Mansollasa of Somadeva

Manasollasa (Sanskrit:Happy State of Mind) is an ancient treatise written by King Sovadeva III, son of  the Chalukyan emperor Vikramaditya. Manasollasa, also known as Abhilashitartha Chintamani is a Sanskrit encyclopedia, which is divided into five books (Vimsati), each one further divided into 20 sections. The Kalyana Chalukya king, Somadeva III (1127-1138 A.D.) has taken all the pains to collect up data information on art, architecture, dance, music, ornaments, food and drinks, love and lust, and presents them in a logical and methodical way. Gaekwad's Oriental Series, Bardoda (Gujarat) has published this manuscripts in three parts. Late G.K. Shrigondekar had to work for  thirty six long years, from 1925 to 1961 to edit these volumes.

The Manasollasa has dedicated a separate section for the erotica (Yosidupabhoga, enjoyment of women). On the basis of inheritance, physical strength and attitude towards sex, Somadeva classifies women into six types, namely, Chitrini, Padmini, Hastini, Sankhini, Mrugi, and Vadava. He says, " ... a virtuous woman is one who is beautiful, youthful, is a musician and a dancer. However, it is extremely difficult to find a woman who is excellent in every accomplishment of life. Therefore one has to try to get a woman as best as physically possible."  He further warns about the physical incompatibility of "Linga" and "Yoni", the male and female organs. He insists that they should be complimentary each other. However, if linga is slightly larger it could be adjusted. But an  extra largelinga should be avoided at all costs as it may rupture yoni itself. Similarly a woman with too small or very large yoni should not be selected for bhoga (union) as she fails to satisfy the man.

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/erotica/manas.htm

Administration system in kalyani chalukyas period

The kalyani Chalukya kingship was hereditary, passing to the king's brother if the king did not have a male heir. The administration was highly decentralised and feudatory clans such as the Alupas, the Hoysalas, the Kakatiya, the Seuna, the southern Kalachuri and others were allowed to rule their autonomous provinces, paying an annual tribute to the Chalukya emperor.Excavated inscriptions record titles such as Mahapradhana(Chief minister),Sandhivigrahika, and Dharmadhikari (chief justice).Some positions such asTadeyadandanayaka (commander of reserve army) were specialised in function while all ministerial positions included the role of Dandanayaka (commander), showing that cabinet members were trained as army commanders as well as in general administrative skills.

The kingdom was divided into provinces such as Banavasi-12000, Nolambavadi-32000,Gangavadi-96000, each name including the number of villages under its jurisdiction. The large provinces were divided into smaller provinces containing a lesser number of villages, as in Belavola-300. The big provinces were called Mandala and under them were Nadu further divided into Kampanas (groups of villages) and finally a Bada (village). A Mandala was under a member of the royal family, a trusted feudatory or a senior official. Tailapa II himself was in charge of Tardavadi province during the Rashtrakuta rule. Chiefs of Mandalas were transferable based on political developments. For example, an official named Bammanayya administered Banavasi-12000 under King Somesvara III but was later transferred to Halasige-12000.Women from the royal family also administered Nadus and Kampanas.Army commanders were titled Mahamandaleshwaras and those who headed aNadu were entitled Nadugouvnda.

The kalyani Chalukyas minted punch-marked gold pagodas with Kannada and Nagari legends which were large, thin gold coins with several varying punch marks on the obverse side. They usually carried multiple punches of symbols such as a stylised lion, Sri in Kannada,a spearhead, the king's title, a lotus and others. Jayasimha II used the legend Sri Jaya, Somesvara I issued coins with Sri Tre lo ka malla, Somesvara II used Bhuvaneka malla, Lakshmideva's coin carried Sri Lasha, and Jagadhekamalla II coinage had the legend Sri Jagade. The Alupas, a feudatory, minted coins with the Kannada and Nagari legend Sri Pandya Dhanamjaya. Lakkundi in Gadag district and Sudi in Dharwad district were the main mints (Tankhashaley). Their heaviest gold coin was Gadyanaka weighting 96 grains, Dramma weighted 65 grains, Kalanju 48 grains, Kasu 15 grains, Manjadi 2.5 grains, Akkam 1.25 grains and Pana 9.6 grain

Somesvara IV - The last king of the kalyani Chalukyas

Somesvara IV (1183–1200) was the last king of the kalyani  Chalukyan empire. He made a brief attempt to revive the Chalukya kingdom by defeating the waning Kalachuri kingdom. He managed to capture Basavakalyana but failed to prevent the other feudatories, the Seuna,Hoysala and the Kakatiya dynasty from completely overwhelming the Chalukya empire. In the end, the three feudatories divided the vast area between the Kaveri River and Narmada River amongst themselves.

