Kadamba architecture explained

Kadamba architecture was a style of temple architecture founded by Mayurasharma in the 4th century AD in Karnataka, India.^[1] Kadambas created new style of architecture which was the basis of the Hoysalas style of architecture, developed original school of sculpture, was the forerunner of series of South Indian sculptors.^[2] Many temples at Aihole, Badami and Hampi are built in Kadamba style.

History

See main article: Kadamba Dynasty and Kadambas of Halasi. During 345 AD to 525 AD, the ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka, the Kadambas made early contribution to the architecture of Karnataka and they are the originators.^[3]

Kadamba art

The most prominent feature of Kadamba architecture was Shikara called Kadamba Shikara.The tower rises in steps without any decoration (pyramid shaped shikara) with pinnacle (Stupika or Kalasha) on top.The Kadamba temples vimana usually square in plan, the tower is pyramidal shape and constitutesa series of horizontal step stages decorated with uniform series of quadrangular vertical projectionsand covering vestibules attached to vimana, The stages are more numerous and less elevated, devoid of pavilion ornamentation.

Kadamba's architecture and sculpture contributed to the foundation of Chalukya-Hoysala style.

• Lakshmi Devi temple, Doddagaddavalli
• Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple Halasi

Temples in Kadamba architectural style

The 5th century monuments at Halasi are the oldest surviving Kadamba structure. The most prominent feature is the Kadamba Shikara with a Kalasa on top. In Belgaum district, Hattikeshwara, Kalleshwara and Someshwara temples at Halasi and group of temples at Kadaroli illustrates the Kadamba architecture. The old Jain basadi containing a sanctum and a sukanasi at Halasi the most ancient stone temple in Karnataka. Kadamba architecture constituted an important link between the Shatavahanas, Pallavas and Chalukyas architecture. Kadamba architecture elements in Hoysala Architecture.^[4]

AiholeMany temples at Aihole including Ramlingesvara temple Complex, Badigergudi temple and small shrines at Durga temple complex, Tryambakeshwara temple complex, ruined temple at Mallikarjuna temple complex, shrines at Jyotirlinga temple complex, small temple at Hucchimalli temple complex, ruined temples Galaganatha temple complex and many temples along the Malaprabha River are built in Kadamba architectural (Shikhara) style.

BadamiKadamba style Mallikarjuna group of temples and Bhutanatha group of templeshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Badami_bhutanada_temple1.JPG(temple on adjacent small hill top) at Badami.

Hampi Including Jain temples and two Shiva temples and many ruined temples on Hemakuta hill at Hampi built in Kadamba style of architecture.

MahakutaThere are many shrines with Kadamba superstructure at Mahakuta including Bhimeshwara ling temple, newly renovated temple outside main temple complex.

BandalikeThere are many temples and Basadis at Bandalike (Bandalika), it is about 35 km from Shikaripura including Shantinath basadi, Sahasralinga temple and Someshwara threemurthy temples those are of Rastrakutas and Kadambas period, temples built in Kadamba style of architecture.

Belgaum district

• • Kamala Narayana Temple, Degaon (Degamve / Devgram) The Ruined temple at Konnur is 4 km from Gokak falls.
• Kamala basadi^[5] at Belagavi
• Bhutnath temple Torgal (Torgal Fort) near Munvalli in Belgaum district.
• Panchlingeshwara Temple Munavalli Belgaum district has Kadamba shikhara.
• Ramalingaeshwara temple at Bailhongal
• There are few ruined temples at Hooli with Kadamba shikhara.
• The ruined temple beside the river at Kadaroli has the Kadamba style shikara.
• Temples at Halasi and Ramtheerth temple a top of the hill near Halasi

Uttara Kannada district

• Including Madhukeshwara temple and Parvati temple many other temples at Banavasi has Kadamba style architecture (Shikhara).
• Ratnatraya Basti at Bilgi a small village near Siddapura, Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
• The 12th and 14th century AD Shankara Narayana temple https://archive.today/20130827163827/http://www.sdmdharmothanatrust.org/Pages/Districts/14_Uttar_Kannada/Haliyur/SitePlan.htm at Haliyur and Venkataramana Swamy temple https://archive.today/20130827163740/http://www.sdmdharmothanatrust.org/Pages/Districts/14_Uttar_Kannada/Muttinkare/SitePlan.htm at Muttinkere near Sonda in Sirsi taluk of Uttarkannada district.
• Mallikarjuna Temple at Haliyal.

Hassan district

• Yoga Narasimha temple at Holalu in Hassan district
• The Kadamba Bettada Byreshwara Shiva temple built in black stone near Hanbal a hill station of Sakleshpur (in Western Ghats) in Hassan district.
• The Kadamba style Keerthinarayana temple https://web.archive.org/web/20091125131001/http://www.sdmdharmothanatrust.org/Pages/Districts/08_Hassan/SitePlan.htm is at Heragu in Hassan district.

