In Hindu temple architecture, a pranala (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.
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.
The pranala is also known as praṇāli, nāla, nāli, gomukha, or nirgama. 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.
Pranalas are used to drain out the abhisheka-teertham water, milk, ghee, etc. poured over the temple idols.
The most common type of pranala in historical temples is the makara-pranala, which is similar to the European gargoyle. It depicts the mythical sea-creature makara (also called graha). The popularity of the makara-pranala probably results from the creature's association with water. 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. 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).
The next most common type of pranala is the grasa-pranala, which depicts the grasa (also known as kirtimukha) mythical creature. The gorgon of the early Greek temples inspired the Indian grasa-pranala, which in turn, inspired the similar motifs in South-East Asia, particularly Java. The grasa-pranala is common in the historical temples of south India; a few examples have also been discovered in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.
The simha-pranala, which depicts a lion, is similar to the grasa-pranala. It is probably inspired by the lion-head spouts that were common in Classical Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman temples. 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.
Other forms include:
Pranalas with unique designs also exist: for example, the Koteshwara Temple in Srikakulam has a pranala in which the water spouts out of the bust of a Nandi figure.
Some notable examples of the pranala are:
| Type | Location | Date | Style | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| makara-matsya (fish) | IN-UP Kankali Tila (now at Mathura Museum) | data-sort-value="0" | c. 1st century BCE-2nd century CE | probably Satraps of Mathura | ||
| makara-matsya | IN-UP | data-sort-value="99" | c. 1st century-2nd century | probably Kushana | ||
| makara | IN-UP Rajghat, Varanasi | data-sort-value="99" | c. 1st century-2nd century | Satraps-Kushana or Tribal | ||
| simha-mukha (two pieces) | LK-7 | data-sort-value="199" | c. 2nd-3rd century | ? | ||
| grasa | IN-MH Brick temple, Gondia | data-sort-value="450" | c. 5th century | Vakataka | ||
| grasa | IN-MP | data-sort-value="450" | c. 5th century | Gupta | ||
| grasa | IN-MP | data-sort-value="450" | c. 5th century | Gupta | ||
| grasa | IN-MP Mahdia temple | data-sort-value="450" | c. 5th century | Gupta | ||
| makara | IN-RJ Gupta temple, Nagari | data-sort-value="450" | c. mid-5th century | Gupta | ||
| makara | IN-MP | data-sort-value="450" | c. late 5th century | Gupta | ||
| makara pranalas (two pieces) | IN-UP | data-sort-value="499" | c. 5th-6th century | Late Gupta | ||
| grasa / matanga-makara | IN-MP Shiva temple, Tala | data-sort-value="550" | c. 6th century | Post-Vakataka | ||
| bhuta | IN-TN | data-sort-value="640" | c. 640 | Tondainadu (Pallava) | ||
| kapi (monkey) | IN-TN Dharma-raja ratha, Mahabalipuram | data-sort-value="640" | c. 640 | Tondainadu (Pallava) | ||
| kalamakara (vyala-makara hybrid) | VN-27 Trà Kiệu, Vietnam | data-sort-value="650" | c. mid-7th century | Champa | ||
| makara | IN-KA Lakulisha temple, Siddanakolla | data-sort-value="700" | c. 700 | Early Karnata (Chalukya) | ||
| makara | IN-TG Sangameshvara temple, Kudaveli | data-sort-value="700" | c. early 8th century | Karnata-Nagara: Andhra school (early Chalukya) | ||
| grasa | IN-KA Galaganatha Temple, Pattadakal | data-sort-value="700" | c. early 8th century | Karnata-Nagara: Alampur school (early Chalukya) | ||
| grasa | IN-KA Virupaksha (Lokeshvara) Temple, Pattadakal | data-sort-value="739" | c. 725-733 | Early Chalukya | ||
| grasa | IN-KA Sangameshwara Temple, Pattadakal | data-sort-value="740" | c. 740 | Early Chalukya | ||
| matanga-nakra | IN-MP | data-sort-value="750" | c. mid-8th century | Early Gopadri | ||
| damaged | IN-MH | data-sort-value="766" | c. 756-776 | Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta) | ||
| makara | LK-7 | data-sort-value="749" | c. 8th century or earlier | |||
| makara | LK-7 | data-sort-value="750" | c. 8th century | |||
| makara (graha) | ID-JT | data-sort-value="750" | c. 8th century | Javanese | ||
| ghata held by Nagaraja | IN-AP Madhukeshwara Temple, Mukhalingam | data-sort-value="787.5" | c. 8th century (last quarter) | Early Kalinga (Bhauma-Kara) | ||
| ghata held by two vidyadharis | IN-RJ Harshat mata temple, Abhaneri (now at Amber Museum) | data-sort-value="799" | c. late 8th century | Sapadalaksha (probably early Chahamana) | ||