Somesvara III

Somesvara III (1126–1138 A.D) was a kalyani  Chalukya king and son of Vikramaditya VI and Queen Chandaladevi.A monarch more inclined towards literature, Someshvara III had to face the invasion of the Hoysala ruler  Vishnuvardhana,but was able to suppress him He lost some territory as the Vengi Chalukyas tried to gain freedom,but was able to maintain most of the vast empire left behind by his famous father.He was a scholar of merit and wrote the Sanskrit classic Manasollasa.He held titles like Tribhuvannamalla, Bhulokamalla and Sarvanjyabhupa.

Manasollasa:

The Manasollasa (the refresher of the mind) or the Abhilasitartha Cintamaṇi (the magical stone that fulfils desires) is an encyclopedic work in Sanskrit composed in 1051 Saka era (1129 A.D). This work is divided into 100 adhyayas (chapters) which are grouped into five vimsatis (twenties) and each chapter deals with a specific topic. This treatise deals with a wide range of topics, which include the means of acquiring a kingdom, methods of establishing it and royal enjoyment. It contains valuable information regarding Indian art,architecture,cuisine, ornaments, sports,music and dance.

Somesvara Ahavamalla king of kalyani chalukyas

Somesvara I (Ahavamalla or Trilokamalla) (1042–1068) succeeded his father Jayasimha II as the kalyani chalukyas king. He was one of the famous kings of the later Chalukya Dynasty. In spite of many reverses he managed to safeguard the integrity of the Chalukya kingdom. He founded the city of Kalyani, present day Basavakalyana in  Bidar district and moved his kingdom to that location. He had great faith in himself and managed to impart that to his many generals and feudatories. He patronized the Kannada scholar Shridharacharya who wrote Jatakatilaka, a work on astrology, and Chandraprabhacharite, a Jain purana. One of his queens was Hoysala Devi,a princess from the feudatory Hoysala ruling family.

Rajadhiraja Chola I became the Chola king in 1042 and immediately sought to restore Chola power in Vengi. He personally led a force to the Vengi kingdom and defeated the occupying Western Chalukya forces there at the battle of Dannada on the Krishna River and made Somesvara's son Vikramaditya (the later VikramadityaVI) and Vijayaditya retreat. Rajadhiraja then entered the Western Chalukya territories and sacked the fort at Kollipakkai (Andhra Pradesh). Rajadhiraja thus enabled the Eastern Chalukya Rajaraja Narendra to get some respite.

Rajadhiraja continued his campaign on the western front and in several battles defeated the Chalukya army, demolished the Chalukya palace in the city of Kampili, in present day Bellary district. The victorious Chola army planted a victory pillar at Yedagiri. After more fighting, the Chalukya capital Kalyani itself was occupied in 1045 . Rajadhiraja celebrated a coronation in the Chalukya capital and assumed the title of Virarajendra.

The Chola occupation was however short lived. Somesvara managed to defeat and drive the Chola forces out of the Chalukya territories by 1050 .He also managed to revive his influence in Vengi and made Rajaraja Narendra to acknowledge this suzerainty. He also made a counter invasion into the Chola territories and captured Kanchipuram.

Battle of Koppam

Rajadhiraja, in response to these aggressions by Somesvara led another expedition into the Chalukya territories in 1054 . The two forces met at Koppam on the Krishna River. In a hot contested battle, Rajadhiraja was killed. His younger brother Rajendra Chola II immediately took command of the Chola forces and defeated the Chalukya forces and made them retreat after killing Somesvara's brother Jayasimha. A number of generals were killed in the battle and the Cholas captured great treasure and some of Somesvara's queens. However, other sources indicate a Chalukya victory and the construction of a temple in Annigeri, Dharwad district in celebration.

