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Siddhamatrika - Id 8622906477
Siddhamatrika - Id 8622906477
Chapter 4
Badami
There are numerous short inscriptions in the vicinity of North Fort area
and the caves at Badami which can be identified as names or epithets of
craftsmen. Aychasvami-kalkutti has inscribed his name over the façade of
Cave I. (Fig. 4.1). Vachya has signed over the façade of Cave II. (Fig. 4.2).
Aju-Acharasiddhi (Fig. 4.3) and Kolimanchi (Fig. 4.4) have inscribed their
names on the boulder of Vaishnava Cave III. A list of names of the artists
noticed in the vicinity of the caves at Badami is appended (Appendices 4.1) at
the end at the work. Similarly the texts and summaries of inscriptions of
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important craftsmen from Badami, Alampur, Aihole and Pattadakal are also
appended (Appendices 4.2). Here we will restrict ourselves to pass certain
observations on their names. Barring a few instances all the signatures of the
craftsmen are in the Kannada-Telugu script assigned to 6th and early 7th
century. The remaining few are specially restricted to the vicinity between
Cave I and Cave II and they are in siddhamatrika characters of 6th and 7th
century. These inscriptions record the names in Sanskrit, while the remaining
use the old Kannada language. It may be noted that the inscriptions in
siddhamatrika characters in Chalukya region are always used for recording in
Sanskrit, while the Kannada-Telugu script is used both for recording in
Kannada and in Sanskrit language. (Padigar 1988). Certain interesting
suffixes are noticed in the names recorded in Kannada-Telugu script. These are
as follows:
Kaveriyindam-a Godavarivaram-irdanadadaKannadadol
Bhavisidajanapadamvasudhavalaya-vilina-visada-vishaya-visesham ||
He further states that within that the region between the towns of Kisuvolal
(=Pattadakal, Bagalakot Dist.), Kopana (=Koppal, Koppal Dist.), Purigere
(=Lakshmesvar, Gadag Dist.) and Okumda (=Okkunda, Belgaum Dist.) was the
land of pure Kannada:
AdarolagamKisuvolalavidita-maha-Kopana-nagaradaPuligereya
Sadabhistutam-app-OkumdadanaduvananadenadeKannadadetirul ||
It was pointed out above that artists’ names are also found in the north
fort area of Badami where Polekesi I completed the fortification in 543. Some
names occurring in this area repeat in the vicinity of the caves. It has been
suggested that inscription of 543 was engraved by a craftsman who had the
epithet Tatvartthan, which also occurs in north fort area as Koli-tatvartthan.
(Padigar 1988). This person may be same as Kolimanchi whose name occurs
repeatedly in both the areas of Badami,viz., north fort and caves. Probably he
was the principal architect of the fort and later on extended his activities to the
excavation of caves and construction of the temples with his guild.
There are two surviving temples in dilapidated condition within the north
fort. Both the temples are in southern style and designated as Upper Sivalaya
and Lower Sivalaya with respect to their location in the fort. The Upper
Sivalaya carries the signature of a craftsman named Vijaya, while the Lower
Sivalaya that of Sarvadasa. Though conforming to southern architectural style,
there are certain features particularly the decorated frames which show that the
artists were already influenced to some extent by northern traditions. The
dvarapalas of Lower Sivalaya, now fixed to an entrance gate within the fort
just before Lower Sivalaya, bring to mind northern stylistic features as also
iconographic tradition such as prominent depiction of ayaudha-purusha.
Upper Sivalaya was dedicated to god Vishnu. It is known that Chalukya rulers
up to Polekesi II were devotees of Vishnu. Thus Upper Sivalaya cannot be later
than Polekesi I’s reign. On the other hand the temple is located on the summit
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of the north fort, thus dominating the surroundings both from above and below.
It was certainly meant for royal use as suggested by its sandhara plan as well
as its location within the fort. Its door frame does not carry Garuda-nagasakha
scheme which was a regular feature of Chalukya temples from around 625.
Thus the temple appears to date from pre 600 time. Similar is the case with
Lower Sivalaya. Its archaic features including the decorated door frame point
to this fact. Its dedication is not certain. But most probably it was a non-
Vaishnava temple. Its original plan was sandhara. Taking these things in to
account, it would be appropriate to infer that the craftsmen whose names are
found in north fort vicinity apart from their participation in fort construction
were also participants in the construction of these temples.
Alampur
are two names of scribes viz., Chabbideva and Sirankuranta. They could also
be artists. All these inscriptions except those in Siddhamatrika characters are in
Kannada script and language of 7th century.
Aihole
Near the Jaina cave there are a few inscriptions recording names of
craftsmen. Two of these are found on the cliff to the north of the Jaina cave.
The first of them mentions the quarry of craftsmen Narasobba (ICB.No179).
The second contains a string of praise (ICB.No180) of Narasobba who is
described as the disciple of Binjadi, sporting in creating temples, adept in silpa
text, a Sun in character, a creator of forms (sculptures) and an expert in
maintaining proportions in his creations. The inscription is above an engraved
outline of a cave marked on the cliff for excavating. But the project never took
off. It may be added that the temple of Huchchappayya-gudi was the product of
Narasobba’s effort (Fig. 4.8). These records of Narasobba testify to fact that the
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To the left of Jaina cave on the cliff, there is a two line inscription
mentioning Utuna with Pallasvami as alias (ICB.No181). He was probably the
craftsman of the Jaina cave. There are other inscriptions recording his name in
the vicinity. The temple called Huccappayya-gudi in nagara style records
names of two craftsmen. The first of these is on the north face of a pillar in the
porch. It records the eulogy of Narasobba stating that he was an expert in
building temples never surpassed by another before nor would he be surpassed
in future (ICB.No152). He was obviously the architect of the temple. He is also
to be identified with Narasobba whose praise is inscribed on a cliff near Jaina
Cave (ICB.No179).
Pattadakal
The first two inscriptions mentioned above imply the state honours
conferred by Vikramaditya II to two great architects who successfully
completed the ambitious project of Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna temples.
(Muddi 2011).
Within the temple the inner northern wall of the mandapa carries two
inscriptions referring to Benakutti (ICB.No.217) and Chemgamma(ICB.
No.218). Benakutti is described as a vimala-guna i.e., ‘of pure character’.
Chemgamma was a sculptor referred to earlier in connection with the
Virupaksha temple.
different groups, schools and region. As indicated also by the sculptural style
and preferences in structural monuments different craftsmen from different
groups and regions were active in the nuclear region of the Chalukyas.
In the case of Badami the names are curious and mostly of Kannada
affiliation. In view of the fact that as late 9th century the author of
Kavirajmarga mentions the region between Kaveri and Godavari as the land of
Kannada speakers, it is understandable that these artists hailed from some parts
of this and some particularly from Guntur (Vijayawada) region of Andhra
Pradesh.
Alampur seems to be the region where for the first time typical latina
temple greatly corresponding to northern tradition was erected on a large scale.
Barring the Tarakabrahma temple, all the temples at Alampur are puritan
northern rekha or Latina temples. It is possible that the Aihole northern style
temples are inspired from Alampur.
Mahesvara Saiva Sect. His epithet “Mahesvara to the jealous” seems to play a
pun on the word ‘Mahesvara’. Alampur activity was inspired by the
Mahesvara sect of the Sivacharyas who hailed from elsewhere, most probably
from the north.
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