Deep in the rocky mountains of Bagalkot district in northern Karnataka, lies an architectural wonder. The tiny town of Badami is home to the rock-cut Badami Caves, a complex of Hindu and Jain cave temples.
The cave temples in Badami are remnants of the Chalukya dynasty that, ruled the town from 540 AD and 757 AD. The popular cave temples surrounding Lake Agastya are an example of Badami Chalukya architecture and Indian rock-cut architecture.
According to historical texts, Badami was known by many names. The capital of the Chalukya dynasty was also called Vatapi. The town is located at the exit point of a ravine between some steep mountains of red sandstone. According to the ‘Puranas’, the place derived its name from the wicked demon Vatapi. Vatapi and his brother Ilvala had tricked and killed over 9,000 people. So the legendary sage Agastya, killed the demon brothers using his ‘dharmic’ powers.
In 540 CE, Pulakeshi one, founded the Chalukya dynasty. The king chose Vatapi, which was protected on three sides by rugged sandstone cliffs, as his capital. Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the Chalukyas ruled much of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Pulakeshi one, sons, Kirthivarman and Mangalesha, constructed the famous temples in the Badami Caves.
The temples in the Badami Caves were, constructed between the 6th and 8th centuries by the Chalukya Kings, Kirthivarman and Mangalesha. The cave temples are numbered 1 to 4 according to their creation. However, the exact date of construction is only known for the temple in Cave 3. An inscription in the temple records that, King Mangalesha dedicated the temple to Vishnu in Saka 500, The inscription written in Old Kannada, is proof that it’s the oldest firmly-dated Hindu cave temple in India.
The four cave temples are carved into the steep cliff face, above a man-made lake called Agastya Theertha. The temples are carved into the monolithic stone face of the red sandstone cliff.
The cave temples are connected by over 200 steps carved into the mountain. The interconnecting steps have intermediate terraces that overlook the town of Badami and the lake below. The temples in Caves 1 to 3 are dedicated to Hindu gods, whereas Cave 4 is dedicated to Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
The first cave in the Badami Cave Temples is built 59 feet above ground level towards the north-western part of the hill. Cave 1 is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The walls, ceiling and columns of the cave are covered with sculptures and carvings of Shiva and his sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. There are several other sculptures of the goddess Parvati and her different avatars. All the sculptures of the gods and goddesses are adorned with carved ornaments. The figures are surrounded by borders with reliefs of floral garlands, animals and birds.
The second cave in the Badami Caves complex is towards the east of Cave 1. second cave temple faces the north and is a mere 64 steps above Cave 1. The temple in Cave 2 is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The floor plan in Cave 2 is similar to the first cave, it has a verandah, a main hall and a shrine. The walls, ceilings and pillars in the cave are carved and sculpted like those in Cave 1.
The sculptures in the cave depict the various avatars of Vishnu. The interior of the cave temple is decorated with friezes which depict stories from Hindu texts, like the ‘Bhagavata Purana’. The friezes depict the legends of the samudra manthan (churning of the cosmic ocean) and the birth of Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) among several others.
60 steps away from Cave 2 is the third cave, which is at a higher altitude than the second cave. Cave 3 is the largest of the Badami Cave temples and is also the oldest-dated Hindu temple in the Deccan region. The cave, which faces towards the north, has been carved 60 feet deep into the mountain. The temple in Cave 3 is mainly dedicated to Vishnu, but there are sculptures of different avatars of Shiva as well. So the temple in Cave 3 is important to Shaivism studies too.
Like the other two caves, cave 3 is also decorated extensively with sculptures and frescoes. Some of them are faded and broken, but they are the earliest known proof of fresco painting in Indian art. Some of the artworks in this cave also show the artists signatures and other inscriptions.
Cave 4 in the Badami Caves complex is on a slightly lower level than Cave 3. The fourth cave, which is the smallest of the Badami cave temples is located right next to the third cave. This temple is dedicated to the Jain tirthankaras, the revered figures of Jainism. This temple is believed to have been constructed in the later part of the 7th century by Hindu kings.
Cave 4 is also decorated with detailed sculptures and a diverse range of motifs. Some of the embellishments in the cave suggest that they were added much later, during the 11th and 12th centuries. The walls of the cave are carved with the figures of Bahubali, Parshvanatha, Mahavira and several other Jain tirthankaras. The small shrine inside the temple has an idol of Mahavira resting on a pedestal.
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