Anxious to wipe out the disgrace at Koppam, Somesvara soon renewed the war. He again involved in the succession politics of Vengi when Rajaraja Narendra died. Somesvara supported Saktivarman II, the son of Vijayaditya to the Vengi throne and sent one of his generals into Vengi to assist Saktivarman. He also sent his sons, Vikramaditya and Jayasimha into the Gangavadi territories of the Cholas. Rajendra II sent two armies to the north, one to Vengi and the other into the Gangavadi. Saktivarman and the Chalukya generals were killed the Chalukyas driven out of the Vengi kingdom.In the west, the Chalukya invaders in Gangavadi were driven back and defeated at the battle of Kudalasangama in 1064 (where the river Malaprabha meets Krishna river). Thus Somesvara's attempts at avenging the failure at Koppam were unsuccessful.

Rajendra Chola II died in 1063 and his brother Virarajendra Chola became the Chola king. Virarajendra was occupied with other problems and so did not press any campaigns against the Chalukyas. But Somesvara knew that an attack would be imminent and made preparations for battle on both the eastern and the western fronts. On the east he counted on the help of the his Eastern Ganga feudatory. In the west he sent Vikramaditya VI into the Chola territories.

After initial reversals in which Vikramaditya plundered Gangaikondacholapuram, Virarajendra counter attacked in 1066 and the Chalukya forces again suffered defeat on the western front. But Somesvara soon reorganised and sent a message to the Chola for a battle at a specified spot on a specific day. The Chola monarch accepted this challenge and took his troops to the assigned spot. However Somesvara did not turn up. The reasons for this are not clear. It has been speculated that Somesvara was indisposed and so could not take the field. After waiting for a month, Virarajendra attacked and defeated the demoralised Chalukya forces. He then proceeded to the east and met the Chalukya forces near Vijayawada which ended in heavy defeat for the Chalukyas.

During this time of constant conflict with the Cholas, Somesvara I dealt successfully with the Shilaharas of North Konkan, Seuna Bhillama III, Paramara Bhoja of Dhara and Chaulukyas of Gujarat around 1051Bhoja attempted to align with the Kalachuri, but this did not help him against Somesvara I who plundered Dhara, Ujjaini and Mandapa.The Chindaka Nagas of Bastar in central India were defeated by Chalukya feudatory Kakatiya dynasty Prolla.

Unable to endure the illness he suffered from, Somesvara committed suicide by drowning himself in the Tungabhadra at Kuruvatti on 29 March 1068.Thus departed one of the greatest Chalukya rulers. He managed to keep the Vengi region under his control practically throughout his reign.Throughout his rule he had the upper hand over Konkan, Gujarat, Malwa and even Kalinga.

Somesvara I was succeeded by his eldest son Somesvara II.

Jayasimha Jagadekhamalla(1015 – 1042 A.D)

Jayasimha II (1015 – 1042 A.D) (Jagadekhamalla and Mallikamoda) succeeded his brother Vikramaditya V on the kalyani Chalukya throne.Jayasimha had to fight on many fronts to protect his kingdom. He patronised Kannada poets and scholars such as Devara Dasimayya (Vachanakara saint), Durgasimha, Chavundaraya II, Kavitavilasa, and Sanskrit poet Vadiraja.

The Paramara king Bhoja of Malwa invaded the Chalukya kingdom to avenge the mistreatment of a previous Malwa king Munja byTailapa II. Tailapa II imprisoned Munja after defeating him. Munja died in captivity after suffering ill treatment for several years. The Malwa army occupied north western portions of the Chalukya kingdom for several years only to lose it to the Chalukyas again.

Jayasimha, with the help of his feudatories, fought very hard and recovered the territories occupied by Bhoja.

Rajendra Chola I was the primary enemy of the Chalukyas. Cholas were exerting influence in the Vengi kingdom of the kalyani Chalukyas. The Cholas were constantly trying to expand their kingdom northwards into the Chalukyan kingdom. Satyasraya had tried to stop Chola influence in Vengi and had to suffer the Chola invasion in retaliation. He however repulsed the Chola invasion from his territories in the battle at Masangi.

Soon after his accession, Jayasimha tried to retrieve the losses suffered by Satyasraya. Rajendra Chola was at that time engaged in the south with wars in Lanka and in the Pandya country. Jayasimha utilised this opportunity and got involved in the politics of the kalyani Chalukyas. In 1018 Jayasimha crossed the Tungabhadra and occupied parts of the Vengi kingdom in support of the claims of Vijayaditya VII to the Vengi throne against his step brother Rajaraja Narendra. Rajaraja Narendra was related to the Cholas through his mother Kundavai, a daughter of Rajaraja Chola. In Vengi Vijayaditya captured the throne with the help of Jayasimha II. Rajendra Cholaturned his attention towards the Chalukyas in order to help nephew Rajaraja Narendra.

