Foundation of the twin-temples at Pattadakal

This article presents a dramatized narrative of the establishment of the Virupaksha (commissioned by Lokamahadevi) and Mallikarjuna Temples (commissioned by Trailokamahadevi).

(This episode begins with the victory of Vikramaditya-II over his contemporary Pallava king Nandivarman. )

Commander in chief – Jai Ho Maharaj! We have won the battle. The Pallava king Nandivarman is defeated and his allies are decimated.

Vikramaditya II – I am Jubilant. I have settled score with Pallavas, the hereditary enemy of us, the Chalukyas. This victory has relieved me of the burden that I was carrying for long. I have taken revenge of my great grandfather’s humiliating defeat and subsequent death, and also of all the hardships my grandfather Vikramaditya-I had to face. Finally I erased that blot of defeat from the Chalukyan dynasty. Senapati, I am proud of you.

Commander in chief – I feel honored Maharaj, it’s a matter of pride for me too. Maharaj, what are the orders for me now.

Vikramaditya II (in voice filled with hatred) – I want the city of Kanchi to be reduced to rubble.

Commander in chief – Your wish is my command Maharaj!

(few hours later) Citizens of Kanchi approach Vikramaditya-II.

Citizens – Maharaj your Senapati has seized the treasury of the Kailasnath Temple and some of his soldiers are adamant on destroying the temple too. They are saying it’s your order. Please stop it. Your fight was with the Pallavas. Its over, the Pallavas are defeated but don’t destroy the abode of our Isht.

Vikramaditya II– (Talking to himself) My soldiers are destroying the abode of Lord Shiva? The temple of Kailasnath! Why? Understood! Seemingly they have taken my orders quite literally. I have to stop it immediately.

(He then addresses citizens)

Vikramaditya II – Please take me to the temple.

Queens of Vikramaditya-II, Lokamahadevi and Trailokamahadevi , who are real sisters– Maharaj, may we also join you and seek blessings of Lord Shiva.

Vikramaditya II – Why not? Please come.

At Kailasnath Temple, as soon as the soldiers see Maharaj and Maharani visiting them, they stop their confrontations with the civilians and wait for further development. Many of them are pleasantly happy to see Maharaj & Maharanis, bowing with reverence in front of the temple. They are happy that probably now they do not have to execute the order of destroying the temple. The King and the Queens visit the temple.

Vikramaditya II (after visiting the temple) – Adbhut ! I abhor Pallavas, but even a person like me, who hate them so much has to admit that this temple will keep their glory afloat forever. I am against destruction of temples and this temple is abode of my isht Lord Shiva. How can I order destruction of a temple, that too a temple so unique. Senapati, please return all the treasure you confiscated from the temple. I donate several villages to the priests for the maintenance and upkeep of this beautiful temple. I also take back my earlier orders of the destruction of this beautiful city. I am no more interested in it. The citizens of this city are now my dominions and I would like to ensure that they feel safe and secure.

Suddenly, it pacified the hostile atmosphere against the winning army and the citizens of the city who have gathered in big number by now, start shouting ‘long-live Maharaja Vikramaditya’. They then decide to erect a pillar in the mantapa of the Kailasnatha temple describing the generous act of the king.

At the palace the two Maharanis approach Maharaja and share their thoughts – Maharaj! At the temple of Kanchi, you rightly said that even if the Pallavas are defeated, the beautiful temple of Kailasnath will keep their glory afloat for centuries to come. We want to do something similar. Something that remind generations about you and your victories over Pallavas. Maharaj! To commemorate this victory over Pallavas we want to build a temple for Lord Shiva that rivals that at Kanchi.

Vikramaditya-II (with a smile on his face) – As the queens wish. I have realized that with the temple of Kanchipuram, Pallavas will forever lives in the heart of citizens of Kanchi; may the same be true for us too. Do you have any specific place in your mind where you would like to construct the temple?

Queens – Maharaj we would like to take suggestion of the royal priest Jnansivacharya in this regard ( Jnansivacharya is the priest from north who is settled now in Chalukyan kingdom)

Jnansivacharya is called to the palace immediately. On hearing the reason,

Jnansivacharya – Maharaj, Maharaniji Jai Ho! May your glory remains forever. I have one place in my mind, it’s Pattadakal. The dream temples of Maharanis’ must be constructed at that sacred place. This town is a pilgrimage center with gardens, ponds filled with water-lilies and lotuses. The fields of the place are rich with crops and the greenery around attracts score of bird species – chirping cuckoos, Chakore, cranes and swans. It is the same place where you and earlier monarchs of the dynasty were crowned. In fact, Pattadakal is mentioned in “Singiraja Purana” as the place of royal coronations. Kings of earlier dynasties were crowned there too, a tradition that Chalukyan dynasty continued to follow.

