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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox religious building
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| image = Naneshvara temple in Lakkundi.JPG
| alt = Nannesvara temple in Lakkundi
| caption = Nannesvara temple
| map_type = India Karnataka#India
| map_alt = Saavira
| map_size = 180px
| map_caption = Location within Karnataka
| relief = yes
| location = [[Lakkundi]], [[Karnataka]]
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| established = 1020–30 CE
| architecture_style = [[Western Chalukya architecture]]
| temple_quantity = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|15|23|14.6|N|75|42|59.4|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| governing_body = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
}}
The '''Nannesvara Temple''', also referred to as the '''Nanneshvara''' temple, is an 11th century [[Hindu temple]] in [[Lakkundi]], Gadag district, Karnataka. It is notable for being the earliest known imperial-style temple of the [[Western Chalukya architecture|Kalyana Chalukyas]], one with significant influences from both North Indian and South Indian schools of Hindu architecture. It stands immediately west to the much larger and more ornate [[Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi|Kasivisvesvara twin Temple]] in a similar style.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|pages=92–94}}

The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="national">{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_dharwad.asp|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka - Dharwad, Dharwad Circle, Karnataka|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts|accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref>

==Location==
[[File:Nannesvara temple plan, Lakkundi Karnataka.jpg|thumb|left|The floor plan of Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi.]]
Lakkundi is about 12 kilometers from the twin city of Gadag-Betageri, between [[Hampi]] and [[Goa]], connected by India's National Highway 67. A home to numerous ruins of historic Hindu and Jain temples, Lakkundi is geographically located in a region with many major temple groups from the [[Kalachuris of Kalyani|Kalachuris]], [[Chalukyas]], [[Seuna|Yadavas-Seunas]], [[Hoysalas]] and [[Vijayanagara]] era. For example, it is close to historic temples found in [[Dambal]], [[Kukkanur]], Gadag, Annigeri, Mulgund, Harti, Laksmesvara, Kalkeri, Savadi, Hooli, Rona, Sudi, Koppal, and [[Itagi]].{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|pages=3–4, Chapter 33}} The nearest Railway station is in Gadag city. The Nannesvara temple is located to the west of Kasivisvesvara temple, towards the south of the village.

==History==
Lakkundi is phonetically shortened name of the historic city of ''Lokkigundi'', a name found in inscriptions in the village and those quite far in southern Karnataka and Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/History-I/chapter_9.pdf|title= CHAPTER 9. THE CALUKYAS AND THE KALACURYAS OF KALYANI. HISTORY–ANCIENT PERIOD, Chalukya|access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref> Over 30 inscriptions from Lakkundi and other parts of Deccan region, in Kannada and Sanskrit, from the 8th to 13th century attest to the importance of Lakkundi as a historic city to both Hindu and Jain traditions.<ref name="Burgess1885">{{cite book|author=James Burgess|title=Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xScXAAAAYAAJ |year=1885|publisher=Government Central Press|pages=37–39}}</ref><ref name="Campbell1884">{{cite book|author=J.M. Campbell|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Dháwár |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxlBAQAAMAAJ |year=1884|publisher=Government Central Press|pages=389–390}}</ref>

Though Lakkundi was an established town in the second half of the 1st millennium, its growth and wealth came after 973 CE when Taila II, a Chalukya of Vatapi descendant and chieftain appointed in 965 CE, organized a successful revolt against Karkka II of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. In regional texts, the reign that followed is called ''Cālukya'' (Later Chalukyas, Kalyani Chalukyas, or Chalukyas of Kalyana) to distinguish them from the ''Calukya'' (Early Chalukyas). Lakkundi flowered and grew with the Shiva-tradition Hindu monarch Satyasraya Irivabedanga – the successor and son of Taila II who came to power in 997 or 998 CE. This is attested by both Jain and Hindu inscriptions of early 11th-century.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|pages=3–7}}<ref>G. S. Dikshit (1947), ''Satyasraya Chalukya'', Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 10, pp. 241-244, {{JSTOR|44137139}}</ref>

