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This book originally formed the thesis entitled "Medieval temples of Raichur and Bellary Regions - A Study submitted by me to the Karnatak University, Dharwad, in 1989. A few temples of this region were studied by stalwarts like Henry Cousens and Alexander Rea. The description given by them is brief and does not include information contained in the inscriptions associated with the temples. The inscriptions associated with these temples reveal that the temple was not just a place of worship but it was also an important place associated with socio-economic activities of man. The present work discusses these multi-faceted activities and gives a detailed architectural description of each temple, based mainly on field notes. An analysis of architectural features is made. The chro nology and the development are fixed on the results of architectural analysis and the information provided by epigraphs. The temples, mostly of the Vesara type, constructed by the Chalukyas of Kalyana form the major group. A few temples show the Hoysala workmanship in exuberant carvings. Apart from these two groups, there are three more groups, all of the Kalinga type, patronised by the Haihayas of Morata, the Sindas of Kurugod and Kampilaraya.
My guide, Dr. S.L. Shantakumari, Reader in Ancient Indian History and Epigraphy, Karnatak University, Dharwad, encouraged me to take up this subject and guided me throughout. I am highly indebted to her. I gratefully acknowledge the suggestions made by Professors Shrinivas Ritti, A. Sundara and Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao. Prof. B.K. Gururaja Rao and Dr. K.V. Ramesh encouraged me to complete this task. My association with the team of Dr. John Fritz and Dr. George Michell for nearly a decade has benefitted me in several ways, apart from enabling me to prepare ground plans and to make architectural analysis scientifically. My thanks are due to them.
I thankfully acknowledge the help received from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore, and the Archaeological Survey of India.
My thanks are also due to Dr. Raghunath Bhat, Dr. Srinivas Padigar, Dr. S.V.P. Halakatti, Dr. R.M. Shadaksharaiah, Sriyuths C.B. Patil and Shivanand Kulkarni and my colleagues Dr. K.G. Bhatsoori, Sriyuths H.M. Shiddanagoudar, Balasubramanya, H.T. Talwar and T.S. Gangadhara whose constant goading resulted in the completion of my research work.
My wife, Smt. Vinoda Patil, has been a source of encouragement throughout my research work. She has also prepared the final. typescript. I am indebted to her for her help.
I am thankful to the authorities of the Karnatak University for permitting me to publish the thesis in the book form. I am grateful to the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums for taking up the publication of this book. Sri Chiranjiv Singh, Director, and Dr. D.V. Devaraj, Deputy Director of the Directorate have taken keen interest in this publication. Besides contributing an enlightened foreword for the volume, Sri Chiranjiv Singh has given me constant encouragement and guidance in bringing out such publications. I am immensely thankful to them.
Historically the districts of Raichur and Bellary have always been important. Tungabhadra and the fertile soil and the occurrence of iron ore, gold, copper and manganese in these The river districts made them prosperous and also made them a bone of contention between the various kingdoms in the past. Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagara empire, straddled both the present day districts. Much attention has understandably been given to the architecture of Hampi and the Vijayanagara temples. But the pre-Vijayanagara temples of the area have been scantily studied. The present work, the "Temples of Raichur and Bellary Districts, Karnataka, 1000-1325 A.D.". by Dr. Channabasappa S. Patil of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Karnataka, fills that gap in our knowledge. It draws attention to the temple building activity which preceded the Vijayanagara kings and documents in detail most of the surviving pre-Vijayanagara temples in the two districts. The study will be of interest to the students of temple architecture, historians and archaeologists alike.
The present work is based on contemporary inscriptions and the field studies carried out by Dr. Channabasappa S. Patil. He has placed the temples in their historical context. Information about the geography, geology and socio-economic conditions makes the study a comprehensive one. Of special interest is the information given about the architects and sculptors of some of the temples studied. Like the other study published by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Karnataka, 'The Hoysala Artists: Their Identity and Styles', this work dispels the notion that the architects, sculptors and artists who built the magnificent temples of Karnataka were anonymous craftsmen. That the Sutradharis, Shilpis and Ruvaris were honoured and treasured is evident from the titles like "Kaliyuga Visvakarma", "King Swan in the Ocean of Painting", and "Smiter of the Crowd of Titled Sculptors bestowed on them. This makes the present study useful not only to the specialist but also the interested general reader who is keen to know more about his heritage.
Temples of southern Karnataka have been studied in detail by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Karnataka. This study is the first major study of the temples of northern Karnataka being brought out by the Directorate. The study is indeed welcome because it throws light on the unjustly neglected temples of Raichur and Bellary districts.
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums is happy to bring out this study by Dr. Channabasappa S. Patil.
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