Rajendra employed a two-pronged attack into the Chalukya territories, one army going into the Vengi kingdom to assist Rajaraja Narendra and the other into the Western Chalukaya kingdom itself. In the west Jayasimha II was defeated at Maski. But the Chola army could not proceed further west than the Tungabhadra.

In Vengi the Chola army defeated the forces of Vijayaditya in several battles, took possession of the kingdom on behalf of Rajaraja Narendra and proceeded north into the Kalinga kingdom.In 1032 Vijayaditya again with the help of Jayasimha drove Rajaraja Narendra out and made himself king. By 1035 Rajaraja Narendra had regained his kingdom. Vijayaditya sought refuge in Jayasimha's court.

Jayasimha was succeeded by his son Somesvara I Ahavamalla in 1042.

Irivabedanga Satyasraya ( 997–1008 A.D )

Satyasraya, also known as Sattiga or Irivabedanga, was the king of the revived kalyani chalukyas.Towards the end of his rule with the great Chola Rajaraja Chola I and had to face disastrous consequences of entering into a war with the Cholas which greatly endangered his own survival as well as the territorial integrity of the kalyani chalukyas as a consequence of the Chola twin counter-onslaught into his kingdom.Satyasraya, like his predecessor partonised Kannada poet Ranna who compared the king to Bhima of Mahabharatha.

Satyasraya continued the aggressive policies of his father Tailapa II. He quickly identified the growing Chola power as his nemesis and resented their increasing influence in the Vengi region and with the kalyani chalukyas. He sent an army led by one of his generals Baya Nambi to invade the kalyani Chalukyan kingdom in 1006 A.D. to overthrow the Chola-Chalukya alliance and bring the east coast under his control. The general entered Vengi from the south, reduced the forts of Dharanikota and Yanamadala to ashes and established himself at Chebrolu (Guntur). Rajaraja Chola distracted the attention of Satyasraya by sending his son Rajendra Chola I to invade Rattapadi in the west and thus compelled him to withdraw his army from Vengi for the defence of his realm.

According to Chalukya records, Satyasraya gained success in war against the Cholas, though this is not supported by any epigraphical or inscriptional evidence, especially considering that for several years after his war with the Cholas led by Raja Raja Chola I's son Rajendra Chola I in 1007-08 AD, the inscriptions of Satyasraya himself are issued from places far away from his capital Manyakheta, like Kogali and Kadambalige in Chitradurga district of modern Karnataka claiming him to be 'ruling from' those places.

During his reign the Paramaras and Chedi,rulers of areas that are modern Gujarat and Central India reconquered the territory that they had lost to the Chalukyas earlier. Satyashraya, however, subdued the Shilahara king Aparijitha ruler of North Konkana. He was drawn into a war with the Cholas under Raja Raja Chola I because of their close association with the Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi, which was cemented through marriage. Perceiving this to be an increased interference of Cholas in his sphere of influence, Satyasraya invaded Vengi in 1006 AD.

The Cholas responded with a two-pronged attack on the Vengi kingdom and on the kalyani Chalukya territory itself. The Chola armies were led by Rajendra Chola I. According to Chalukya records, Rajendra marched up to Donur, deep inside the Chalukya country, near what is modern Bijapur. He subsequently raided and captured Banavasi and also conquered large parts of the Raichur Doab.In a subsequent lightning raid by another Chola regiment consisting of ace cavalrymen and a fleet of over 6000 well-armed elephants with four men with swords and arches above them, the Cholas sacked the Chalukyan capital of Manyakheta itself and Satyashraya had to flee the battlefield in dire haste. Raja Raja Chola I entered into war with the Chalukyas following the maxim that attack is the best form of defence, by attacking Chalukya positions right in their capital Manyakheta (Mannaikadakkam in Tamil records),while deploying several other divisions to attack Chalukya positions in Vengi, and chased the Chalukya forces from Vengi to the lower Deccan plateau, near Kulpak (Kollippakkei in Chola records), which is around 45 miles north of modern Hyderabad. These tough measures compelled Satyashraya to withdraw his forces from Vengi because his own capital Manyakheta had been seized by the Chola Crown Prince Rajendra Chola I. The vanquished Satyashraya, thereafter, was forced to shift south of Manyakheta the capital of his kingdom and issued inscriptions for several years, as 'Satyashraya ruling from Kogali' (near Chitradurga). Rajendra Chola returned the territories to him and his forces returned to the Chola country with many riches accumulated from this grand victory. Apparently, Satyasraya was decapitated in his war with Rajendra Chola for he was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya V within two years. The Cholas, presumably because of this, also preferred to strengthen their position in Vengi rather than focus on the Chalukya country, for there were no clashes between the Cholas and the kalyani Chalukyas during the reign of Vikramaditya V.

