Dambal

Dambal
—  village  —
Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, 12th century CE
Dambal Location of Dambal in Karnataka and India
Coordinates	15°19′41″N 75°48′37″E / 15.32806°N 75.81028°E / 15.32806; 75.81028Coordinates: 15°19′41″N 75°48′37″E / 15.32806°N 75.81028°E / 15.32806; 75.81028
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District(s)	Gadag District
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)

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.^[1]

Dambal is at an elevation of 590 metres and its population is 21,096.^[2]

History

Under the rule of the Mauryas and Satavahana, the teachings of Buddha flourished in Karnataka. Buddhist relics are found scattered around the town.^[3]

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.^[4]

Doddabasappa Temple

Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, 12th century CE

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.^[5]

Each right angle is divided into four 22.5 degrees angles. Then each angle is again divided and covered with intricate carvings.^[6]

Twenty-four pointed stellate plan of vimana of Dodda Basappa Temple in Dambal, North Karnataka, 12th century CE

See also

• North Karnataka
• Tourism in North Karnataka
• Gadag
• Lakkundi
• Mahadeva Temple (Itagi)

• Vesara

Notes

1. ^ "The Buddhist Legacy â€" Buddhism in Karnataka". http://www.dharwad.com/dcforum/dharwad/321.html. Retrieved 2006-12-18. 
2. ^ "Dambal, India Page". http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Dambal.html. Retrieved 2007-01-25. 
3. ^ "Kamat Research Database - Buddhist System of Education". http://www.kamat.com/database/books/kareducation/buddhist_education.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-12. 
4. ^ "The Buddhist Legacy". http://www.dharwad.com/dcforum/dharwad/321.html. Retrieved 2007-03-12. 
5. ^ "Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent". http://www.indoarch.org/. Retrieved 2006-12-18. 
6. ^ "Dodda Basappa temple - 12th century". http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D227%2BM%3D1052. Retrieved 2006-12-19. 

External links

• History of Indian Art
• Article on: Architecture