| grasa | ID-JT | data-sort-value="800" | c. 800 | Javanese | ||
| bhuta | IN-TN | data-sort-value="800" | c. 800 | Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) | ||
| makara | KH-13 Prasat Krahom, Cambodia | data-sort-value="850" | c. 825-875 | Cambodian | ||
| makara | IN-RJ Vishnu temple, Kusuma | data-sort-value="850" | c. mid-9th century | Maha-Gurjara | ||
| simha | IN-AP Nakkala gudi temple at Biccavolu | data-sort-value="850" | c. 9th century | Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) | ||
| bhuta | IN-TN Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam | data-sort-value="875" | c. 875 | Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="884" | c. 884 | Cholanadu (early Chola) | ||
| makara | VN-27 Mỹ Sơn, Vietnam | data-sort-value="899" | c. 9th or 10th century | Champa | ||
| grasa | IN-KA Akka-Tangai temple, Manne | data-sort-value="900" | c. early 10th century | Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta) | ||
| grasa | IN-KA | data-sort-value="900" | c. early 10th century | Late Karnata (Chalukya) | ||
| snapana-griha | IN-GJ Trinetreshvara temple, Tarnetar | data-sort-value="937.5" | c. 10th century (2nd quarter) | Maha-Gurjara (Chapa) | ||
| makara | IN-KA | data-sort-value="934" | c. 934 | Nolambavadi (Nolamba) | ||
| simsumara (a sea-creature) | IN-AP Bhimeshvara temple at Bhimavaram | data-sort-value="950" | c. 10th century | Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) | ||
| ghata held by a vidyadhara | IN-MP | data-sort-value="954" | c. 954 | Jejakabukti (Chandella) | ||
| bhuta | IN-MP | data-sort-value="954" | c. 954 | Jejakabukti (Chandella) | ||
| makara | KH-17 Pre Rup, Cambodia | data-sort-value="956" | c. 947-965 | Cambodian | ||
| snapana-griha | IN-RJ Ambika Mata Temple, Jagat, Rajasthan | data-sort-value="961" | c. 961 | Maha-Gurjara (Guhila) | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="986" | 986 | Cholanadu (Middle Chola) | ||
| makara | IN-KA Nandappa temple, Sirwal | data-sort-value="987.5" | c. 10th century (last quarter) | Later Karnata (Chalukya) | ||
| nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="990" | c. late 10th century | Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) | ||
| nala | IN-TN Kandalishvara temple, Tenneri | data-sort-value="995" | c. 995 or earlier | Cholanadu (Later Chola) | ||
| kari-makara, a hybrid of an elephant and a makara | IN-BR Indian Museum, Kolkata, found in Bihar | data-sort-value="999" | c. 10th-11th century | Early Magadha (late Pala) | ||
| ghata held by a vidyadhari | IN-MP | data-sort-value="999" | c. 10th-11th century | Dahala (Chedi) | ||
| marala-pali / ghata held by a human figure, possibly Chandesha | IN-RJ | data-sort-value="1000" | c. 1000 | Maha-Gurjara | ||
| nala, with a lion figure at the bottom | IN-TN Ganapati shrine, Sakalabuvaneswarar Temple complex, Tirumeeyachur | data-sort-value="1001" | c. early 11th century | Cholanadu (Middle Chola) | ||
| simha-mukha with floral ending | IN-TN Ganapati shrine, Muyarchinatheswarar Temple complex | data-sort-value="1001" | c. early 11th century | Cholanadu (Middle Chola) | ||
| simha-mukha | IN-TN Kailasanathar temple, Brahmadesam | data-sort-value="1001" | c. early 11th century | Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) | ||
| ghata held by a human figure | IN-GJ Shiva temple, Kevan (near Shravana, Sabarkantha) | data-sort-value="1001" | c. early 11th century | Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya) | ||
| vyala | IN-KL Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur (main temple and Rama shrine) | data-sort-value="1001" | c. early 11th century | Middle Kerala | ||
| makara | IN-KA | data-sort-value="1008" | 1008 | Later Karnata (Chalukya) | ||
| bhuta | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1010" | 1010 | Chola | ||
| nala with makara | IN-KA Galageshvara temple, Galaganatha | data-sort-value="1025" | c. 1025 | Later Karnata (Chalukya) | ||
| makara | IN-GJ Mahavira marble temple, Kumbharia | data-sort-value="1062" | c. 1062 | Maru-Gurjara style | ||
| ? | IN-MP Udayeshvara temple, Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh | data-sort-value="1080" | c. 1080 | Malava (Paramara) | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Amman shrine | data-sort-value="1050" | c. 11th century | Cholanadu (Middle Chola) | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Shrine No. 1 | data-sort-value="1050" | c. 11th century | Cholanadu (Middle Chola) | ||
| vyala | IN-KL | data-sort-value="1050" | c. 11th century CE | Middle Kerala | ||
