Rear view of the Durga Temple
Rear view of the Durga Temple
With an unusual shape and structure, the Durga Temple stands out among the temples in this area. Architecturally classified as the Gajaprastha style, a subclass under the Dravida style, the Durga Temple has a semi-circular rear structure similar to an apse of a Christian church. In Kannada, Gajaprastha means the backside of an elephant. The round rear-side of the temple does indeed resemble the backside of the elephant.
Just like the majority of the Hindu temples, this is an east-facing temple. The entrance to the temple has two staircases on the sides, i.e., facing south and north. The temple is on an elevated platform with massive stone columns at the periphery supporting the slightly slanted roof.
The staircases lead to mukhamantapa (porch) built with ornate pillars and intricately carved ceilings. At the center is a flight of steps that leads to the sabhamantapa (congregation hall) and garbhagriha (inner sanctum).
Surrounding them is a corridor used as the pradakshina patha (clockwise circumambulatory path), which starts from the left side of the mukhamantapa and ends on its right side. The outer edge of this corridor consists of stone columns that support the slightly slanted roof. Its inner side is a wall that covers the sabhamantapa and garbhagriha and has built-in niches and perforated stone windows.
Above the garbhagriha is a tower-like structure known as the shikhara. A part of the shikhara is on the ground on the right hand side. It is a notched disc-like structure, known as the amalaka, a part of the shikhara that sits just below the kalasa (pinnacle).
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 – Dvarabandha, 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 – A Masterpiece of Hoysala Temple Art
– Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals
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