Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Origin of the Name - According to a legend, this place is situated at place where river Tungabhadra changes its path or direction of flow indicating the beginning of a new course, symbolizing Mukti/Salvation (Redemption). Hence, this place is called as Mukthikshetra and the deity worshiped here is Lord Mukteshwara or the God of Salvation.

The Mukteshwar Temple is a single cella temple in Jakanachari style. The dome of the temple is hollow and is closed by the slabs of the stupa. The shikhara of the Mukteshwara temple is 2.2 m in its axis at the base. The stupa is made of 3 beautiful loti form mouldings diminishing in size and a lotus bud at its base. The inscriptions in the temple walls also show that the Gupta dynasty ruled the region at the time and that King Chandragupta Vikramaditya ruled from his seat of power in Ujjain. Like the Bhrihadheeswara Temple in Thanjavur in Tamilnadu which contains a lot of information about the Chola kings on its inscriptions, the Mukteshwara Temple too carries authentic information about the Gupta dynasty. This temple is a is a fine example of the Chalukya architecture. The exteriors are covered with amazingly detailed sculptures depicting various events form the puranas. The history of Mukteshwar Temple at Chaudayyadanapur is known through seven inscriptions in medieval Kannada, engraved on large steles. They provide information on the local rulers, kings of Guttala (Gupta ascendancy), on some constructions in the temple complex, on diverse donations to the deity. They provide the details on a prominent religious leaders. Inscriptions introduce Muktajiyar, a Lakulasaiva saint, and Shivadeva, a Virashaiva saint, who entered the place on 19 August 1225 and led there a long life of renunciation, asceticism and spiritual elevation. The legacy of this age of intense Shaivism is a jewel of architecture and sculpture.