A Wandering Heritager: Huchchimalli Gudi / Temple, /ஹுச்சிமல்லி கோயில், Aihole, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

Wednesday 22 February 2023

Huchchimalli Gudi / Temple, /ஹுச்சிமல்லி கோயில், Aihole, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Huchchimalli Gudi at Aihole was a part of “Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and Aihole temples Heritage visit” organized by வரலாறு விரும்பிகள் சங்கம் Varalaru Virumbigal Sangam – VVS and எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபு நடைக்குழு, between 24^th December to 28^th December 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to the organizers Mrs Radha and Mrs Nithya Senthil Kumar and Mr Senthil Kumar.

HISTORY OF AIHOLE

Aihole, is located in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district in northern Karnataka. Situated on the bank of the river Malaprabha, Aihole was the cultural capital during the period of the Western Chalukya dynasty of Badami ( 543-757 CE ) founded by Pulakeshi-I ( 543-566 CE ) with Vätäpi - Bādāmi as the capital latter led by Pulakeshi-II ( 610-642 CE ) and latter the succeeded by Rashtrakuta’s of Malkhed ( 757-950 CE ) and the Chalukya’s of Kalyana ( 950-1250 CE ).The town had trading and administrative importance with a guild known as Ayyavole Ainuruvar, ( a guild of 500 elders ) mentioned in numerous ancient inscriptions. Hence this place is known as the cradle of the South Indian Architecture.

The legend

The name Ayyavolal is derived from Aryavolal or Aryapura ( the valley of the elders ). In the local language, it is known as Aivalli /Aiholli.

As per the legend, Parashurama, after killing the kshatriya-s, is said to have washed his axe in the Malaprabha river. The waters of the river turned red due to blood, causing the people to exclaim, "Ai Holi" ( Ai, the river...!!! ). Hence the name Aiholi, which has got corrupted to the present name of Aihole.

TEMPLES OF AIHOLE COMPLEX

The Aihole Temple complex consists of 6 temples constructed during early Chalukyas since mid fifth Century. There are about 50 temples within the fortification alone and there are more than 50 temple can be seen out side. Some of the temples visited during our Heritage Visit are….

1. Durga Temple

2. Surya Narayana Temple

3. Ladkhan Temple

4. Gaudaragudi / Gaudara Temple

5. Chakra Gudi

6. Badiger Gudi

7. Ravanaphadi Cave

8. Huchchimalli Temple

This temple and the cave is little away from the Aihole group of temples. This Huchchimalli temple is just before the Ravanaphadi Cave Shrine.

ஹுச்சிமல்லி கோயில்…

இக்கோயில் ராவனபாடி குடைவரை கோயிலுக்கு முன்பு அமைந்து உள்ளது. 11 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டைச் சார்ந்ததாகக் கருதப்படும் இக்கோயில், உயர்ந்த அதிட்டானத்துடன், கருவறை, ரங்க மண்டம், முக மண்டபம் என்ற அமைப்பில் கட்டப்பட்டு உள்ளது. கருவறை மீது, வட இந்திய கட்டிடக்கலையின் அமைப்பில் ஒன்றான ரேகா- நாகர விமானம் அமலக்கா மற்றும் ஸ்தூபியுடன் காணப்படுகின்றது. கதவின் சட்டக்காலில், சிவா, மஹாவிஷ்ணு, கந்தர்வர்கள், மயிலின் மீது கார்த்திகேயன், சூரியன், பிரம்மா ஆகியோரின் சிற்பங்கள் காணப்படுகின்றது. கோயிலின் எதிரே உள்ள குளத்தின் கைப்பிடி சுவற்றில் அஷ்டதிக் பாலகர்கள், மஹிசாசுரமர்தினி, பிரம்மா, மஹாவிஷ்ணு, கஜலக்ஷ்மி போன்றோரின் சிற்பங்கள் காணப்படுகின்றது.

Huchchimalli Gudi or Temple…. The Huchchimalli gudi stands on an elevated platform / adhithanam and has a Mukha mantapa a Ranga mantapa and Garbhagruha and is a Shivalaya. This temple is remembered for its wonderful sculptured figures. The door frame has four divisions with wonderful and unique sculptured images of Shiva and Vishnu and floating celestial nymphs (Gandharva's). The niches in Sabhana mantappa door frame has the same design as the one at the garbhagruha. The garbhagruha has a Rekha-nagara shikhara and on its sides has images of Surya and Brahma on two sides. There is a small temple in front of Huchchimalli temple of which only Mukha mandapa remains and it has a row or nice Poorna kumbha sculptures in a row. To the north of the monument of the 11^th century and its Gabhagruha has a phansana (stepped) shikhara.

A Beautiful Karthikeya’s bas-relief is on the ceiling of mukha mandapam. The temple has a tank and its walls too are full of fine sculptures of ashtadikpalas, Mahishamardini, Brahma, Vishnu, Gajalakshmi, Kartikeya, stories of Panchatantara and Kiratarjuniya etc.