Sunday, November 9, 2014

Ramalingeshwara Temple, Avani

Ramlingeshwar Temple complex at Avani has several shrines and most prominent among them is Ramalingeshwara Temple. This temple is built by rulers of Nolamba dynasty in 10th Century A.D. 



This shrine on plan has a garbhagriha, an antarala and a navaranga. The pillars in the navaranga are of very ornate.



Shiv-linga is of dark stone and is smaller than that of in Lakshmanalingeshwara Linga. The temple is built with granite blocks and heavy lintels that are wedged together without lime mortar. 

The external walls of the temple have beautiful carvings. One of them is Devi, the eight armed Scorpion Goddess.


The four pillars outside the temple at the entrance are elegantly carved in all directions. Each of the carvings all around the pillar are unique and ornate.

34 comments:

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

The temple has aged so beautifully. Very nice images!

sunshine said...

A fascinating place.

Al said...

I'm in awe of this stonework.

Snap said...

They are all so different and yet, alike. Marvelous artisans.

Thomas Lee/Lee Lip Pang said...

Nice pillar carvings

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Intricate, beautiful and more than amazing to think of the age when this was made!

R Niranjan Das said...

Nice architecture.

Sherlyn Lobo said...

Carvings on the pillars are very beautiful!

Jeevan said...

Simple yet ornate temple! Wonderful pillars of rock carving and you caught them all so well

Hazel said...

Beautiful curves. I learned something new - Devi. Thanks.

Maude Lynn said...

Really beautiful!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Interesting as always

carol l mckenna said...

Always amazing to see the temples and their intricate work in earlier times ~ Great shots!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
A Creative Harbor

Donna said...

These look a bit different than ones you have shared before. More angular and carved a bit differently...I love the strong carvings.

Photo Cache said...

the details are excellent, must take tons of labor hours to complete,

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely place!

Uppal said...

grand architecture and craftsmanship of highest order!

Fun60 said...

I wonder what tools they used to carve into the granite.

Birgitta said...

Beautiful temple with great details! Good shots!

Unknown said...

Beautiful temple :)

Leovi said...

These photos are beautiful, magnificent temple!

Susan Moore said...

A beautiful temple indeed. And I really like saying the name Ramalingeshwara :)

Roger Owen Green said...

amazing the array of temples there!

ROG, ABCW

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Beautiful! And, mind boggling as I think about how they may have been built.

Lmkazmierczak said...

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Unknown said...

A 10 century old temple and still functional! I wasn't aware that Scorpion Goddess existed in Indian mythology.

Datta Ghosh said...

time preserved in stones, great clicks

Kokila gupta said...

intricately carved pillars, a beautiful temple , rich with age !

Sri Kri said...

Sure a lovely place to visit.Brought back our memories of our visit.Lovely architecture Temple.

Yogi Saraswat said...

Beautiful curves. I learned something new everyday !!

Ravish Mani said...

Beautiful captures, Rajesh :)

Unknown said...

I have lately come to think that one should have archaeologist/historian friends who can explain the stories depicted by the temple carvings accompany one to such historical sites. Would make the visit that much more interesting!

K.A. Acharya said...

Magnificent structures.

Unknown said...

marvelous!!