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Sacred Geography of Chalukya Temples

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dc.contributor.author Niharika, S.
dc.date.accessioned 2016-01-06T09:41:17Z
dc.date.available 2016-01-06T09:41:17Z
dc.date.issued 2015
dc.identifier.citation Niharika, S. 2015. Sacred Geography of Chalukya Temples. Journal of Social Sciences – Sri Lanka, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. 07 (02): pp 105-120. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11046
dc.description.abstract Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and Mahakuta are situated in Bagalkot district of the state of Karnataka on and near the banks of river Malaprabha. The Malaprabha valley became the settling ground for human habitation from earliest times. This is evident from a number of prehistoric remains that have been discovered. The reason why the Chalukyas of Badami chose this area as their dynastic hold and why they built the various religious monuments in the region appears to have been a mystery until recent times. It is a possibility that the earlier sites of Guledgudda, Bachangudda, Kyaddigeri, Chilapur, Siddhanakolla and Nagral displaying dolmens and megaliths made the adjoining geography sacred which is why when the Chalukyas of Badami came in power, they found these areas ideal from religious point of view for temple construction. This may also mean an evolution of religious beliefs where the Chalukyas might not have believed in religiosity of dolmens and megaliths but surely understood „sacred-ness‟ of the landscape. These transformations led to a reinvention of the landscape for the construction of temples often in close proximity to rock shelters and megalithic structures. Sacred landscapes during Chalukya reign were complex religious and memorial spaces. There was a clear association between the religious affiliation of Chalukya rulers and those of pastoralists in the region especially in the second half of their rule. Female deity worship such as that of Saptamatrikas and Lajja-gauri, signifies the introduction of fertility rituals. This incorporation of ritual practices and beliefs indicates a complex political and social relationship that the Chalukyas forged in order to continue their rule. It can be said that the Malaprabha valley was chosen as the core area by the Chalukyas of Badami because of its rich „past-histories‟. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka en_US
dc.subject Malaprabha en_US
dc.subject Megaliths en_US
dc.subject Dolmens en_US
dc.subject Sacred Landscape en_US
dc.subject Saptamatrikas en_US
dc.subject Lajja-gauri en_US
dc.title Sacred Geography of Chalukya Temples en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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