Durga Gudi Complex & Ambigera Gudi Complex, Aihole

Durga Gudi complex encompasses twelve temples, two step-wells, one museum and one gateway. We have already visited and looked in details at the two most interesting temples of the Durga Gudi Complex – The Durga Temple and the Ladkhan Temple. Let us now complete our visit with a study of the remaining temples of the interest in the complex.

Gaudara Gudi, Durga Gudi Complex

Why the name Gaudara Gudi?

As I wrote earlier, most of the temples in the Durga Gudi Complex were occupied by the village folks, before ASI reclaimed them. When the ASI reclaimed this temple, it was occupied by the village head – the Gowda and hence the name Gaudara temple.

About Gaudara Gudi

This temple is towards the south-east of the Ladkhan Temple. It is located on lower level as compared to the Ladkhan temple. This temple is among the oldest of all surviving temples of Aihole. It is definitely older than the Ladkhan temple.

Gaudara Gudi Deity and its earliest benefactors

The famous Aihole-500 trader guild members worshipped Maa Bhagwathi in this temple. The inscriptions around this temple mentions it as Durga Bhagvathi Devalaya. It further mentions that traders of Aihole 500 guild, eight towns and one hundred twenty local rulers donated land for its construction and upkeep.

Gaudara Gudi plan

This temple is the third largest in the complex. It is east facing and is rectangular in plan. A rectangular columned mandapa surrounds the temple. This temple also mimics the older wooden temple designs in stone. It is evident in its open rectangular structure with colonnaded verandah on four-sides and a roof with sloping slabs having log like stripes.

The roof is in two-tiers with no superstructures. Its a flat temple raised on four and half-feet plinth with thick moldings, having flight steps in the middle of the temple. There are sixteen pillars, squat in size, squarish in section and heavy in construction in the exterior to support the sloping roof. These pillars have a stone slab inserted between them to form the wall. These stone slabs form the balcony and has beautiful kalasha carved over them.

There are four more pillars in the sabhamandapa that support the slanting roof. These four pillars divide sabhamandapa into central nave and two side-aisles. What makes this temple different from the earlier temples is the introduction of a circumambulatory around its square sanctuary.

The sanctuary interiors and the niches on the temple’s outer wall on its three sides are though all empty.

Doorway Sculptures of Gaudara Gudi Temple

The doorway of the shrine is beautiful. The door-jambs carry intricate floral carvings.

Up on the lintel is a charming human figure of Garuda with its wings spread. The Garuda is holding the tails of Nagas in his both hands. The coils of the Naga form the part of the door jamb. The three-hooded Nagas human heads are near the bottom of the door jamb in the Namaskar Mudra and carry the bhav of adoration for their ishta.

The niche above the lintel of the doorway accommodate a chaitya design that has a beautiful sculpture of Gajalakshmi sitting in padmasana over lotus and she is holding lotus in her hand too. Two elephants are below her and two more elephants are on her two sides pouring water on her.

Overall the Gaudara gudi is a simple temple, still it carries a royal feel.

A large tank with several ancient sculptures inserted into its side walls separate Gaudara Gudi from Chakragudi. This step-well was added in tenth or eleventh century.

Chakra Gudi, Durga Gudi Complex

This east-facing temple is famous for its Nagara style tower. It is complete with all its Gavaksha elements in diminishing tiers. The shikhara has intricate carvings that makes it unique. The tower of the temple has a prominent amalka and a vase finial. The prominent amalka at stupi is the reason for the temple to be known as Chakra Gudi.

The adjoining Mandapa of this temple is a Rashtrakuta addition. Its famous for its twenty sculptures of amorous couple engraved on the door frame of the sanctum. The door frame has Garuda holding the tail of two snakes.

Badiger Gudi, Durga Gudi Complex

Why the name Badiger Gudi ?

When the ASI reclaimed this temple, it was occupied by a carpenter family and thus the name Badiger Gudi.

Badiger Gudi – A Sun Temple ?

This temple is towards the south-west of the Durga Temple. It has a beautiful image of Suryadeva on the large cubical sukansa – the projection – on the pyramidal tower. Surya Deva is holding a lotus flower in one of his Hand. Probably in the other hand also he was holding Lotus only, but its broken now.

