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[[File:Kuknur Navalinga temples.JPG|thumb|right|Dravidian style architecture. Top view of Navalinga Temples at Kuknur, [[Karnataka]]]]<br />
[[File:Architrave at Navalinga Temple at Kukkanur.jpg|right|thumb|Decorative architrave above shrine entrance]]<br />
The '''Navalinga temple''' is a cluster of [[Hindu]] temples built in the 9th century, during the reign of King [[Amoghavarsha I]] or his son [[Krishna II]] of the [[Rashtrakuta Dynasty]]. The temple is located in the town of [[Kukkanur]] (also called Kuknur), {{convert|4|mi|km|0}} north of Itagi in [[Koppal district]] and {{convert|25|mi|km|0}} east of [[Gadag]] in [[Karnataka]] state, India. Built in the [[South India]]n ''[[Dravidian architecture|dravida]]'' style,<ref name="navalinga">{{cite web|title=Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent,20 September 1996 |url=http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D228%2BM%3D1053|author=Kamiya, Takeo|publisher=Gerard da Cunha-Architecture Autonomous, Bardez, Goa, India|access-date=2008-05-20}}</ref> each of the nine temples in the cluster has a ''[[linga]]'', the universal symbol of [[Hinduism|Hindu]] God [[Shiva]], and hence the name ''Navalinga'' (''lit'' nine ''lingas'').<ref name="linga">Cousens (1926), p. 74</ref><br />
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==General plan==<br />
<!--[[File:Somjyotir.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Shiva linga]]--><br />
A clusters of temples, the ''Navalinga'' group appears to have been placed asymmetrically, without any particular order. Despite being constructed from inferior quality [[sandstone]], the decorative finish is rich, though much of it is lost due to degradation of the shrine walls.<ref name="wall">Cousens (1926), p. 75</ref> Each of the shrines has a South Indian style ''[[shikhara]]'' (superstructure). The ensemble has four ''[[mantapa]]s'' (hall) in all, three of which are in a line going east-west and open to the shrines. Each of the shrines has a Shiva ''linga'' in the sanctum, though the lintel above the entrance has an image of [[Gajalakshmi]], the consort of God [[Vishnu]].<ref name="linga"/><br />
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==Sculpture==<br />
[[File:Old Kannada inscription in the mantapa of Navalinga temple at Kuknur.jpg|thumb|right|upright|old-Kannada inscription at Navalinga temple]]<br />
[[File:Old Kannada inscription at the Navalinga temple in Kuknur.jpg|thumb|right|upright|old-Kannada inscription at Navalinga temple]]<br />
The pillars in the halls are of better quality than seen at [[Pattadakal]], indicating an advancement of this art from the previous centuries.<ref name="wall"/> [[Architrave]]s were popular and a very good example has survived and has two ''[[makara (Hindu mythology)|makaras]]'' (mythical beasts) with circular scales and florid tails.<ref name="linga"/> The temple complex has two well preserved old-Kannada [[epigraphy|inscriptions]]. Fifteen inscriptions are found in the town in all which mostly date from 1005 CE to 1186 CE, though a few from the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]] period also exist. The inscriptions mention grants to temples of various Hindu goddesses such as Chamundi, Ganga, [[Sarasvati]], Kalikadevi and Mahamayi as well as God Mallikarjuna. It is proposed that the ''Navalinga'' temples may have originally been consecrated in honor of these goddesses.<ref name="wall"/><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{Reflist|1}}<br />
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==References==<br />
* {{cite web|author=Kamiya, Takeyo|title=Architecture of Indian subcontinent|url=http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D228%2BM%3D1053|publisher=Gerard da Cunha|work=Indian Architecture|access-date=2006-12-31}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Cousens, Henry|title= The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts|orig-year= 1926|year= 1996|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= New Delhi|oclc = 37526233}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Navalinga Temple}}<br />
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{{coord|15|27|32|N|75|57|36|E|display=title}}<br />
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka}}<br />
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[[Category:9th-century Hindu temples]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu temples in Koppal district]]<br />
[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]</div>imported>Flod logic