Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c18.21

c18.21

Badami, a corrupted form of the ancient "Vatapi", was a stronghold of the founders of the Chalukyan kingdom early in the sixth century. Picturesquely nestling at the foot of steep cliffs and by the side of a small lake, it contains several buildings of an early date, but what is most interesting is a series of four pillared halls excavated in the scarp of a hill overlooking the south-east side of the town. Three of these are Brahmanical, and one is Jain, in that numbered 3 of the former there is an inscription to the effect that it was prepared in A. D. 578 in the time of Mangalisa, the son of Pulakesi I, who selected the site for his capital. Such a precise and authentic date not only provides a valuable landmark in the history of rock-architecture as a whole but also denotes that this particular series of pillared galleries was among the earliest of its kind, for the only other rock-cut shrines upto the present belonging to the Brahmanical faith were the Gupta examples at Udaigiri in Bhopal State (Chapter X), and the somewhat elementary productions at Aihole. The group at Badami proves, by the high standard of the workmanship, that considerable progress had been made in this form of architectural expression in such a short interval. These four temples are connected by a causeway inclined up the face of the cliff, and each appears originally to have had an open court in front; in addition to the fore-court, that of the largest is enclosed by a structural retaining wall, the approach being by means of a flight of steps and through a doorway composed of excellent ashlar masonry, the whole carried out with a simple dignity recalling a good classical model. In their general appearance and interior arrangements these excavated temples are all of the same type, as each includes three features, a pillared verandah, a columned hall, and a small square cella cut deep into the rock. There is no outstanding architectural effect attempted in the exterior, the facade showing merely the range of pillars forming the verandah, save that a running border of grotesque figures in the form of rollicking urchins (*gana*), probably gnomes or earth-spirits, is carved in relief on the stylobate of each (Plate XLVII, Fig 2). In contrast to this unassuming, yet serviceable frontage, is the treatment of the interior, on the enrichment of which the rock-carver has concentrated his utmost skill, so that the spectator, passing from the bright sunlight outside into its darkened pillared halls, finds himself bewildered by the wealth of symbolism and mystical imagery which surrounds him on all sides, and appears to extend indefinitely into the interior gloom.