About
The Kasivisvesvara Temple is the center of cultural and temple-building activity of the Western Chalukya Empire lay in the Tungabhadra river region, where large medieval workshops built numerous monuments. These monuments, regional variants of pre-existing Dravidaian Temples, defined the Karnata Dravida tradition. Lakkundi in particular was the location of the mature phase of the Western Chalukya architecture, and the Kasivisvesvara temple marks a high point of these achievements. According to Henry Cousens, it is one of the most ornate temples in the Kannada spoken region of India.
The existence of a 1087 CE inscription on a beam in the temple mantapa (hall) and the plainness of that part of the temple suggests that the original construction may have been simpler and that the profusion of decoration may have been added to the other parts of the temple at a later period, with the end of Chola invasions of Chalukyan territory. Most of the inscriptions in Lakkundi date from 1170 CE onwards. It is known that Hoysala king Veera Ballala II annexed Lakkundi (also known as Lokkigundi) from the Seunas of Devagiri and made it his capital around 1193 CE. It is possible that the temple may have received embellishment during his rule.
This is a Dvikuta. The shrine facing east is dedicated to Kasivisvesvara whose universal symbol, a linga, stands three feet tall in the sanctum. The other shrine, which faces the main shrine is dedicated to the sun god Surya and is called Suryanarayana. The Surya shrine faces west, an unusual occurrence among Surya temples, which normally face east. The Kasivisvesvara temple epitomizes the shift in Chalukyan artistic achievements, towards sharper and crisper stonework not seen in earlier constructions, taking full advantage of the effect of light and shade. Special attention was paid to moldings, arches, and other details on the tower, and decorations on doorjambs and lintels.
The architects in the Karnataka region seem to have been inspired by architectural developments in northern India. This is evidenced by the fact that they incorporated decorative miniature towers (multi-pedicular towers depicting superstructures) of the Sekhari and Bhumija types, supported on pilasters, almost simultaneously with these developments in the temples in northern India. The miniature towers represented shrines, which in turn represented deities. Sculptural depictions of deities were generally discreet although not uncommon. Other northern ideas they incorporated were the pillar bodies that appeared as wall projections. Well-known constructions incorporating these features are found at the Kasivisvesvara Temple and the nearby Nannesvara Temple.
Timings to visit Kasivisvesvara Temple
All days of a week 08:00 AM – 05:00 AM
How to Reach Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi
By Air: Hubli Airport – 69 km,
By Road: Gadag – 12.8 km
By Train: Gadag Railway Station – 13.6 km, Dambal – 24 km, Kuknur – 50 km
Address
Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka 582115, India.
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