page_title: Kalleshvara Temple, Aralaguppe
section_title: Temple plan and sculptures
hierarchical_section_title: Kalleshvara Temple, Aralaguppe / Temple plan and sculptures
caption_attribution_description: English: This photograph was taken by me at the Kalleshvara temple (also spelt as Kalleshwara) in Aralaguppe, Tumkur district, Karnataka state, India. This 9th-10th century construction is a good example of the Nolamba dynasty style of architecture.
context_page_description: The Kalleshvara temple is located in Aralaguppe, a village in the Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district, in the Indian state of Karnataka.
context_section_description: The plan of the sanctum (garbhagriha) is a square pyramidal one, with a plain exterior with simple pilasters, a vestibule (antarala) separating the sanctum from a closed hall (mantapa) with an exceptionally well sculptured section called the mahamantapa or navaranga. The superstructure over the shrine (shikhara) and vestibule (sukanasi) have been renovated at a later period but the base on which the temple stands (Adhiṣṭhāna) is original in construction. The doorjamb (sakha) and the lintel above the main door have exceptional art. The doorjamb exhibits seated door keepers (dwarapalas) at the base, bold scrolls of decorative creepers that run along the sides of the main door and contain Yaksha  (benevolent spirits from Hindu mythology) and Yakshis (or Yakshinis, their female counterparts). Above the door, forming the lintel (lalata) is a sculpture of Gajalakshmi (a version of the goddess Lakshmi) with elephants showering her from either side. Sarma feels this sculpture may have inspired the monolithic carving at the main entrance (called akhanda bagilu) on the Vindyagiri hill in the famous Jain heritage town of Shravanabelagola. The ceiling panel grid (ashta-dik-pala grid) of images in the mahamantapa (a section of the mantapa) needs special mention and speaks of the good taste of the Ganga-Nolamba architects. The panel images include a four handed dancing and well ornamented Shiva, and a four tusked elephant (gaja) carrying on its back the god Indra and his consort Sachi.
caption: Doorjamb and lintel carvings at Kalleshvara temple
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