Kalleshvara Temple, Ambali

The Kalleshvara temple (also spelt Kalleshwara or Kallesvara) is located in the town of Ambali in Bellary district of Karnataka state, India. According to an Old Kannada inscription (dated 1083) placed in the sabhamantapa (lit, "gathering hall"), the temple was constructed during the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire King Vikramaditya VI (also called Tribhuvana Malla).[1] This temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.[2]

Kalleshvara Temple
Hindu temple
Kalleshwara temple (1083) at Bagali in Bellary district
Country India
StateKarnataka
DistrictBellary District
Languages
 • OfficialKannada
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KA
Vehicle registrationKA
Websitekarnataka.gov.in

Temple plan

Art historian Adam Hardy categorizes the architectural style of the temple as "12th century, trans-Tungabhadra branch of the Lakkundi school, related to Kuruvatti (Mallikarjuna temple) with some non-mainstream affinities". The temple is a single shrine (vimana) construction with an adjoining hall (mantapa). The basic building material is Soap stone. The original superstructure over the shrine is lost.[3] The temple which faces east comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha), an antechamber (or vestibule or antarala whose tower is called the sukhanasi) that connects the sanctum to a gathering hall (sabhamantapa) which is preceded by a main hall (mukhamantapa).[1] The walls of the shrine and the sabhamantapa are articulated with projections and recesses creating niches which carry miniature decorative tower or turrets (Aedicula) in vesara style (a fusion of south and north Indian styles).[1] The doorjamb of the sanctum and antechamber are crafted with decorative motifs, and the lintel (lalata) depicts Gajalakshmi (the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by elephants on either side). The square bases of pillars in the sabhamantapa and mukhamantapa have the characteristic decoration with reliefs, depicting various Hindu deities such as Surya (the sun god), Bhairava (a version of the god Shiva) and Durga.[1]

See also

Notes
  1. "Kallesvara Swamy Temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. "Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka". Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. Hardy (1995), p.320
  • Old Kannada inscription of King Vikramaditya VI dated 1083 in open hall of Kalleshvara temple at Ambali
  • Doorjamb relief in Kalleshvara temple at Ambali
  • Vesara vimana (shrine and tower or shikhara) at Kalleshvara temple, Ambali
  • Ornate mantapa (hall) and lathe turned pillars with decorative base containing relief

References

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