He is surrounded by four snakes and a Keerthi-mukha over his crown. His chariot is driven by seven horses. Goddesses Usha and Pratyusha are there in the lower portion. Both of them are shooting arrows – a symbol of driving away the darkness. The squat pyramidal tower build over the Garbhagriha has ornate figures over them. This temple was probably a Sun-Temple.

Architecture of Badiger Gudi

This temple has Garbhgriha, Rangamandapa and Mukhamandapa. The Rangamandapa stands on four central pillars and twelve pilasters. The temple is plain as much of the artwork is damaged and erorded. The only exception is the columns in porch that have circular design incised on their shafts.

Badiger Gudi belongs to which dynasty

This temple is a Badami Chalukyan monument. However, there is a counter-argument as well that this temple is of Rashtrakuta period as the style of columns here is same as Chakragudi.

Surya-Narayana Temple, Durga Gudi Complex

This temple belongs to seventh or eighth century. It has four-pillared frontal mandapa. This mandapa has kakshasanas. The Rangamandapa has four tall pillars and twelve half-pillars. Garbhgriha door frame has Garuda carved over lintel holding snakes. The Ganga-Yamuna are also at the lower portion of the door frame.

The Garbhgriha has two feet tall statue of Surya-Deva or Surya-Narayana. Seven small horses are driving his chariot. He is holding lotuses in both His hands. Usha and Pratyusha are also there.

There are four pillars in the Garbhagriha. Meditating Lord Shiva is there on the ceiling of the Garbhagriha. A curvilinear tower is over the sanctuary/Garbhagriha.

Chappar-Gudi, Durga Gudi Complex

Why the name Chappar Gudi?

This temple gets its name from the word Chappar that means the thatched roof. The slanting roof of this temples resembles a thatched house.

The outside pillars of Chappar Gudi, Aihole

The outer pillars of this temple are stout and to me it looks like a mathematics teacher has arranged a cylinder over a cuboid and then placed a cube over it and would soon ask me to calculate the area of the pillar. Beautiful, but scary if my imagination comes true.

Layout of the Chappar Gudi, Aihole

The temple has an entrance porch, Mandapa and Garbhgriha. The entrance to the temple has a door frame decorated with floral and geometrical figures with Gajalakshmi on the lintel.

Mandapa of Chappar Gudi, Aihole

The pillars inside are smooth and round. They appear like lathed. Such amazing perfection. There is a beautiful lotus panel on the ceiling.

The Garbhagriha of Chappar Gudi, Aihole

The entrance to the sanctum sanatorium was different. There were no figures of the guard protecting the deity. Neither I could see Ganga-Jamuna idols. The entrance appears more like a lattice screen window.

Who build Chappar Gudi?

This east facing temple was build by the Badami Chalukyas in the eighth century CE.

Nameless Twin temple in Durga Gudi Complex

Just behind Suryanaryan temple is a twin temple. These two temples also immediately catches your attention. They are quite similar to each other. Definitely they are picturesque.

Ambigera Gudi Complex

Location of Ambigera Gudi

Ambigera Gudi Complex is a group of three temples just opposite to the Durga Temple complex. 

Why the name Ambigera Gudi

This temple complex gets its name from the boatman or the Ambigera community that lived near it.

Three temples of Ambigera Gudi

There are three temples in the complex. The larger temple has curvilinear Northern Style shikhara over it. It has two entrances – right and left to the Mandapa. The inner ceiling has a beautiful lotus engraved.

This temple is on an elevated platform. Its door-frame is highly ornate.

The second temple has a broken image of Suryanaryan with two female figures most probably Usha and Pratyusha.

The third temple is a west facing ordinary shrine.

References

The Art and the Architecture of Aihole by R. S Gupte

Elements of Hindu Iconography, By T. A. Gopinatha Rao

Architecture in Context by Christoper Tadgell

5000 years of the art of India by Mario Bussagli

Indian Architecture – Buddhist and Hindu periods by Percy Brown

Aihole by George Michelle

History of Indian Architecture by James Fergusson

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