Lakkundi grew to be a major city, prosperous and one with a mint. Lakkundi and several historic towns to its north – such as Rona, Sudi, Kradugu now known as Gadag, Hooli and others – attracted a burst of religious, cultural and literary flowering from the 11th to 13th century, with ever more sophisticated temple architectures, Vidyadana (charity supported schools) and public works such as step wells. These are largely in the context of Shaivism and Jainism, though a few major temples of Vaishnavism here are also from this period.<ref name="AlberyHartmann2021">{{cite book|author=Nupur Dasgupta|editor1=Henry Albery|editor2=Jens-Uwe Hartmann|editor3=Himanshu Prabha Ray|title=Power, Presence and Space: South Asian Rituals in Archaeological Context|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWHwDwAAQBAJ |year=2021|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-00-016880-8|pages=260–272}}</ref> In 1192 CE, after many of the remarkable temples of Lakkundi were already standing, a Sanskrit inscription of Hoysala king Ballala II re-affirms the continued importance of Lakkundi and it becoming his capital.<ref>{{cite book|author=Nupur Dasgupta|editor1=Henry Albery|editor2=Jens-Uwe Hartmann|editor3=Himanshu Prabha Ray|title=Power, Presence and Space: South Asian Rituals in Archaeological Context|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWHwDwAAQBAJ |year=2021|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-00-016880-8|pages=279–280}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Edith Tomory|title=A History of Fine Arts in India and the West|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RTqAAAAMAAJ|year=1982|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-0-86131-321-1|page=120}}</ref> After the 13th-century, there is an abrupt end to all evidence of new public works, temples, inscriptions and other indirect signs of economic prosperity in Lakkundi.

===Date===
[[File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 03.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Nannesvara temple]]
There is no surviving foundation inscription at Nannesvara. All estimates are based on the secondary inscriptions that mention this temple, the architecture style and iconographic details in the context of the historic Lakkundi school, combined with the assumption that more complex and elaborate versions build upon and follow simpler versions. Dhaky and Meister, scholars with numerous articles and books on historic architecture on the Indian subcontinent, date this temple to the 1020s CE.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|pages=92–94}} The architecture scholar and historian of Indian temples Adam Hardy dates it a bit later, in the 2nd half of the 11th century.{{sfn|Hardy|1995|pp=336–337}}

==Temple plan==
The Nannesvara temple has a large, open pillared ranga-mandapa (devotee or pilgrim's reception hall), a closed gudha-mandapa (assembly hall{{refn|group=note|This is sometimes called ''navaranga'' in Kannada texts}}), and a garbhagriya (sanctum). The plan is similar to the bit earlier Brahma Jinalaya Jain temple in Lakkundi and the even earlier Shiva temple in Kukkanur, but the Nannesvara temple shows a series of innovations with grander execution and style than these older versions. Further, the relative proportions of the floor plan shows the architect welcoming ideas and integrating Nagara style from central and western parts of the subcontinent, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. This integration is not as extensive as the Kasivisvesvara temple nearby, yet the ''shilpins'' successfully execute and integrate a variety of ''stambha'' (pillar) styles and decorative elements at the Nannesvara temple with soapstone.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|pages=92–94}}

==Description==
The temple is built on a raised platform (''[[Jagati (temple)|jagati]]''). According to the historian Kamath, these features are standard in a typical Later Chalukya temples. The material used, [[soapstone]], is a Chalukyan architectural innovation that became popular in 12th and 13th century Chalukya and [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala constructions]].<ref name="hardy1">Hardy (1995), p.336</ref><ref name="cousens">Cousens (1926), p.82</ref><ref name="lathe">Kamath (2001), pp.115-118</ref>

[[File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 08.jpg|thumb|left|Harihara (half Shiva, half Vishnu) with salabhanjikas]]
The temple has a pitha styled after the earlier Hindu temples in western Indian (Gujarat and nearby regions). It has a ''jadyakumbha'', a ''karnali'' and the ''gajapitha'' (a band of standing elephants depicted as holding the pitha). Above this pitha is integrated the southern Indian, more particularly the Karnata-Dravidian style of ''adhisthana''.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|page=94}}

The square-plan rangamandapa is supported by pillars, and is more open than the Brahma Jinalaya Jain temple. The pillars are lathe-shaped, show different designs called Srikara, Vardhamana and Indrakanta styles in historic Sanskrit texts on architecture. On the base of one of the pillars is an inscription that says that a commoner lady named Devalabbe of the Hebbana family donated a series of pillars to this temple. It does not include the ''saka'' year.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|page=94}}