Jnansivacharya (continued …) – In olden days, Pattadakal was known as kisuvolal – kisu referring to red and vollal meaning valley city. The name Pattada is derived from the patta-bandha ceremony (coronation ceremonies) that used to happen here and kal came from kisuvolal. According to legend, ancient kings of Mahābhārata such as Nṛga, Nala, Nahuṣa, Purūravas, Sagara etc. were crowned here.

(Everyone is listening to Jnansivacharya with apt attention.)

Jnansivacharya – Pattadakal and adjacent Aihole are busy hub of commercial activities from ancient times. In a book written by Ptolemy, a guide to the geography of the second century, in which all the places with whom Romans had trade contacts are mentioned, a brief account of these two places is also written.

(From its beauty and its commercial relevance, Jnansivacharya starts talking about the mythical significance of the place)

Jnansivacharya – This place is sacred because Pattadakal is situated on the banks of river Malaprabha, at a point, where the river meanders towards the North. The places where river water turns north are specially sacred. Most of the south Indian rivers take origin in the eastern or the western ghats and flows either towards east or towards west emptying themselves in Arabian sea or the Bay-of-Bengal. Rivers flowing northwards are rare and because Kashi is in the north, so the spots where river takes a turn towards north are considered holy and is customary of our fore-fathers to enshrine the linga of Uttareshwar there.

(Jnansivacharya takes a pause and starts speaking again)

Jnansivacharya – There is another reason for the Northward turn of river being considered sacred. It is believed that in Vamanavataram, when Lord Vishnu raised his leg to cover the sky, Lord Brahma worshiped his lotus feet pouring water over it. The water ran along his left foot, descended on earth to become Ganga, and this holy water meandered towards North. From then onward, places where river water flows towards North are considered sacred. This is the reason why usually temples faces east and the snouts from which the holy water from the ablution of deities flows out, faces North.

Lokamahadevi – I never heard about this story of descent of Ganga on earth. This looks like Vaishnava version of the descend of Ganga. I was aware of the story of Bhagirath’s humongous effort to bring Ganga on earth, but this episode is new for us. Thanks Acharya for enriching us.

Jnansivacharya acknowledges Maharani’s admiration and continues further …

Jnansivacharya – Maharaj, Pattadakal is the place which your ancestors also have chosen to construct the temples in the past. This land is close to Lord Shiva’s devotees, as this is the place where many monks practicing Shaiva Lakulisha Pashupata resides. According to Shivapurana, Pasupata Vrata needs the observance of rules of purity, diet etc and a regular worship of Linga under the guidance of a guru. The main component of the vrata is a Lingapuja; small mobile Shivalinga are then deposited in Shiva temple at the time a vrata. This act is repeatedly carried around in and around the main temples of Pattadakal. The entire site is consecrated to the cult of Shiva and there is a religious fervor flourishing there.

Jnansivacharya (continues) – Apart from the mythical and spiritual angle, the practical reason for me suggesting Pattadakal is also that in its vicinity are stone quarries where the finest quality of stone for the construction of these temples would be readily available.

Jnansivacharya looks around, everyone appears convinced about the place, but the acharya is not interested in final decision being taken just by his description ….

Jnansivacharya – Maharaj, you have been to the place at the time of your coronation, but you might not have looked at the place from this angle. May I request you to visit the place again. I am sure that these temples envisioned by Maharani would further enhance the public interest in that holy place.

Vikramaditya-II – I agree. After listening to you, I feel like I have not spent enough time at Pattadakal. Your description has reignited my interest in the temples constructed by my ancestors. I want to visit the place again. Also, the queens and me have decided that the architect of these temples would be none other than Gundan Acharya.

Vikramaditya-II (looks towards Gundanachrya) – Please visit the place along with us. If the queens agree to construct the temples in Pattadakal, I want the planning and the construction work to start soon.

Gundan Acharya – Maharaj! I am honored. Please allow me to take the accomplished sculptors Baldeva, Cengamma, Pullappan and Devaputra along with us.

Vikramaditya-II – All are welcome.

The royal entourage visit Pattadakal. After a brief visit, the two queens discuss something among them and Lokamahadevi addresses Maharaj

Lokamahadevi – Maharaj, after reaching here and looking at the high concentration of the Shiva devotees, we are convinced that the bhumi-pujan of our dream temple should be done nowhere else but here. This place resonates with the spiritual aura that we imagined about the place where the dream temple of our isht should be.

And thus the decision to lay the foundation of the Shiva Temples at Pattadakal was taken.

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