Temple of Muktesvara (North Elevation) The temple of Muktesvara is a jewel of architecture and sculpture and its high artistic quality, its well-balanced elegance bring it among the best achievements of Calukyan artists. Its inscriptions are masterpieces of medieval Kannada poetry.

The terminal shallow dome (sikhara) of the monument is 2.20 M in its axis at the base, 1.10 at the top. Its height is 95 CMS. The topmost motif (stupi) is made of three beautiful lotiform mouldings diminishing in size and a lotus bud with its base. The dome is hollow and is closed by the slabs of the stupi.

The main monument is a structure comprising one cella (garbhagrha), one antechamber (sukanasi) and a closed hypostyle hall (rangamandapa), all placed on the same east-west axis. All of them are open to the east. The rangamandapa has a second opening to the south, and a porch for each opening.

The temple site is on the left bank of Tungabhadra, which flows from east to west at this particular point. The religious site covers the highest ground, looking down towards the river and the flat cultivated plain on the opposite bank. The modern village is at a distance of about 500 metres from the temple site.

The monolithic mast has a double base. From bottom to top its section is successively square, octogonal, sixteen edged. It is topped by a large square abacus. The mast bears a Sanskrit inscription (No. VII) recording its foundation and where it is called kirtistambha -pillar of fame.

The ceiling inside the south porch. It is made of one stone slab on which is represented a beautiful carpentry work. That is an assemblage of nine beams, crossing at right angles and delimiting nine squares. The beam is ornamented with the motif of creeper 1 and petal leaf. In each square they support a ceiling in the form of a shallow dome.

The Linga which goes by the name of Muktesvara is in the sanctum sanctorum and is an udbhavamurti. It is a very small cylindrical stone with its panipitha. almost at the ground level. By and large Lingas of udbhavamurti type are placed on low sockets like Muktesvara Linga.

Temple of Muktesvara, elevation of the northern façade

The Temple of Muktesvara

North Façade, north east angle of the vimana wall

The temple of muktesvara at Caudadanapura, west façade

Vimana tower seen from north east, north façade

Vimana, north wall

Pillars of the Rangamandapa

East West section looking South, Vimana

Temple's tower seen from north-east

North façade, north-east angle of the Vimana

Main Monument

South wall of Rangamandapa

Northern façade, Sikhara

South Porch, ceiling

Southern porch, east façade

South façade, Central niche

Tungabhadra River at Haralahalli near Caudadanapura

Temple of Nagaresvara at Balligave

Temple of Kedaresvara at Balligave

Rangamandapa, north façade, central niche, Doorjamb motif, sixth band, rearing lion

North façade, upapitha, first and second plinths, Decorative motifs Hamsa and creeper 1

North façade, upapitha upper part, creeper 2, flower chain & lion face

North façade, adhisthana, creeper 3 & rearing lion profile and face

West façade, decorative motif to the south of the central niche, creeper 4

Eastern door, right doorjamb, east façade, First band jewel chain, Second band creeper 1a, Fourth band creeper 6

Third band creeper 5

North façade, motif of lion head, makara and arch over a Panjara

South door, doorjambs, South façade, seventh band, flower petals

Temple seen from, South east angle after Sivadevavijayam, photo showing inscriptions

Stella bearing inscription III

Monolithic Mast, Kirtistamba, bearing Inscription VII

Temple of Muktesvara, cella, Muktesvara Linga

Rangamandapa, Saptamatrka

Rangamandapa, Surya

Nandin, temple of Somesvara at Haralahalli

Vimana, west façade, Virabhadra or Srikantha

Vimana South façade, to the east of the central niche yaksa.

North wall of rangamandapa, north-west angle, sitting Siva.

Rangamandapa, east façade, to the north of the porch, Surya

North wall of rangamandapa, sitting Siva

Vimana wall, west façade Krsna

Shrine 7, Virabhadra, icon under worship

Stella bearing inscription III, Sivadeva

Stella bearing inscription I, kalamukha worshipper

A virasaiva devotee worshipping the linga in his hand. South wall of the rangamandapa

Linga called Sparsa-linga, temple of Galagesvara at Galagnath

Siva in-the form of Lukutisa, at Galagnath

Linga and Nandin, temple of Somesvara at Haralhalli