The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c16.s1.2

v2.c16.s1.2

Among the oldest structural shrines which still exist, the temple at Aihole¹ is especially interesting, because, like the Buddhist chaityas, it has an apsidal plan, although the temple is dedicated to Vishṇu. It was probably built in the seventh century A.D., during the reign of Vikramāditya-Satyaśraya, the first Chālukyan king of this name.² About the same time, or a few decades later, was built the well-known Śaiva temple, Pāpanāth, at Paṭṭadakal.³ Its design comprises a square hall and a square cella with a porch of the same plan between them. The cella has a spire above it, the curvilinear form of which, although copied in the temples at Ālampur in the Raichur District, is more akin to the shape of the spires of Bhuvaneśvar and Koṇārak temples, and also to the form of the majority of spires in North India. The general form of the spires of the Deccan temples is that of a storied building, the dimensions of which gradually decrease as it rises upward. The spires are finally crowned with circular caps and finials of artistic design.