The vimana is a tritala (three storeyed), with ''karna'' and ''bhadra'' proliferations, along with a khattaka styled after a Shekhari-Nagara architecture. Framed recesses have torana canopies. The Shekhari-Nagara motif repeats around the superstructure, but remarkably integrates the deep trifoils found in eastern parts of India, particularly Kalinga architecture of Kosala region (now central Odisha). The second tala depicts a Nagara-shikhara, while the third tala a Latina-shikhara. Above the third level are ''phamsana'' courses and then a north Indian style ''kalasha''. Thus, the entire vimana superstructure is a composition that synthesizes forms and shapes found in the west, central, east and southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|page=94}}

The gudhamandapa is also of square plan just like the rangamandapa. It has a flight of steps for an entrance, with beautifully sized and carved dvarapalas (defaced, mutilated). Inside, the gudhamandapa has four pillars, more elaborately carved and polished than the pillars in the rangamandapa. The gudhamandapa walls feature a style similar to that found on the vimana but with ''pratiratha''-proliferation set between the pilasters. The sanctum is square and has a Shiva linga.{{sfn|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|Michael Meister|1996|page=94}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 10.jpg|Rangamandapa
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 74.jpg|One of the lathe-shaped pillars in the rangamandapa
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 22.jpg|Vimana superstructure with motifs from western, central and eastern India
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 27.jpg|The pitha in North Indian style
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 33.jpg|Pillars in South Indian style
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 07.jpg|Outer wall reliefs
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 37.jpg|Entrance doorframe carvings (sakhas)
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 75.jpg|A pillar in the gudhamandapa
File:11th century Nannesvara temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 44.jpg|Sanctum with plain doorframe and Gaja-lakshmi at the lalitabimba
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|author=Cousens, Henry|title= The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts|origyear= 1926|year= 1996|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= New Delhi|oclc = 37526233}}
* {{cite book |last=Foekema|first=Gerard |title= Architecture decorated with architecture: Later medieval temples of Karnataka, 1000–1300 AD|origyear=2003|year=2003|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd|location= New Delhi|isbn= 81-215-1089-9}}
*{{cite book |last=Hardy|first=Adam |title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation-The Karnata Dravida Tradition 7th to 13th Centuries|orig-year=1995|year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn= 81-7017-312-4}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kamath |first=Suryanath U. |title=A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present |origyear=1980 |year=2001 |publisher=Jupiter books |location=Bangalore |oclc=7796041 |lccn=80905179}}
*{{cite book|author1=Madhusudan A. Dhaky|author2=Michael Meister|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1 Part 3 South India Text & Plates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1VJAQAAIAAJ |year=1996|publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies|isbn=978-81-86526-00-2 }}
*{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_dharwad.asp|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka - Dharwad, Dharwad Circle, Karnataka|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts|accessdate=16 April 2013}}

{{Hindu temples in Karnataka}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:11th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Gadag district]]
[[Category:Western Chalukya Empire]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:12, 7 July 2025
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			{{Short description\|11th century Hindu temple in Lakkundi, Gadag district, Karnataka, India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2019}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2019}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2019}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2019}}
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	The square-plan rangamandapa is supported by pillars, and is more open than the Brahma Jinalaya Jain temple. The pillars are lathe-shaped, show different designs called Srikara, Vardhamana and Indrakanta styles in historic Sanskrit texts on architecture. On the base of one of the pillars is an inscription that says that a commoner lady named Devalabbe of the Hebbana family donated a series of pillars to this temple. It does not include the ''saka'' year.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}		The square-plan rangamandapa is supported by pillars, and is more open than the Brahma Jinalaya Jain temple. The pillars are lathe-shaped, show different designs called Srikara, Vardhamana and Indrakanta styles in historic Sanskrit texts on architecture. On the base of one of the pillars is an inscription that says that a commoner lady named Devalabbe of the Hebbana family donated a series of pillars to this temple. It does not include the ''saka'' year.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}

