Aihole Chikkigudi Temple, Karnataka

Address

Aihole Chikkigudi Temple, Karnataka

Aihole, Bagalkot District

Karnataka 587124

Moolavar

Lord Shiva

Introduction

Chikkigudi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located on the banks of the Malaprabha River in the heart of Aihole, an historical town, in Bagalkot District in Karnataka, India. Aihole is situated on Pattadakal to Amingad route.

Puranic Significance

The temples are dated 7th century CE by the Chalukya’s. The temples are protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

Special Features

This east-facing temple comprises three main sections: the sanctum with a circumambulatory path, the sabha mandapa, and the mukha mandapa. Access to the mukha mandapa is gained through a set of three steps, and this area is supported by four pillars. The sabha mandapa is upheld by four pillars and two pilasters. The entrance of the sanctum is adorned with ornate door jambs featuring floral motifs, and chaitya arches on these door jambs display carvings of Brahma, Vrishabhavahana Shiva, and Vishnu.

Above the doorway of the sanctum, the lintel features an image of Garuda in flight, holding snakes in his two hands. On either side of the door jambs, at the base, you can spot depictions of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. The exterior wall of the sanctum is adorned with niches on three sides. Light and ventilation for the circumambulatory path are provided through latticed windows on three sides of the temple’s walls. The remains of the shikara, the tower over the sanctum, suggest that it may have had a nagara-style shikara design. Notably, this temple boasts an exceptionally rich ceiling decoration. The carvings include a lotus within a square, surrounded on all four sides by flying gandharvas, Ananta Sayana Vishnu on Ananta with Lakshmi, Lord Brahma emerging from his navel and seated in padmasana on a lotus, Trivikrama, Thandava Shiva with Parvathy and Ganesha, and Lord Shiva defeating the demon Andhakasura.

References

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/02/chikkigudi-temple-aihole-karnataka.html