Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The temple is made of Abundant sand stone with fine grain which is easily available in Aihole’s hills. It is significant in being the earliest dated temple of India showing royal involvement. The Meguti Temple has the distinction of being the only temple in Aihole which can clearly be traced back to 634 A.D. The temple stands on a hill and thus named as “Megana Basadi”, meaning the The Upper Temple, which in course of time was corrupted to Megudi or Meguti. Meguti Jain Temple is built on a raised platform and fight of steps leads us to Pillared Mukhmandapa. Upstairs on the roof is another shrine directly above the main shrine. The superstructure rising above the sanctum wall of the temple has been built at a later date. 12 pillars and 4 pilasters of the large porch have flat roof with curved leaves. The niches on the exterior walls and friezes on porch parapet wall are now empty. The low parapet wall is decorated with friezes and kudus. An entrance from portico leads us to a chamber divided by a wall. This wall segregates front and rear mandapa. Flight of steps leads us to second elevated chamber and gate of the second chamber leads us to a large hall with four pillars in center.

The sanctum is set in the center of the pillars, enclosed in walls. The earliest document of Chalukyan Chronology is asserted from Meguti Jain inscription. This inscription is inscribed on a vast Eastern wall of the shrine. This inscription was written by Poet, scholar and commander Ravikeerti in saka 556 means 634 A.D. Ravikeerti inscribed this inscription in Sanskrit language but script was old Kannada. As we know that Ravikeerti was contemporary of Great Chalukyan Emperor Pulakesi-II (610-642 A.D.). This inscription has initial verses dedicated to Lord Jina’s eulogy. Great Emperor Pulakesi also called upon as “Satyashray". This Inscription is an account of emperors Jayasimha, Ranaraga, Keertivarman, Pulakesi-I and Pulakesi-II expeditions, valour and victories over Kadambas, Pallavas, Nalas latas, Malavas and Gurjaras. The most important triumph of Pulakesi-II over Harsha on the bank of river Narmada. Finally poet Ravikeerti compared himself with Kalidasa and Bhairava in poetic skills and fame. This inscription seems older than triumph of Pallavas over Badami when Badami was under reign of Pallava for 13 years.