Temples of Munnur (Historical Study)

by R. Muthuraman | 2016 | 67,784 words

This essay represents a historical study of the Temples in and around Munnur, situated in the Dakshina Kannada district in the state Karnataka (India). Munnur is regarded as an important religious city for the followers of both Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The ancient history of Munnur traces to the reign of the Chola, from whom the city derives it's ...

Dwarf Gopura

"Gopura" is a Sanskrit word meaning a towering gateway of a town or temple. It is considered as the stularupam or gross form of divinity, and hence regarded as efficacious as the garbhagraha. The word gopura was first recorded in Ramayana and Mahabharata to mean the gateway to the town. In the Buddhist chaityas and viharas, the gopura can be seen on the gateway determined on the cardinal points but its shape is different. It was marked by the terracotta figures and called wranas. The best example is Sanchi stupa. In Vedic times, there was gramadevada, a huge entrance to the barbican around the village. This entrance offered protection to cows and was the access to the cattle, returned after grazing in the field. Hence it was called go (cow), pura (dvara) or cow -gate. Manasara, the basic literary work on architecture has devoted some chapters for giving the various gradations or sizes and the parts of the gopura. Yet another work Mayamata narrates the various names of gopuras on the basis of the number of storeys, Dwarf gopura consists of seven to sixteen storeys. Besides, these works of Vaikandsa, lsana vagurudeva, Padahati, all pertaining to the architecture, deal with the gopura. The panels of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda depicted city walls pierced by large gateways topped by solas. It can be understood that South Indians had known about the gopura as early as the first and second centuries. A.D.

Till the 7th and 8th centuries A.D., there was no indication of gopura which was the special feature of Dravidian style of architecture, even though the foundations of such constructions composing gopuras are found in some Indian literary works and monuments.

This consists of a structure, which was basically rectangular in ground plan with a huge entrance and has receding storeys rising into several floors in the Dravidian style of architecture. Generally gopuras are erected over one or more of the cardinal points of a temple and the number of gopuras dependent upon the number of enclosures.

There are only one dwarf gopuras in Adavalleswarar temple at Munnur. The dwarf gopura is raised on the western entrance of this temple. Over and above there is a three tiered tapering structure made up of brick. The external wall shows the denominations of upapitha, adhistana, bhitti and prastara.

The gopura stands on the pratipatra, upapitha. In the upapitha, the upana and padmatala are not visible since it is buried in the ground. The next is kantha, found between the kampa and urdhvakampa is paneled by a number of rectangular blocks.

To raise the basement of this gopura, a huge rectangular moulding just looking like a jagati is set on the upapitha. The adhistana called kapodabandha, adhistana, having upana and jagati is set on the upapitha. Tripattakumuda is shown above the jagati. Over the kantha, the kapota is interrupted by nasikas with lion faced finals. Nasikas and each corner of the kapota are decorated with scroll works. There is a pattika and kantha, above this runs the padmavajana and prati. The pilasters displays the later Pandya features like faceted shafts and the nagapadam decoration and at the base padma banda, kalasa, palagai and petals.

The bhatti part has simplified visnukanta pilasters. Its capital is assuming the shape of a puspa bodigai, vthhpumunai. Prastara is cut on the top of the wall with a series of double set uttara and padma, over-hanging kapota with semi circular shaped arches and yalavari or frieze of leonine griffins.

The superstructure, rises steeply, is divided into three tiers and capped with a barrel vaulted roof with gable ends. The first tier is provided with flat pilasters. The other two tiers dedicated to the host of divinities represent the Saiva pantheon. Four Nandis are lying one on each corner of third storey. The rectangular griva beneath the Ukhara is beautified with vimana mouldings and four sacred bulls one on each corner.

The passageway has two storeyed vestibules on either side without any if-ornamentation. The jambs that flank the doorway are designed with lotus ornament and nagabandhas.

The Intel and sill are simple and plain. This dwarf gopura came into existence in the beginning of the 13th century A.D. It is proved by the inscriptions[1] of Saluva Narasingharaya Udaiyar found on the inner wall of the gopura. At present, this way is closed for the safety of this temple.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A.R.E., 53 of 1919.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: