called as Basavanna at Lepakshi is a remarkable piece of art. It is made of granite and fifteen feet tall and twenty two feet long. It is facing a huge lingam shaded by a seven headed cobra. It is carved out of a rock behind the Veerabadra temple. 

4. Nandi of Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram 

Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is located in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. The Gangaikondaan temple nandi is situated in the east facing the main shrine in front of the temple. Interestingly, the nandi is built in such a way that it reflects the sunlight into the inner sanctum.

5. Nandi at Ramappa Temple

As one enter the temple, one can  see a Nandi mandapam with Nandi, facing the Shiva's shrine. Although the mandapam is not in good condition, the majestic statue of Nandi is undamaged and presents an impressive sight. Unlike most of the other Shiva temples in the country, here Nandi is shown in an attentive posture, as if ready to take the command of the Lord and execute it any time. Of the five Nandis posted here the most intricately decorated one is the one at Ramappa Temple.

Rock-cut relief - Descent of the Ganges

A rock relief or rock-cut relief is a relief sculpture carved on a solid or living rock (rock that is not detached but still forms part of the earth) rather than a detached piece of stone. Rock reliefs have been made in many cultures throughout human history. Rock reliefs are generally fairly large, as they need to be in order to have an impact in the open air.

The best example of Rock relief in India is the Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna's Penance at Mahaballipuram, near Chennai, in Tamizh Nadu, India. This was carved in the mid 7th century and is considered the world's largest preserved open air rock relief - 29 meters long and 13 meters high. It is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

This is a protected monument at Mahaballipuram. It is a giant open air rock relief carved on two monoliths.  The legend depicted in this relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha.

The Arjuna's relief is in the centre of Mahaballipuram facing the sea or east. So the best time to photograph this would be in the morning as it will get a beautiful natural lighting! It is at a walking distance from the very famous Shore Temple.

Arjuna's Thapas was created to celebrate the victory of Hinduism over Buddhism by Narasimhavarman I. 

The sculptures show deva ganas descending in stages towards the Ganga. Humans are seen worshipping the Ganga, carrying water from it in a big pot or performing rituals on its banks, including Sun worship. There is a tank at the panel’s foot where water from these “rivers” are collected.

Photography is freely allowed here !