The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c8.s1.1

c8.s1.1

The dated temple of Mēguṭi (No. 1 on plan), which stands upon the brow of the hill overshadowing the village on the east, forms an early landmark in the history of the styles we are about to examine (Plates II—XXV). Unfortunately the temple is not complete having lost its tower and much of its lower structure. Although, perhaps, not the oldest temple here, it will be convenient to take it up first, and then arrange the others on either side of it as their peculiarities of construction may seem to demand. Upon its eastern side, engraved upon a fine large slab of stone let into the wall, is an inscription which records its erection in A.D. 634 by a certain Ravikīrti during the reign of the Western Chālukya king, Pulikēśin II.² But, before this, about A.D. 578, the Vaishṇava cave at Bādāmi was excavated by Kirtivarman I., a predecessor of Pulikēśin II. The inscription upon it records the fact that this king excavated the cave, and a grant of land was made for its upkeep upon that date. Though several of the other old temples at Aihole have inscriptions upon them, no others are dated; but the latest possible limit of age for these can be very approximately ascertained from the style of the characters used in the script.