Paapanatha Temple

Share:

Overview

Pattadakkal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malapraba River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole and is well known for its historic temples. The group of 8th century monuments in Pattadakkal are the culmination of the earliest experiments in the Vesara style of Hindu temple architecture. The town displays both Southern and the Indo-Aryan styles of temple architecture.

About The Temple

Paapanatha Temple is the only temple that has been designed on both north and south Indian styles of architecture. It contains a Nagara styled Vimanam. The temple dates back to 680 AD. The construction was started with Nagara style, but later switched to Dravidian style. It is famous for its sculptures that are inspired from the scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Facing east, this temple has a sanctum (Garbhagriha) surrounded by a circumambulatory corridor (pradakshinapatha) with pavilions in its three walls, an ardha-mandpa (prayer hall), a sabha-mandaba (assembly hall) and an entrance porch (mukhamandaba). There is no Nandi-mandaba but an image of Nandi is housed in the eastern half of the sabha-mandaba.

The shrine is built on a plinth of five mouldings. It is embellished with animal motifs, floral designs and kudus. The walls are relieved with niches housing Shaiva and Vaishnava deities. They are depicting episodes from the Ramayana. They are topped by various designs of arch motifs and interspersed with perforated windows. The three pavilions house images of Shiva in different forms. A characteristic feature is its well-developed rekha- nagara (northern) sikhara (tower) with an elaborately carved arch enshrining Nataraj.

The narrative panels depicting the episodes from the Kiratarjuniya and the Ramayana on the outer wall surfaces are other noteworthy features of the temple. The names of the main characters of the episodes as also those of the sculptures are found engraved in right places.

Pillars of the entrance porch have Kinnara couples and engaged columns have figures of Dvarapalas (gate keepers). Lions are carved at the corners above the entablature. The ceiling panel depicts dancing Shiva with Parvathi and musicians and flying figures. The pillars and pilasters of the other mandabas are relieved with graceful sculptures of damsels and couples in playful moods. The bay ceiling of the sabha-mandaba is adorned with panels depicting Ananthasayana surrounded by the Dikpalas, Nagaraj and Gajalakshmi from east to west. Figures of rearing lions are carved projecting from above the entablature. Central ceiling of the ardha-mandaba has relief sculpture of dancing Shiva in the company of Parvathi and musicians. The western ceiling here has figure of Nagaraj. Both the mandabas and the sanctum have ornate doorframes.

Accessibility

Airport

The Bangalore Airport is the nearest.

Railways

The nearest railhead is Badami.

Road

Pattadakkal is linked with Badami by road. Pattadakkal and has connectivity with other major locations by road.

Temple Address