A Fine Vijayanagar

A Fine Vijayanagar Temple at Kadiri

Prof. S. SRIPATHI NAIDU

Kadiri is the headquarters of a taluk of that name in the Anantapur District (Andhra Pradesh). The town is 56 miles from Anantapur and can be reached by bus. Lakshminarasimha Deva Temple is situated in the middle of the town and the Gopuras on the four sides attract the visitors from a distance.

The Vishnu Temple exhibits the excellence of the art of the Vijayanagar rulers. Curiously enough the temple contains some paintings also. The town is named as Kadiri, after a tree called Khadira (Acacia catchedu). The icon of the deity is said to be originally found here.

If a shrine is erected in a place where a tree is regarded as the abode of the deity, it is called “Sthala Vriksha.”

From the inscriptions it is clear that Kadiri was controlled by the Nayaks, the local chieftains of the Rayas of Vijayanagar. One inscription dated in 1352 A. D. states that in the reign of the Vijaynagar King, Bukkanna Vodayalu, the temple of Avubhaladeva at Kadiri was built by a Nayaka. An officer of Kumara Kampana, by name Gopanna, made a gift of an ornament to the temple of Kadiri. This inscription (523 of 1906) contains a Sanskrit verse with two meanings (Slesha), composed by the Pradhaani Soovappagalu, 525 of 1906, belonging to Krishnaraya’s period, dated 1530 A. D. records the gift of land to the temple by a relation of Krishnaraya. From the available epigraphical evidence, the temple can be assigned to early Vjjayanagar period. From the stylistic features also, it can be inferred that the temple belongs to the Vijayanagar period.

Description

The temple faces East. There are four entrances, one in each cardinal direction, surrounded by Gopuras. The Eastern Gopura or the main entrance Gopura is attractive. The Adhishthana, a part of which is buried, contains gala cut into compartments by pilasters, Patta, another Patta, Padma, broad gala, Tripatta, another gala and Alinga Pattika. The Kudya is decorated with three pilasters. The Gopura has four Talas, each containing a row of Kuta, Panjara, Sala, Panjara and Kuta series. The oblong Sikhara is surmounted by a row ofKalasas.

The main shrine is situated in the centre of the courtyard. It faces east. It consists of the Garbhagriha and Antarala, surrounded by a Pradakshina, Mukhamantapa, connecting Mantapa and Maha­mantapa. Garuda is housed in a small shrine in Mahamantapa facing the main god. The Dwajasthambha and the Balipitha are found behind the Garuda shrine. The main shrine measures 155 feet. The Adhishthana of the Garbhagriha measures four feet in height and contains Upana, Padma, broad Patta Tripatta, gala and Alinga Pattika. The outside of the wall is decorated with pilasters having cola capitals and Sala Koshtas. The Ekatala Vimana rising above the Garbhagriha contains the series–Kuta, Panjara, Sala, Panjara and Kuta. The Phalaka above this Tala contains a seated lion, in each of the four corners. Above this is another Phalaka containing the figure of Garuda in Anjali in each of the four corners. The four-sided Sikhara belongs to the Nagara order.

The Pradakshina round the Garbhagriha and the Antarala contains a row of four pillars each in the south, west and north with cola capitals on either side of the Antarala are found two Dwarapalakas. Inside the Garbhagriha is found the figure of seated Narasimha and Prahlada standing before him. Narasimha here            is found as Prahlada-Anugrahamurthi. Standing, in Dvibhanga, the God has two hands. The right hand is kept on the head of Prahlada, who is standing to bottom right. The left hand is kept at Kati. The God has the face of a Lion and has no Kirita.     He wears Graiveyakas, Channavira,            girdle    and Purnorukha.

The Garuda shrine, situated in front of the Mahamantapa, is a square structure, with plain walls and Nagara Sikhara. The Mahamantapa is a square structure, measuring forty feet by forty feet. It contains 28 pillars of the following types: pillar with Yali bracket, pillar with one projecting pillaret, pillar with two pillarets projecting, and pillar with three pillarets projecting. The pillars have Vijayanagar capitals. The ceiling of the Mahamantapa contains some paintings. The Mukhamantapa and the Mahamantapa are connected by another Mantapa. Four pillars with cola capitals are supporting this Mantapa. The Mukhamantapa has three entrances in the east, south and north. On the southern side is found a porch. The Devi shrine is connected with this Mantapa. Metal figures of Vishnu, Kaliyadamana and Lakshminarayana are kept in a small room. Four pillars with cola capitals support the Mukhamantapa.

The Kalyanamantapa is situated in the south-west of the main shrine and faces east. The Mantapa has been divided into two parts, the front part in lower level and the part at a higher level. The front portion contains a row of six pillars with cola capitals. The elevated part is guarded by elephants and contains two rowsof six pillars each. At the extreme left is a pavilion, with a Vimana order. To the south-west of the temple is the Unjal Mantapa a swing pavilion with four tall pillars with Vijayanagar pillars.

There are a number of sub-shrines within the temple compound wall, which is surrounded on three sides by pillared Mantapas. In the north-east corner of the courtyard is a small shrine. It has a Garbhagriha, Antarala and a verandah. The Vimana above the Garbhagriha has one Tala with a row of the series–Kuta, Panjara, Sala, Panjara and Kuta. On the four corners is found a Lion. The Sikhara is round and belongs to the Vesara order. To the north of the Garbhagriha of the main shrine is a Mantapa supported by four pillars with a Vimana above. Two pillars have pillarets projecting. The other two have the figure of a woman on a block projecting from the shaft. The Vimana has one Tala with the series Kuta. Panjara, Sala, Panjara and Kuta and a Nagara Sikhara.

The Devi shrine is situated to the north of the main shrine facing east. It has a Garbhagriha, Antarala, Mukhamantapa and Mahamantapa. The Adhishthana contains – Upana, broad Patta, Tripatta, gala cut into compartments and Alingapattika. The outer side of the wall is decorated with two pilasters, Sala Kosta and two pilasters. The pilasters contain cola capitals. The Ekatala Vimana above the Garbhagriha contains a row of the series – Kuta, Panjara, Sala, Panjara and Kuta. There is a Palaka above the Tala with a Lion in each of the four corners. The Nagara Sikhara is four-sided. The Devi is standing in Samabhanga. She has four hands. The upper right hand holds Cllakra and the upper left Sankha, while the lower right is in Abhaya and the lower left in Varada. She wears Kiritamakuta, Chakrakundalas, Graiveyaka, Kucabandha, girdle and Purnorukha.