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Pranala

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Drainage spout
A pranala at the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur
Another pranala at the Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

In Hindu temple architecture, a pranala (IAST: praṇāla) is a discharge outlet attached to the wall of the sanctum. It discharges the lustral water or other liquids poured over the idols.

History

The earliest evidence of the pranalas can be dated back to 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE in Kankali Tila archeological site in northern India. The pranalas continued to be used in the subsequent years, including the Gupta period. However, the elaborately sculptured pranalas first appear only in the 8th century CE. The pranalas were common in several parts of India; they were less common in the Hindu architecture of Southeast Asia, except in Java.

The pranala is also known as praṇāli, nāla, nāli, gomukha, or nirgama. Some 20th century French archaeologists have used the term "soma-sūtra" to describe the pranala, but Indian texts clearly distinguish between these two terms: a soma-sūtra is a line along which the pranala is placed.

Designs

Pranalas are used to drain out the abhisheka-teertham water, milk, ghee, etc. poured over the temple idols.

The most common type of pranala in historical temples is the makara-pranala, which is similar to the European gargoyle. It depicts the mythical sea-creature makara (also called graha). The popularity of the makara-pranala probably results from the creature's association with water. The 11th century text Samarangana Sutradhara recommends making a pranali (that is, pranala) drain all around the sanctum, with an outlet in the shape of a graha (or makara). Vishvakarma's Vastushastra, a late 11th century compendium on the Māru-Gurjara architecture, also mentions the pranala. Aparajita-prchchha, dated late 12th to early 13th century, refers to the makara-pranala used to clear the water out of the temple's jagati (platform).

The next most common type of pranala is the grasa-pranala, which depicts the grasa (also known as kirtimukha) mythical creature. The gorgon of the early Greek temples inspired the Indian grasa-pranala, which in turn, inspired the similar motifs in South-East Asia, particularly Java. The grasa-pranala is common in the historical temples of south India; a few examples have also been discovered in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.

The simha-pranala, which depicts a lion, is similar to the grasa-pranala. It is probably inspired by the lion-head spouts that were common in Classical Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman temples. A variation of this form is the simha-nala, which features a tube coming out of a lion's mouth: the tip of the tube may depict another lion's mouth (this type is called simha-mukha-nala), or another object, such as a lotus bud.

Other forms include:

  • Bhuta-pranala: depicts a bhuta or jambhaka, a goblin-like creature.
  • Ghata-pranala: depicts a ghata or spherical plot, often held by a human figure.
  • Marala-pali: depicts the peripheral wall of a house (marala) and a pot (pali) stationed for collecting the drainage water.
  • Snapana-griha or Chandesha-griha: A special shrine for a Chandesha (IAST: Caṇḍeśa, a deity); the water from the temple's sanctum is received into this shrine.
  • Undecorated nala: These are inornate water spouts; common in temples of Tamil Nadu (especially those from the Chola period).

Pranalas with unique designs also exist: for example, the Koteshwara Temple in Srikakulam has a pranala in which the water spouts out of the bust of a Nandi figure.

Examples

Some notable examples of the pranala are:

Type Location Date Style Source
makara-matsya (fish) IN-UP: Kankali Tila (now at Mathura Museum) c. 1st century BCE-2nd century CE probably Satraps of Mathura
makara-matsya IN-UP: Mathura Museum c. 1st century-2nd century probably Kushana
makara IN-UP: Rajghat, Varanasi c. 1st century-2nd century Satraps-Kushana or Tribal
simha-mukha (two pieces) LK-7: Anuradhapura: Thuparamaya c. 2nd-3rd century ?
grasa IN-MH: Brick temple, Gondia c. 5th century Vakataka
grasa IN-MP: Tigawa c. 5th century Gupta
grasa IN-MP: Bhumara Temple c. 5th century Gupta
grasa IN-MP: Mahdia temple c. 5th century Gupta
makara IN-RJ: Gupta temple, Nagari c. mid-5th century Gupta
makara IN-MP: Gupta temple, Deogarh c. late 5th century Gupta
makara pranalas (two pieces) IN-UP: Sarnath Museum c. 5th-6th century Late Gupta
grasa / matanga-makara IN-MP: Shiva temple, Tala c. 6th century Post-Vakataka
bhuta IN-TN: Dharmaraja Ratha, Mahabalipuram c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava)
kapi (monkey) IN-TN: Dharma-raja ratha, Mahabalipuram c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava)
kalamakara (vyala-makara hybrid) VN-27: Trà Kiệu, Vietnam c. mid-7th century Champa
makara IN-KA: Lakulisha temple, Siddanakolla c. 700 Early Karnata (Chalukya)
makara IN-TG: Sangameshvara temple, Kudaveli c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Andhra school (early Chalukya)
grasa IN-KA:Galaganatha Temple, Pattadakal c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Alampur school (early Chalukya)
grasa IN-KA:Virupaksha (Lokeshvara) Temple, Pattadakal c. 725-733 Early Chalukya
grasa IN-KA:Sangameshwara Temple, Pattadakal c. 740 Early Chalukya
matanga-nakra IN-MP: Teli ka Mandir c. mid-8th century Early Gopadri
damaged IN-MH: Kailasha temple, Ellora c. 756-776 Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta)
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura Museum c. 8th century or earlier
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura (Isurumuniya) c. 8th century
makara (graha) ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia c. 8th century Javanese
ghata held by Nagaraja IN-AP: Madhukeshwara Temple, Mukhalingam c. 8th century (last quarter) Early Kalinga (Bhauma-Kara)
ghata held by two vidyadharis IN-RJ: Harshat mata temple, Abhaneri (now at Amber Museum) c. late 8th century Sapadalaksha (probably early Chahamana)
grasa ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia c. 800 Javanese
bhuta IN-TN: Kaveripakkam c. 800 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava)
makara KH-13: Prasat Krahom, Cambodia c. 825-875 Cambodian
makara IN-RJ: Vishnu temple, Kusuma c. mid-9th century Maha-Gurjara
simha IN-AP: Nakkala gudi temple at Biccavolu c. 9th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya)
bhuta IN-TN: Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam c. 875 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava)
simha-nala IN-TN: Apatsahayesvarar Temple c. 884 Cholanadu (early Chola)
makara VN-27: Mỹ Sơn, Vietnam c. 9th or 10th century Champa
grasa IN-KA: Akka-Tangai temple, Manne c. early 10th century Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta)
grasa IN-KA: Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali c. early 10th century Late Karnata (Chalukya)
snapana-griha IN-GJ: Trinetreshvara temple, Tarnetar c. 10th century (2nd quarter) Maha-Gurjara (Chapa)
makara IN-KA: Lakshmaneshvara temple, Avani c. 934 Nolambavadi (Nolamba)
simsumara (a sea-creature) IN-AP: Bhimeshvara temple at Bhimavaram c. 10th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya)
ghata held by a vidyadhara IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho c. 954 Jejakabukti (Chandella)
bhuta IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho c. 954 Jejakabukti (Chandella)
makara KH-17: Pre Rup, Cambodia c. 947-965 Cambodian
snapana-griha IN-RJ: Ambika Mata Temple, Jagat, Rajasthan c. 961 Maha-Gurjara (Guhila)
simha-nala IN-TN: Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple 986 Cholanadu (Middle Chola)
makara IN-KA: Nandappa temple, Sirwal c. 10th century (last quarter) Later Karnata (Chalukya)
nala IN-TN: Enadi Siva Temple c. late 10th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya)
nala IN-TN: Kandalishvara temple, Tenneri c. 995 or earlier Cholanadu (Later Chola)
kari-makara, a hybrid of an elephant and a makara IN-BR: Indian Museum, Kolkata, found in Bihar c. 10th-11th century Early Magadha (late Pala)
ghata held by a vidyadhari IN-MP: Gurgi (Gurh); now at Ahmedabad Municipal Museum c. 10th-11th century Dahala (Chedi)
marala-pali / ghata held by a human figure, possibly Chandesha IN-RJ: Nagada c. 1000 Maha-Gurjara
nala, with a lion figure at the bottom IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Sakalabuvaneswarar Temple complex, Tirumeeyachur c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola)
simha-mukha with floral ending IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Muyarchinatheswarar Temple complex c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola)
simha-mukha IN-TN: Kailasanathar temple, Brahmadesam c. early 11th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya)
ghata held by a human figure IN-GJ: Shiva temple, Kevan (near Shravana, Sabarkantha) c. early 11th century Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya)
vyala IN-KL: Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur (main temple and Rama shrine) c. early 11th century Middle Kerala
makara IN-KA: Jain Temple, Lakkundi 1008 Later Karnata (Chalukya)
bhuta IN-TN: Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur 1010 Chola
nala with makara IN-KA: Galageshvara temple, Galaganatha c. 1025 Later Karnata (Chalukya)
makara IN-GJ: Mahavira marble temple, Kumbharia c. 1062 Maru-Gurjara style
? IN-MP: Udayeshvara temple, Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh c. 1080 Malava (Paramara)
simha-nala IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Amman shrine c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola)
simha-nala IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Shrine No. 1 c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola)
vyala IN-KL: Rama temple, Triprayar c. 11th century CE Middle Kerala
makara IN-RJ: Chandravati temple c. 11th century Maru-Gurjara style
makara IN-MP: Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur 11th century
makara IN-MP: Bijamandala mosque, Vidisha c. 11th century Malava (Paramara) style
makara IN-MP: Adinatha temple, Khajuraho c. 11th century (3rd quarter) Jejakabukti (Chandella)
ghata held by a vidyadhara or Chandesha IN-MP: Indore Museum c. late 11th century Malava (Paramara-Guhila)
kari-makara IN-BR: Munger, now at Patna Museum c. 11th-12th century Late Magadha style, possibly from the Sena period
simha-nala, with bhuta supporting the pranala from below IN-TN: Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Melakadambur c. 1110-1113 Cholanadu (Chola, Late phase)
makara IN-KA: Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli 1112 Later Karnata (Hoysala)
makara IN-KA: Chennakeshvara Temple, Marale 1130 Later Karnata (Hoysala)
simha-mukha IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple 1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola)
simha IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple complex - Daivanayaki-Amman shrine 1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola)
nala LK-7: Shiva Devale No. 1, Polonnaruwa c. 12th century Later Cholanadu (Later Chola)
makara, with a bhuta below, and a goddess above IN-AP: Bhavannarayana temple, Sarpavaram c. 12th century Later Andhra (Eastern Chalukya)
simsumara (a sea-creature) IN-AP: Mandavya-Narayana temple at Samalkota c. 12th century Late Vengi (Eastern Chalukya)
makara IN-GJ: Jina Ajitanatha, Taranga c. 1165 Maru-Gurjara style
matanga-makara (elephant-makara) IN-AP: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam c. 1238-1268 Andhra-Kalinga style (Ganga)
makara IN-MH: Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar c. 13th century Seuna-desha style
makara IN-MP: Bhoramdeo Temple, Madhya Pradesh c. 13th century Dahala-Andhra (Chedi-Kakatiya) style
nakra (crocodile) IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga)
matanga-makara or saunda-makara (elephant-makara hybrid) IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga)
nandi IN-AP: Koteshwara Temple, Srikakulam c. 15th century Vijayanagara
nala IN-TN: Vaishnava temple, Srimushnam c. 15th century Nayaka
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth IN-TN: Amman shrine, Ambika temple complex, Kalakadu c. late 15th century Nayaka
simha-nala IN-TN: Avudaiyarkoil temple c. late 15th or early 16th century Madurai Nayaka
simha-nala IN-TN: Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi c. 15th-16th century Thanjavur Nayaka
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth IN-TN: Bhaktavatsala temple, Cheranmahadevi c. early 16th century Nayaka
nala with floral petals IN-KA:Rameshvara temple, Keladi c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka
nala with floral petals IN-KA:Virabhadra temple, Keladi c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka
nala with lion head at orifice, and lotus bud at the tip IN-KA: Vitthala temple, Hampi c. 16th century (first half) Vijayanagara
simha-nala IN-KA: Aghoreshvara temple, Ikkeri c. 1515-1545 Ikkeri-Nayaka
nala IN-KA: Amman shrine, Vitthala temple complex, Hampi c. 16th century Vijayanagara
simha-nala IN-TN: Chandramouleeswar temple, Thiruvakkarai c. 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka
simha-nala IN-TN: Vedagiriswarar temple c. late 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka
simha-nala IN-TN: Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka
simha-nala IN-TN: Swaminathaswamy temple, Swamimalai c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka
nala IN-TN: Raghaveshvara temple, Darasaguppe c. 16th-17th century Nayaka
nala IN-TN: Subrahmanya shrine, Brihadishvara temple complex, Thanjavur c. 17th century Nayaka

