Thread by @MumukshuSavitri

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We know how “Nation builder” Mughal Shah Jahan chopped off the hands of artists who built the Taj Mahal for him, but do you know of Chalukya Queen Lokamahadevi who constructed a magnificent temple dedicated to her husband & honored all the artists who built it?

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Lokamahadevi & her sister Trailokya Mahadevi were the chief queens of the great Chalukya king Vikramaditya II.
In 740 CE, Lokamahadevi built the Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal, Karnataka, to commemorate her husband’s accomplishments.

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Vikramaditya II gained several victories over Pallava king, Nandipotavarman of Kanchi, to avenge earlier attacks. Despite his massive victory, Vikramaditya II did not disturb the Kanchi Rajasimheshvara temple, or the city. He donated gifts to the Brahmanas & poor in Kanchi.

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The king was so impressed with the Rajasimheshvara temple, that he took some of the temple architects back with him to create similar works of architecture in his kingdom. Some of the architects honored in Virupakasha inscriptions may have been from Kanchi.

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A large pillar inscription in front of the Virupaksha temple exalts the victories of King Vikramaditya II as desired by Lokamahadevi. Over 16 inscriptions describe various cultural grants by the king & Lokamahadevi honoring the architects, temple musicians & dancers.

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One inscription identifies the main architect of the temple as Gunda Anivaritacharya. He was honored with the title of Tribhuvanacharya by the royal couple. More architects are also named such as Sarvasiddhi Aacharya, Chengamma & Pulappan.

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Baladeva, son of Duggi Acharya is credited with sculpting the Dwarapalas & several other sculptures in the temple of Narasimha. Queen Lokamahadevi ensured that other main artists names were inscribed beneath the panels that they had worked on to immortalize their contribution.

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Amazingly the temple was built by stacking precisely cut interlocking stones without any cementing agent. 18 pillars in 4 rows at the spacious mukhamandapa depict grand sculptures of Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagavata purana. Optical illusions & amorous couples are also shown.

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The construction techniques & range of carvings in the temple are of such high quality that it is considered a masterpiece of Hindu architecture. By blending archiectural elements of N. Indian Nagara & S.Indian Dravida styles, it represents the onset of the unique Vesara style.

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A pillar inscription in a house near the complex states that a N. Indian, Jnanashivacharya from banks of Ganga stayed at the temple & set up a Trishula stone pillar. The inscription in both S. Indian & N. Indian characters indicates Hindu cultural unity of Bharat in this era.

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The Chalukyas were both Vishnu & Shiva worshippers. The Virupaksha temple was constructed for Lord Shiva & includes images of Devi, Vishnu, Surya & other gods. This shows that the Hindu society of that time was tolerant & not divided by narrow considerations of sectarianism.

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Queen Lokamahadevi appreciated the builders' work so much that she exempted the entire class from taxes. She also granted wealth & privileges to the musicians & dancers of the temple. An inscription mentions funds granted to a dancer called Achalan to start a new dance school.

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Lokamahadevi was a great queen, administrator, warrior, & patron of music & dance. Unlike the cruel Mughal Shah Jahan who mutilated artists & destroyed temples, Hindus rulers like her were real nation builders, who ensured that Bharat's arts & artists were honored & preserved.

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The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal is a testimony to the Hindu tradition of revering architecture as a sacred art & artists as divine. It symbolizes how N. & S. India lived in harmony as one, in a society free from narrow divisions - to build masterpieces of Bharatiya genius.

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References:

A Guide to the Pattadakal Temples - A.M. Annigeri
Archaeology of Karnatak - R.S. Panchamukhi
Historical Inscriptions of Southern India - S. Krishnaswami Aiyengar

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