Tailapa II- re-established the chalukyas dynasty (kalyani chalukyas)

The Early Chalukyas of Badami had been overrun by the rising power of Rashtrakutas. Tailapa II was a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III ruling from his fief territory called Taddevadi (Tardavadi -1000) in Indi taluk, Bijapur district which is known from his 957 and 965 inscriptions. The Rashtrakuta kingdom was invaded by the Malwa and their capital sacked in 972. Khottiga was killed in the raid and his nephew Karka II came to the Rashtrakuta throne. Tailapa, who had been biding his time, immediately overthrew Karka and established himself in Manyakheta.

Tailapa quickly defeated the remnants of the Rashtrakuta power by defeating Indra IV and his feudatory in the Godavari basin, Panchaladeva. The Cholas, who were experiencing a minor crisis of succession of their own were in a position of weakness. Uththama Chola had replaced Parantaka Chola II and Tailapa claimed victory in a battle against Uththama in 980.

After the overthrow of Rashtrakutas, Tailapa who ruled from Manyakheta, spent several years consolidating his position in the Western Deccan in the area between the river Narmada and the Kaveri. Malwa king from the north invaded the Chalukya kingdom, hoping to defeat the still evolving Chalukya power. Tailapa however defeated the invasion, captured the Malwa king Paramara Munja. The Paramara king died in captivity. From the work Prabhanda Chintamani it is known that Tailapa II was defeated 16 times by Munja before Munja himself was finally defeated. Taila II defeated Panchaladeva of Ganga dynasty who was vying for the Rastrakuta throne at Manyakheta and the Shilaharas of South Konkana. The Chola Monarch Rajaraja Chola was vanquished and the Chalukya monarch secured one hundred and fifty elephants.

The revived Chola power under Rajaraja Chola I was expanding towards the north into the Mysore territories. This brought the Cholas and the Chalukyas into direct conflict which lasted for the next 100 years. He also defeated the Gujarat Chaulukya king Mularaja and gained the Rattapadi territories.

Satyasraya, Tailapa's eldest son, who assisted his father in all his campaigns succeeded Tailapa in 997. Satysraya continued the aggressive policies of the Chalukyas.

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Shambulingesvara Temple, Kundgol

Kundgol is Located in Dharwad District of Karnataka is about 14 km south-west of Hubli

At Kundgol there is a huge Shvia temple of 11th century called Shri Shambhulingeshwara Temple.built by Western Chalukyas. It is built with highly polished stones, which are dovetailed into one another. The carvings and images on the pillars are well cut.

On the side of the door steps of the temple, carvings of the Lion face a long scroll issuing from its mouth.

This temple is dedicated to Lord shiva and Parvati. Although damaged, the exterior of the temple is decorated with lotus and kirtimukha faces and apparently hundreds of Brahmanical images.This temple was a victim of Muhammadans.It was repaired by a former chief (During 1808-9).

Naregal, Gadag

Padmabbarasi basadi at Naregal

Padmabbarasi basadi at Naregal. Jaina temple (called Narayana temple) at Naregal in Ron taluk of Gadag District, was built during the period of Krishna III, by Padmabbarasi, the queen of Ganga Permadi Bhutayya in 950 AD. It is the biggest Rashtrakuta temple in Karnataka.

Padmabbarasi basadi has a sikhara of Dravida vimana type over the garbhagriha. It is atrikuta. The main garbhagriha of this temple was meant for a Jina, and is square. The other two garbhagriha are rectangular, and have rectangular pedestals from wall to wall with twenty-four holes indicating that both of them were meant for establishing 24 Tirthankara sculptures, This is also a unique feature of this basadi. This became common in the 11th century.