| makara | IN-RJ Chandravati temple | data-sort-value="1050" | c. 11th century | Maru-Gurjara style | ||
| makara | IN-MP | data-sort-value="1050" | 11th century | |||
| makara | IN-MP Bijamandala mosque, Vidisha | data-sort-value="1050" | c. 11th century | Malava (Paramara) style | ||
| makara | IN-MP | data-sort-value="1062.5" | c. 11th century (3rd quarter) | Jejakabukti (Chandella) | ||
| ghata held by a vidyadhara or Chandesha | IN-MP | data-sort-value="1090" | c. late 11th century | Malava (Paramara-Guhila) | ||
| kari-makara | IN-BR Munger, now at Patna Museum | data-sort-value="1099" | c. 11th-12th century | Late Magadha style, possibly from the Sena period | ||
| simha-nala, with bhuta supporting the pranala from below | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1111.5" | c. 1110-1113 | Cholanadu (Chola, Late phase) | ||
| makara | IN-KA | data-sort-value="1112" | 1112 | Later Karnata (Hoysala) | ||
| makara | IN-KA Chennakeshvara Temple, Marale | data-sort-value="1130" | 1130 | Later Karnata (Hoysala) | ||
| simha-mukha | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1159" | 1146-1172 | Cholanadu (Late Chola) | ||
| simha | IN-TN Airavatesvara Temple complex - Daivanayaki-Amman shrine | data-sort-value="1159" | 1146-1172 | Cholanadu (Late Chola) | ||
| nala | LK-7 Shiva Devale No. 1, Polonnaruwa | data-sort-value="1150" | c. 12th century | Later Cholanadu (Later Chola) | ||
| makara, with a bhuta below, and a goddess above | IN-AP Bhavannarayana temple, Sarpavaram | data-sort-value="1150" | c. 12th century | Later Andhra (Eastern Chalukya) | ||
| simsumara (a sea-creature) | IN-AP Mandavya-Narayana temple at Samalkota | data-sort-value="1150" | c. 12th century | Late Vengi (Eastern Chalukya) | ||
| makara | IN-GJ Jina Ajitanatha, Taranga | data-sort-value="1165" | c. 1165 | Maru-Gurjara style | ||
| matanga-makara (elephant-makara) | IN-AP | data-sort-value="1253" | c. 1238-1268 | Andhra-Kalinga style (Ganga) | ||
| makara | IN-MH | data-sort-value="1250" | c. 13th century | Seuna-desha style | ||
| makara | IN-MP Bhoramdeo Temple, Madhya Pradesh | data-sort-value="1250" | c. 13th century | Dahala-Andhra (Chedi-Kakatiya) style | ||
| nakra (crocodile) | IN-OR Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex | data-sort-value="1250" | c. 13th century | Later Kalinga (Ganga) | ||
| matanga-makara or saunda-makara (elephant-makara hybrid) | IN-OR Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex | data-sort-value="1250" | c. 13th century | Later Kalinga (Ganga) | ||
| nandi | IN-AP Koteshwara Temple, Srikakulam | data-sort-value="1450" | c. 15th century | Vijayanagara | ||
| nala | IN-TN Vaishnava temple, Srimushnam | data-sort-value="1450" | c. 15th century | Nayaka | ||
| nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth | IN-TN Amman shrine, Ambika temple complex, Kalakadu | data-sort-value="1450" | c. late 15th century | Nayaka | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN Avudaiyarkoil temple | data-sort-value="1499" | c. late 15th or early 16th century | Madurai Nayaka | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1499" | c. 15th-16th century | Thanjavur Nayaka | ||
| nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth | IN-TN Bhaktavatsala temple, Cheranmahadevi | data-sort-value="1500" | c. early 16th century | Nayaka | ||
| nala with floral petals | IN-KA Rameshvara temple, Keladi | data-sort-value="1500" | c. early 16th century | Keladi-Nayaka | ||
| nala with floral petals | IN-KA Virabhadra temple, Keladi | data-sort-value="1500" | c. early 16th century | Keladi-Nayaka | ||
| nala with lion head at orifice, and lotus bud at the tip | IN-KA Vitthala temple, Hampi | data-sort-value="1525" | c. 16th century (first half) | Vijayanagara | ||
| simha-nala | IN-KA Aghoreshvara temple, Ikkeri | data-sort-value="1530" | c. 1515-1545 | Ikkeri-Nayaka | ||
| nala | IN-KA Amman shrine, Vitthala temple complex, Hampi | data-sort-value="1550" | c. 16th century | Vijayanagara | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1550" | c. 16th century | Thanjavur Nayaka | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1590" | c. late 16th century | Thanjavur Nayaka | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1599" | c. 16th-17th century | Thanjavur Nayaka | ||
| simha-nala | IN-TN | data-sort-value="1599" | c. 16th-17th century | Thanjavur Nayaka | ||
| nala | IN-TN Raghaveshvara temple, Darasaguppe | data-sort-value="1599" | c. 16th-17th century | Nayaka | ||
| nala | IN-TN Subrahmanya shrine, Brihadishvara temple complex, Thanjavur | data-sort-value="1650" | c. 17th century | Nayaka |