	The vimana is a tritala (three storeyed), with ''karna'' and ''bhadra'' proliferations, along with a khattaka styled after a Shekhari-Nagara architecture. Framed recesses have torana canopies. The Shekhari-Nagara motif repeats around the superstructure, but remarkably integrates the deep ~~trifoils~~ found in eastern parts of India, particularly Kalinga architecture of Kosala region (now central Odisha). The second tala depicts a Nagara-shikhara, while the third tala a Latina-shikhara. Above the third level are ''phamsana'' courses and then a north Indian style ''kalasha''. Thus, the entire vimana superstructure is a composition that synthesizes forms and shapes found in the west, central, east and southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}		The vimana is a tritala (three storeyed), with ''karna'' and ''bhadra'' proliferations, along with a khattaka styled after a Shekhari-Nagara architecture. Framed recesses have torana canopies. The Shekhari-Nagara motif repeats around the superstructure, but remarkably integrates the deep trefoils found in eastern parts of India, particularly Kalinga architecture of Kosala region (now central Odisha). The second tala depicts a Nagara-shikhara, while the third tala a Latina-shikhara. Above the third level are ''phamsana'' courses and then a north Indian style ''kalasha''. Thus, the entire vimana superstructure is a composition that synthesizes forms and shapes found in the west, central, east and southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}

	The gudhamandapa is also of square plan just like the rangamandapa. It has a flight of steps for an entrance, with beautifully sized and carved dvarapalas (defaced, mutilated). Inside, the gudhamandapa has four pillars, more elaborately carved and polished than the pillars in the rangamandapa. The gudhamandapa walls feature a style similar to that found on the vimana but with ''pratiratha''-proliferation set between the pilasters. The sanctum is square and has a Shiva linga.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}		The gudhamandapa is also of square plan just like the rangamandapa. It has a flight of steps for an entrance, with beautifully sized and carved dvarapalas (defaced, mutilated). Inside, the gudhamandapa has four pillars, more elaborately carved and polished than the pillars in the rangamandapa. The gudhamandapa walls feature a style similar to that found on the vimana but with ''pratiratha''-proliferation set between the pilasters. The sanctum is square and has a Shiva linga.{{sfn\|Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|Michael Meister\|1996\|page=94}}
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	===Bibliography===		===Bibliography===
	* {{cite book\|author=Cousens, Henry\|title= The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts\|~~origyear~~= 1926\|year= 1996\|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India \|location= New Delhi\|oclc = 37526233}}		* {{cite book\|author=Cousens, Henry\|title= The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts\|orig-date= 1926\|year= 1996\|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India \|location= New Delhi\|oclc = 37526233}}
	* {{cite book \|last=Foekema\|first=Gerard \|title= Architecture decorated with architecture: Later medieval temples of Karnataka, 1000–1300 AD\|~~origyear~~=2003\|year=2003\|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd\|location= New Delhi\|isbn= 81-215-1089-9}}		* {{cite book \|last=Foekema\|first=Gerard \|title= Architecture decorated with architecture: Later medieval temples of Karnataka, 1000–1300 AD\|orig-date=2003\|year=2003\|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd\|location= New Delhi\|isbn= 81-215-1089-9}}
	*{{cite book \|last=Hardy\|first=Adam \|title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation-The Karnata Dravida Tradition 7th to 13th Centuries\|orig-year=1995\|year=1995\|publisher=Abhinav Publications\|isbn= 81-7017-312-4}}		*{{cite book \|last=Hardy\|first=Adam \|title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation-The Karnata Dravida Tradition 7th to 13th Centuries\|orig-year=1995\|year=1995\|publisher=Abhinav Publications\|isbn= 81-7017-312-4}}
	*{{Cite book \|last=Kamath \|first=Suryanath U. \|title=A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present \|~~origyear~~=1980 \|year=2001 \|publisher=Jupiter books \|location=Bangalore \|oclc=7796041 \|lccn=80905179}}		*{{Cite book \|last=Kamath \|first=Suryanath U. \|title=A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present \|orig-date=1980 \|year=2001 \|publisher=Jupiter books \|location=Bangalore \|oclc=7796041 \|lccn=80905179}}
	*{{cite book\|author1=Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|author2=Michael Meister\|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1 Part 3 South India Text & Plates\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1VJAQAAIAAJ \|year=1996\|publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies\|isbn=978-81-86526-00-2 }}		*{{cite book\|author1=Madhusudan A. Dhaky\|author2=Michael Meister\|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1 Part 3 South India Text & Plates\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1VJAQAAIAAJ \|year=1996\|publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies\|isbn=978-81-86526-00-2 }}
	*{{cite web \|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_dharwad.asp\|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka - Dharwad, Dharwad Circle, Karnataka\|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India\|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts\|accessdate=16 April 2013}}		*{{cite web \|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_dharwad.asp\|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Karnataka - Dharwad, Dharwad Circle, Karnataka\|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India\|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts\|accessdate=16 April 2013}}