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The Navalinga temple is a cluster of Hindu temples built in the 9th century, during the reign of King Amoghavarsha I or his son Krishna II of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. The temple is located in the town of Kukkanur (also called Kuknur), north of Itagi in Koppal district and east of Gadag in Karnataka state, India. Built in the South Indian ''Dravidian architecture, dravida'' style, each of the nine temples in the cluster has a ''linga'', the universal symbol of Hinduism, Hindu God Shiva, and hence the name ''Navalinga'' (literally, 'nine ').Cousens (1926), p. 74
The pillars in the halls are of better quality than seen at Pattadakal, indicating an advancement of this art from the previous centuries. Architraves were popular and a very good example has survived and has two ''makara (Hindu mythology), makaras'' (mythical beasts) with circular scales and florid tails. The temple complex has two well preserved old-Kannada epigraphy, inscriptions. Fifteen inscriptions are found in the town in all which mostly date from 1005 CE to 1186 CE, though a few from the Vijayanagara Empire, Vijayanagara period also exist. The inscriptions mention grants to temples of various Hindu goddesses such as Chamundi, Ganga, Sarasvati, Kalikadevi and Mahamayi as well as God Mallikarjuna. It is proposed that the ''Navalinga'' temples may have originally been consecrated in honor of these goddesses.
The Navalinga temple is a cluster of Hindu temples built in the 9th century, during the reign of King Amoghavarsha I or his son Krishna II of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. The temple is located in the town of Kukkanur (also called Kuknur), north of Itagi in Koppal district and east of Gadag in Karnataka state, India. Built in the South Indian ''Dravidian architecture, dravida'' style, each of the nine temples in the cluster has a ''linga'', the universal symbol of Hinduism, Hindu God Shiva, and hence the name ''Navalinga'' (literally, 'nine ').Cousens (1926), p. 74
General plan
A clusters of temples, the ''Navalinga'' group appears to have been placed asymmetrically, without any particular order. Despite being constructed from inferior quality sandstone, the decorative finish is rich, though much of it is lost due to degradation of the shrine walls.Cousens (1926), p. 75 Each of the shrines has a South Indian style ''shikhara'' (superstructure). The ensemble has four ''mantapas'' (hall) in all, three of which are in a line going east-west and open to the shrines. Each of the shrines has a Shiva ''linga'' in the sanctum, though the lintel above the entrance has an image of Gajalakshmi, the consort of God Vishnu.Sculpture
The pillars in the halls are of better quality than seen at Pattadakal, indicating an advancement of this art from the previous centuries. Architraves were popular and a very good example has survived and has two ''makara (Hindu mythology), makaras'' (mythical beasts) with circular scales and florid tails. The temple complex has two well preserved old-Kannada epigraphy, inscriptions. Fifteen inscriptions are found in the town in all which mostly date from 1005 CE to 1186 CE, though a few from the Vijayanagara Empire, Vijayanagara period also exist. The inscriptions mention grants to temples of various Hindu goddesses such as Chamundi, Ganga, Sarasvati, Kalikadevi and Mahamayi as well as God Mallikarjuna. It is proposed that the ''Navalinga'' temples may have originally been consecrated in honor of these goddesses.
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References
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{{Hindu temples in Karnataka 9th-century Hindu temples Hindu temples in Koppal district Shiva temples in Karnataka