Narayana Temple

Narayana temple is one of the attractions of Naregal. Narayana temple is the ancient temple built by Rashtrakutas in the 13th century.

Kalyani Chalukyas Temples in Sudi

Sudi town in the Gadag District its the past important town of the Kalyani Chalukyas during 1000 AD.It is famous for rare stone carved monuments like Twin towered temple, Mallikarjuna temple and nagakunda,and few other structural temples. For long time these amazing structures were abandoned.

Sudi twin tower shiva temple

Padevala Taila (son of Nagadeva),continued to serve under Satyasraya (succeeded his father Taila in 997 AD) and his mother Attiyabbe made a grant in 1005 A.D. Satyasraya had two daughters.Vradhamabbarasi and Akkadevi and one son Kundin (Kundiraja). Akkadevi was a good administrator and was governing some division during the time of Satyasraya and his successors. Kundiraja was placed in charge of divisions like Banavasi 12,000 and Santalige1,000.

Akkadevi and Kundin, continued to govern ( dating October 8, 1013 AD) some provinces of the Chalukya Empire during the reign of Vikramaditya.

Sudi was the capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas in 1100 AD.Kalyani Chalukyas king's daughter Akkadevi ruled the place. There are also historical records indicating that coins were mint in this town during that time.

Shaivism gain importance and Jainism lost towards the closing years of the Chalukya rule. Shaivism was dominant, had several sects like Shaiva, Pasupata or Lakula, Kalamukha and Kapaliaka. The Pasupata school was important which had important centers at Balligavi, Sudi, Srisailam and other places.

The Cholas claim to have captured a large number of Chalukya feudatory princes with their women and sacked and have burntMannandippai. The Chalukya reverses are admitted in a Sudi inscription, dated in 1050 A.D., of the reign of Somesvara. It says thatthe 7 ministers granted the settis renewal of their corporate constitution 

( which had partly broken down in the stress of the war with the Cholas).

The Chola king was killed at Koppam, but the Chalukyas were also pushed back from there by Rajendra. Soon after the Chalukyas raided Kanchi, the Chola capital, burnt the city and defeated the Cholas once again. A Sudi inscription (1060 AD), records that king Trailokyamalla was halting at his camp Puli, a town within Sindavadi division after having made a victorious expedition to the southern region and conquered the Chola.

Sudi has several stone temples built by Maha Samanthadhipati Naga Deva in 1100 AD. that have caught the attention of Karnataka State Archeological Department. Quite a few of these structures have been cleaned up. Besides age old structures there is also a tower (called Hude in native language) located in the center of the village. The richness of these temples can be viewed in the images posted here.

Twin Towered Shiva Temple

Twin Towered, Two Vimana, Jodakalasa Temple Later Chalukya monument, Before 1059-60, by Nageshwara by General Nagadeva administering Sudi.

Mallikarjuna Temple

Mallikarjuna temple at Sudi is a Kalyani Chalukyasmonument, 1054,Founded under princess Akkadevi Governor of Sudi

Naga Kunda (Well)

Nagakunda literally means King cobra tank at Sudi is a beautifully carved (Inner wall) temple tank. This is most beautiful temple tank in the North Karnataka.

Naga Kunda (Well) at Sudi

Nandi at Sudi

Large Ganapati Statue Carved In Stone

Tripurantaka Temple, Balligavi

The Tripurantaka Temple was built around 1070 A.D by the Western Chalukyas.This temple, which is in a dilapidated state, is in the historically important town of Balligavi in Shimoga district.The exterior walls of the temple have erotic sculptures on friezes. These depictions are considered rare in Chalukyan art. Being miniature in size, these are visible only upon close examination. During medieval times, Balligavi was a seat of learning to multiple religious faiths and was home to many monuments and structures built by the Chalukyas. More than 80 medieval inscriptions have been discovered in Balligavi and belong to the Shaiva, Vaishnava, Jain and Buddhist faiths. These inscriptions describe, among other things, the building of temples

This temple is noted for its decorative windows and screens which consist of very intricate perforated stone work. The two sides of the doorway to the shrine have a window panels, each filled entirely by three pairs of naga figures.The long intertwined and knotted bodies of these nagas create a virtual mesh to fill up the panels.Above the entrance to the shrine is a decorative architrave with sculptures of the  Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, with Shiva being depicted in his Bhairava form. Other figures here are the dikpalas.Some interesting larger sized figure sculptures exist, such as the sculpture of a Hoysala king slaying a lion. This piece of sculpture comes with its own inscription and depicts a hunting expedition in which the king, in the company of his hunting dogs, speared and killed a wild boar. Also depicted is the king on foot, fighting a lion which sprang out of the forest.

