Temples if Pattadakal

Temples if Pattadakal

Chalukya Dynasty, First Half of 8th Century CE

          If Badami was the political capital of the Chalukyan Kingdom,  Pattadakal was the seat of the Royal coronation. The word "patta" means title. About 22 kilometres away from Badami, it is the Westminster Abbey of the Chalukyan Dynasty. 

        The site preserved by the ASI, and declared as UNESCO site contains eight temples. All the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The two largest temples, Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna, are commemorative temples. Vikramaditya II (r. 734-45 CE) defeated the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.  His two wives constructed these two temples in order to commemorate his victory. They are the largest temples at Pattadakal. 

       But the importance of Pattadakal is lies elsewhere: it is the cradle of Indian architecture.  In India temples are constructed in three styles: the Northern  (Nagara ), the Dravidian ( in the South),  and the Eastern ( in Odisha ). The Nagara has a tower ( the Shikhar ) over the sanctum sanctorium. The Dravidian has a step- pyramidal roof; the Eastern also has a tower ( the Shikhar ), but it is squat in size. 

        As Indian architecture evolved from the cave temples to the free standing and construed temples, Pattadakal is the missing link. The Chalukyan architects experimented with both the Northern and the Dravidian styles simultaneously.  Thus, in this picture you see the Northern style with its tower ( Shikhar ) on the left, and the Dravidian, with the pyramidal roof, on the right. 

        Experimentation is not the forte of Indian civilisation. In fact, our civilisation is marked by what is termed as "sufficient efficiency. " Once a thing has achieved sufficient efficiency, we do not improve upon it any further. This is unlike the West where experimtation and innovation are the hallmark of the civilisation. 

        But the Chalukyan mind is an innovative mind. It experimented with different designs. It is a mind free of dogmas, free of prejudices. It is a mind which is open to ideas from all sides. It is a mind which is not afraid to experiment, to take chances. Its architecture, thus, reflects a highly creative, innovative, liberal and visionary mind. A rare mind indeed.