References

  1. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 121.
  2. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 119.
  3. S. K. R. Rao 2001, p. 103.
  4. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 147–148.
  5. S. P. Gupta & S. N. Vijayakumar 2010, p. 204.
  6. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 134.
  7. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 122.
  8. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 141.
  9. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 138.
  10. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 139.
  11. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 147–149.
  12. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 143.
  13. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 144.
  14. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 145.
  15. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 151–52.
  16. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 157.
  17. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 132–135.
  18. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 139–140.
  19. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 137.
  20. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 136.
  21. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. Appendix.
  22. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 137–138.
  23. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 141–142.
  24. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 132.
  25. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 129.
  26. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 128–129.
  27. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 161.
  28. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 130.
  29. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 130–132.
  30. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 131–132.
  31. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 140–141.
  32. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 142.
  33. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 127, 139.
  34. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 148.
  35. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 126–127.
  36. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 143–144.
  37. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 143–145.
  38. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 151.
  39. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 124–125.
  40. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 149, 152.
  41. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 149, 153.
  42. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 149.
  43. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 152–153.
  44. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 161–162.
  45. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 154.
  46. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 123.
  47. M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 125–126.
  48. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 150.
  49. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, pp. 153–154.
  50. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 152.
  51. M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 153.
  52. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 126.
  53. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 124.
  54. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 155.
  55. ^ M. A. Dhaky 1982, p. 156.

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