Sangameswara Temple

Sangameshwara Temple is located in Pattadakal, in the Bagalkot district of the Indian state, Karnataka. Situated on the banks of Malaprabha River, Pattadakal has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Sangameshwara Temple was built by the Chalukya King Vijayaditya Satyashraya around 720 A.D. It was formerly known as Vijayeswara temple. For some unknown reasons, the temple remained incomplete even after several building phases.

Adorned by Dravidian style of architecture, the temple has a Sanctum, a Hall and an inner passage. Sculptures of Nataraja and Ugranarasimha embellish the outer walls of this temple. The temple consists of three storeys where the lowermost one is surrounded by two walls. The inner wall of the lowermost storey is projected to form the second storey. A covered circumambulatory around the sanctum, also known as `garbhagriha`, is enclosed by the outer wall. The sanctum of the Sangameswara Temple houses a `linga` and small vestibules known as `antarala`. The vestibules open into a spacious hall with huge pillars. This hall is an addition by the architects of Rashtrakuta period. The empty shrines in the temple are believed to be for Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha. A circumambulatory path surrounds three sides of the sanctum and is lit by three windows, each in the north, west and south directions. On the east, north and south of the hall there are entrance porches called `mukha-mandapa`. A small plinth on the east of the hall houses a Nandi image.

Sculpture of Sangameswara Temple reflects influence of the then contemporary styles of architecture. The structure of Sangameswara Temple has been built on a plinth with five mouldings. The walls of the temple have recesses or devekoshthas. A well carved out stone image of Nandi is present in the east side of the hall.

The sculpture of the Sangameswara Temple includes the images of the Hindu deities that have been carved in the niches. The most recurring images here are that of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Apart from these there are friezes of ganas carved on the kapota. The kapotas (eave) lie under the three recesses where perforated windows have been etched out. These sculpted ganas have been represented with rounded figures and they seem to be struggling to carry the superstructure. These themes have been intricately transferred on stone.

To add further the walls are also decorated with karnakutas (square) and salas (oblong) elements in correspondence to the relieved bays that lie below them. These, in turn, are decorated with kudus that have `panjaras` or miniature temples in the interior. Ugranarasimha, Nataraja sculptures are seen on the outer wall.