Erotic Sculpture at Tripurantakesvara Temple in Balligavi

Amruteshwara Temple at Annigeri

Annigeri was the last capital of the Chalukyas, Someshwara 4 (during 1184-89) and it was headquarters of famous rich province of Belvola-300.

Annigeri  is the core area of Western Chalukya architectural activity in Karnataka. The Amrtesvara Temple is the finest examples produced by the Kalyani Chalukyas.

Annigeri is the birth place of the great Kannada poet, Adikavi Pampa.

The Amruteshwara Temple was built in 1050 A.D with  Kalyani Chalukyas style,and was the first temple made of soapstone. 

The large and black stone Amruteshwar Temple is in the Kalyani Chalukyas style. The temple has a roof supported by 76 pillars and carvings of mythological figures on its walls.

The Amruteshwara Temple was to be the prototype for later, more articulated structures such as the Mahadeva Temple at Itagi. Based on the general plan of the Amrtesvara Temple, the Mahadeva Temple was built in 1112 and has the same architectural components as its predecessor. There are, however, differences in their articulation.

Kalleshvara Temple, Ambali in Bellary district

The Kalleshvara temple  is located in the town of Ambali in Bellary district.According to an Old Kannada inscription (dated 1083 A.D.) placed in the sabhamantapa,the temple was constructed during the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire King Vikramaditya VI.

The temple is a single shrine (vimana) construction with an adjoining hall (mantapa).The basic building material is Soap stone.The original superstructure over the shrine is lost.The temple which faces east comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha),an antechamber (sukhanasi) that connects the sanctum to sabhamantapa which is preceded by mukhamantapa. The walls of the shrine and the sabhamantapa are articulated with projections and recesses creating niches which carry miniature decorative tower or turrets (Aedicula) in vesara style.The doorjamb of the sanctum and antechamber are crafted with decorative motifs, and the lintel (lalata) depicts Gajalakshmi.The square bases of pillars int he sabhamantapa and mukhamantapa have the characteristic decoration with reliefs, depicting various Hindu deities such as Surya , Bhairava and Durga

Ornate mantapa pillars in Kalleshvara temple at Ambali

Kalleshwara Temple, Hire Hadagali in Bellary district

The Kalleshwara temple is located in the town of Hire Hadagali in Bellary district.

The temple was constructed by Demarasa, prime minister  to  Kalyani Chalukya Empire King Somesvara I, The basic material used for the original construction is soapstone

vimana of Kalleshvara temple at Hire Hadagali

According to old Kannada inscription (1057 A.D) at the temple calls it Bhimesvara-Demesvara. The inscription gives information about the genealogy of the Chalukya dynasty and refers to Vikramaditya VI as a kumara(prince). Another old Kannada inscription (1108) from the rule of Vikramaditya VI gives further details about the consecration of the temple by Udayaditya under the orders of Demarasa. A third poetic Kannada inscription (1212A.D) on the premises belongs to the rule of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II.

The temple is two shrined (dvikuta),each with a sanctum (garbhagriha) and a vestibule (antarala) that connects to a common four pillared navaranga.and the large mukhamantapa existed, connecting the closed hall to the outside of the temple, form the southern direction. Outside the main temple complex, a nandimantapa containing a sculpture of Nandi has been converted into a shrine.

Nandimantapa  in Kalleshvara temple at Hire Hadagali

The decorativeness of the outer walls of the main shrine and its closed hall exemplify Chalukyan art. Projections and recesses with niches have been created and used skillfully to accommodate pilasters whose niches contains deities in relief, depicting the Indra, Shiva, his consort Parvati, Lakshmi and others.The doorway to the vestibule has artistic carvings of dvarapalas, the goddess of love Rati, and god of love Manmatha. The door lintel(lalata) has an image of Gajalakshmi.The eaves over the door has fine images of  Brahma, Keshava and Shiva.According to Sinha, the exuberance of sculptural articulation seen here is actually a southern Karnataka Hoysala influence on Chalukyan architecture