Gadag district

• The old Jain temple at Lakshmeshwara has Kadamba shikara.
• Trilingeshwara temple at Hosur in Gadag district
• Narasimha temple Gadag, veera narayana temple complex Gadag

Haveri district

• The Kere Someshwara Temple at Kalakeri in Hangal taluk of Haveri district,^[6] is in Kadamba style architecture (Shikhara).
• Basavann Temple in the Chaudayyadanapura Mukteshwara temple complex, Haveri District.
• Narasimha temple Narasapura near Chaudayyadanapura, Haveri District.
• Veerabhadra temple Hale Honatti in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district

Chikmagalur district

• The Kadamba style Bhairaveshwara Temple at Byrapura, 22 km from Mudigere (in western ghats) in Chikmagalur district near to Kukke Subramanya.
• Prasanna Rameshwara Temple Devarunda, Mudigere in Chikmagalur district
• Malahanikareshvara, Bhavani temples shringeri.

Other parts of Karnataka

• The 12th century AD Shiva temple at Udri Shimoga https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213634/http://asibengalurucircle.org/images/shimoga-26-big.jpg^[7] built in Kadamba style architecture.
• Mallikarjuna Temple and Neelakanteshwara Temple, Kalasi
• Tryambakeshwara temple (Trikutachala) with Kadamba Shikhara at Kavital in Manvi taluk in Raichur district.
• Jain temple http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAgAwhS-b34/UZhvUEZE5OI/AAAAAAAASzU/s9HGxmJnV3c/s1600/08+Brahmagiri+Jain+temple.jpg at Brahmagiri hill in Chitradurga district.

Other parts of India

Maharashtra

• Panchaganga Temple at Kolhapur built in Kadamba style.
• Mahabaleshwar Temple, Krishnai Temple Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra
• Kaneri math kadamba style is in Karveer tehsil in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra

Andhra Pradesh

• Temples at Srisailam built during Vijayanagara empire (by Harihara Raya) has Kadamba Shikhara.

Telangana

• Papanasi group of temples at Alampur dedicated to Joglamba devi are built in Kadamba style architecture.
• Chaya Someshwara temple at Panagal in Nalgonda.
• Ramappa temple in Mulug district
• Thousand pillar temple in Warangal

Chalukya-Kadamba architectural style

• The Uma Maheshwara temple^[8] at Hosagunda in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district.

Hoysala-Kadamba architectural style

• Aghoreshwara Temple at Ikkeri
• Late Hoysala Trikutachala temple built in granite has Kadamba Nagara shikhara.^[9]
• The Eshwara Temple at Malali (Holenarasipura Taluk) in Hassan district in Karnataka, an early Hoysala structure with Kadamba Nagara style shikara.
• Lakshmi Devi temple, Doddagaddavalli built by Hoysala.

Kadamba-Yadava architectural style

• Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla^[10]

Temples with this style

• Ananta Vasudeva Temple
• Champakesvara Siva Temple
• Lingaraja Temple
• Mangalesvara Siva Temple
• Purvesvara Siva Temple
• Rajarani Temple
• Yameshwar Temple
• Mahavinayak Temple
• Baladevjew Temple
• Ramappa Temple
• Thousand Pillar Temple

See also

• Hindu temple architecture
• Architecture of Karnataka
• Badami Chalukya Architecture
• Gadag style of Architecture
• Karnata Dravida architectural style of Rashtrakuta
• Karnataka Dravida architectural style
• Hemadpanthi and Hemadpant
• Shikhara
• Halasi, Hangal, Banavasi

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kadamba Style Temple Architecture. 2011-07-22.
2. Book: The Kadamba Kula A History of Ancient and Mediaeval Karnataka Reprint Bombay 1931 Edition -Preface. 1990. by George M. Moraes, H. Heras S.J.(Asian Educational Services).. 9788120605954. 2013-08-26.
3. Web site: Kadambas of Banavasi. 2011-07-22.
4. Web site: Kadamba Architecture - Banavasi . 2013-08-23.
5. Web site: Kamal Basti has Kadamba Nagara shikara. 2013-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112111817/http://kamalbasti.com/. 12 January 2014. dead.
6. Web site: Six chosen for development as 'Heritage Cities' in State . https://web.archive.org/web/20080129231310/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012454870800.htm. dead. 2008-01-29. The Hindu. 2008-01-24. 2013-09-03.
7. Web site: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) . 25 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029214354/http://asibengalurucircle.org/shimoga-26.html . 29 October 2013 . dead .
8. News: Renovation work of Uma Maheshwara temple begins. 2013-08-27.
9. Web site: CHANNAKESVA TEMPLE TOGETHER WITH ADJACENT. 2013-08-27. https://archive.today/20130827102627/http://asibengalurucircle.org/hassan-1.html. 27 August 2013. dead.
10. Web site: Goa - Tambdi Surla Temple - Kadamba-Yadava architecture. 2013-08-23.