>Samudra95 at 13:01, 16 September 2021

2021-09-16T13:01:42Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Chalukya Shiva Temple
| native_name = chalukya shiva Temple
| image = Lad NKAD90.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Karnataka
| map_caption = Location in Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|16|1|11.68|N|75|52|52.46|E|type:landmark_region:IN_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = India
| state = Karnataka
| district = Bagalkot
| location = Aihole
| elevation_m =
| deity = Shiva
| primary_deity_Godess=
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 5th century
| creator = [[Chalukya dynasty]]
| website =
}}

The '''Chalukya Shiva Temple'''(earlier known as Lad Khan Temple), dedicated to [[Shiva]], is one of the oldest [[Hindu temple]]s and is located in the group of monuments at [[Aihole]] in the state of [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. Formerly dated to the 7th or 8th century,<ref>Michell, 333</ref> it is now dated to about the 5th century.<ref name=ccrt>Centre for Cultural Resources and Training [http://ccrtindia.gov.in/templearchitecture.php '' Temple Architecture '' ]. Government of India. Retrieved on 20 July 2015</ref><ref>Biswas, Subhash C, [https://books.google.ca/books?id=hKQOBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq==bl&ots=KpuPwHWc17&sig=fWb_eNDHGq0F19qRV7Kvb2XD62E&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAzgKahUKEwjd9s6N3unGAhVLrIAKHfUpAKs#v=onepage&q&f=false '' India the Land of Gods '' ]. Partridge India, 2014.</ref><ref>University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division [http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ic/id/8257 '' Corner view of carved pillar, Lad Khan temple '' ]. UW Digital Collections. Retrieved on 20 July 2015</ref><ref>G. E. Kidder Smith Image Collection [https://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/165810 '' Lad Khan Temple '' ]. MIT Libraries. Retrieved on 20 July 2015</ref> It is located to the south of the [[Durga temple, Aihole]].

==Structure==
[[File:Gaudargudi temple at Aihole.jpg|thumb|left|Chalukya Shiva temple during sunset]]
The temple shows clear signs of following early timber models, none of which have survived. This is seen for example in the construction of the roof of the [[mandapa]].<ref>Michell, 333</ref><ref name=ccrt/> The temple consists of a shrine (''[[garba griha]]'') with a mandapa in front of it, and a covered path for circumambulating the sanctuary,<ref name=ccrt/> seen in other very early temples. The ''mukha mandapa'' is situated in front of the sanctum and consists of a set of 12 carved pillars. The ''sabha mandapa'' leads to the ''maha mandapa'' and the pillars are arranged to form two concentric squares. The walls have floral patterns on them and the windows have [[Latticework|lattice]] work done in the northern style. Facing the sanctum, a second smaller sanctum is situated above the center of the hall whose outer walls have many carved images.<ref>Michell, 333</ref>

Originally dedicated to [[Vishnu]], now the main shrine houses a [[Shiva Linga]] with a [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]. The temple was built in a [[Panchayatana (temple)|Panchayatana]] style, indicating a very early experiment in temple construction. The special feature of this temple is that it starts with a rectangular structure and ends with a square structure. Based on a wooden construction design, the square and rectangular plan has a steep roof, which is an adaptation of wooden styles in stone.<ref name=ccrt/>

The ''maha mandapa'' is open to exterior by large windows between the pillars. The roof above the ''maha mandapa'' shows a turret as a first version of the future forms of tower: [[shikhara]]s in north India and [[vimana (tower)|vimana]]s in the south.<ref name=ccrt/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|1}}

==References==
*Michell, George (1990), ''The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu'', 1990, Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0140081445}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Chalukya Shiva Temple}}
* http://www.karnataka.com/aihole/
* https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/lad-khan-temple-in-aihole-002921.html

{{Hindu temples in Karnataka|collapsed}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 5th century]]
[[Category:5th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Bagalkot district]]

Chalukya Shiva Temple - Revision history

>Samudra95 at 13:01, 16 September 2021