Dambal
Encyclopedia
Dambal is a village in the Gadag district
of the state of Karnataka
, India
. It was an ancient center of Buddhism
and remained so as late as the 12th century.
Dambal is at an elevation of 590 metres and its population is 21,096.
, the teachings of Buddha flourished in Karnataka
. Buddhist relics are found scattered around the town.
In a temple of the Buddhist deity Tara
in Dambal, there is an inscription dated 1095 AD, a temple built by 16 merchants for the deity Tara and a vihara for Buddhist monks. Although Buddhism was assimilated by the growing popularity of Hinduism
, there was a Buddhist centre in Dambal as late as the 12th century.
There are three Hindu temples here.
The Doddabasappa Temple
is of the Western Chalukya architectural style and has a star-shaped plan for the vimana
with so many star points that it almost becomes circular in appearance.
Each right angle is divided into four 22.5 degrees angles. Then each angle is again divided and covered with intricate carvings.
Twenty-four pointed stellate plan of vimana of Dodda Basappa Temple in Dambal, North Karnataka
, 12th century CE
Gadag District
Gadag District had a population of 971,952 of which 35.21% was urban as of 2001. Population increased 13.14% in the decade 1991-2001. The District is bounded on the north by Bagalkot District, on the east by Koppal District, on the southeast by Bellary District, on the southwest by Haveri...
of the state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was an ancient center of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and remained so as late as the 12th century.
Dambal is at an elevation of 590 metres and its population is 21,096.
History
Under the rule of the Mauryas and SatavahanaSatavahana
The Sātavāhana Empire or Andhra Empire, was a royal Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar and Prathisthan in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward...
, the teachings of Buddha flourished in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Buddhist relics are found scattered around the town.
In a temple of the Buddhist deity Tara
Tara (Buddhism)
Tara or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements...
in Dambal, there is an inscription dated 1095 AD, a temple built by 16 merchants for the deity Tara and a vihara for Buddhist monks. Although Buddhism was assimilated by the growing popularity of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, there was a Buddhist centre in Dambal as late as the 12th century.
Doddabasappa Temple
The Doddabasappa Temple
Doddabasappa Temple
The Doddabasappa Temple is a 12th century Western Chalukyan architectural innovation in Dambal, Karnataka state, India. The temple is about southeast of Gadag city and southwest of Ittagi in Koppal district. The sanctum contains a Shiva linga, the symbol of the presiding deity, God Shiva...
is of the Western Chalukya architectural style and has a star-shaped plan for the vimana
Vimana (shrine)
Vimana is a term for the tower above the Garbhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum in a Hindu temple.-Architecture:A typical Hindu temple in Dravidian style may have multiple gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine...
with so many star points that it almost becomes circular in appearance.
Each right angle is divided into four 22.5 degrees angles. Then each angle is again divided and covered with intricate carvings.
Twenty-four pointed stellate plan of vimana of Dodda Basappa Temple in Dambal, North Karnataka
North Karnataka
North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
, 12th century CE
See also
- North KarnatakaNorth KarnatakaNorth Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
- Tourism in North Karnataka
- Gadag
- LakkundiLakkundiLakkundi in Gadag District of Karnataka is a tiny village on the way to Hampi from Hubli. Lakkundi 11 km from Gadag in the east...
- Mahadeva Temple (Itagi)Mahadeva Temple (Itagi)Itagi is in Yalburga Taluk, Koppal District, in North Karnataka, Karnataka, India. It is about 7 km from Kuknur. It is near to Lakkundi about 20 km.Itagi is famous for the Chalukya style Mahadeva Temple...
- VesaraVesaraVesara is a type of Indian architecture primarily used in temples. The two other prominent styles are Dravida and Nagara. Vesara is a combination of these two temple styles.-Description:...