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The Development of the Regional Phases of the Temple 57 (v) The Early Chalukyan Temples in the Deccan(c. 450 A.D.-750 A.D.)
Almost at the same time when the Gupta shrines were being built in central and northern India, an activity of building shrines and temples took place in the Deccan under the rising power of the Chalukyan dynasty. The first effort of Chālukyans in this direction, is represented by a group of stone built shrines and temples at Aihole18 in Bijapur District of Dharwar. The majority of these structures are Brahmanical, although a few are Jain, and all appear to have been erected in the period between A. D. 450 and 650.19 Early chalukyan group of temples is confined to the locality of Ajhole.
The temples at Aihole consist of some seventy buildings. As with the Gupta temples those at Aihole have flat or slightly sloping roofs, but the latter in some instances are surmounted by a small upper storey or tower (Sikhara ) which appears to have been subsequently added. The Chief difference between the two types (i. e. Gupta and Chalukyan ) lies in the treatment of the structures in front of the Sanctuary which assumed the character of a pillared assembly hall, or maņdapa. The addition of this feature to the Ajhole structures implies a step forward in the development of the completed temple design.20
On account of its primitive appearance the temple known as Ladh Khana 1 is considered to be the oldest temple of Ajhole group and has accordingly been assigned to the middle of the fifth century. The notable features of this temple are the pillars with plain square shaft with a Cushion Capital above it with an expanded floral abacus supporting bracket (This particular form of capital afterwards became almost universal 18. ASI. AR. 1907-8 f. 189 19. IABH p. p. 63 20. IABH p. p. 63 21. IABH p. plts. xxxvi, fig. 1; xxxvii
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