Aihole Durga Temple: Interior of the mukhamantapa (porch)

Interior of the mukhamantapa (porch) of the Durga Temple at Aihole in Karnataka, India

Interior of the mukhamantapa (porch)

Interior of the mukhamantapa
The mukhamantapa is a pillared hall with four pillars inside and several pillars at the periphery. The space covered by these pillars is elevated and forms a small mantapa (hall) within the mukhamantapa. The image shows the upper part of this mantapa.

As you can see from the image, the stone beams connecting internal pillars form two deeply recessed square-shaped blocks on the ceiling. The roofs is elevated to accommodate these blocks. Carved into the recessed blocks are the two beautiful bas-reliefs, Matsya Chakra and Coiled Nagaraja. Attached to the beam separating these blocks are the slightly-curved buttresses. The bottom part of these buttresses are the Makara faces projecting out of the capitals of the pillars.

The internal mantapa is accessed through a flight of steps on the east end, and the other end of it is the Dvārabandha, i.e., the entrance to the sabhamantapa and garbhagriha.

Durga Temple Images
Exterior: Front view, Rear view, West side view
Mukhamantapa: Exterior, Interior, Ornate pillar, Mithuna Shilpa, Vidyadhara couple, Romantic couple, Coiled Nagaraja, Matsya Chakra
Interior: Dvārabandha, Sabhamantapa, Garbhagriha
Pradakshina Patha: West facing view, East facing view,
Devakoshtas: Shiva with his vehicle Nandi, Narasimhavatara, Vishnu riding Garuda, Varahavatara, Durga as Mahishasuramardini, Harihara
Jālandharas: Swastika and lotus flower patterns, Rhombus-shaped perforations, Dharmachakra – 8 spokes, Dharmachakra – 12 spokes, Square perforations

Related Pages
Durga Temple at Aihole
Badami, Cave – 1, Cave – 2, Cave – 3, Cave – 4
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
Somanathapura Keshava Temple
Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals

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