The Navabrahma Temples of Alampur

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur, sometimes written Nava Brahma temples, are a celebrated group of nine early Hindu temples at Alampur in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, in southern India, standing near the Tungabhadra river close to its confluence with the Krishna. Built by the Badami Chalukyas, the great early dynasty of the Deccan, and generally dated to about the seventh and eighth centuries, they are remarkable for being raised in a northern, or nagara, style of architecture, with curved rekha towers, in a region of the south. The town of Alampur is also revered as the seat of the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha, one of the sacred sites of the goddess, which adds to its religious importance. When the great Srisailam dam was built, some of the monuments of the area were carefully relocated to save them from the rising waters. Part of the wider story told in the guide to Indian temple architecture, this article explains their location, date, style, religious importance and lasting significance.

Key Takeaways

• The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are a group of nine early Hindu temples in Telangana, southern India.
• They stand near the Tungabhadra river, close to its confluence with the Krishna.
• They were built by the Badami Chalukyas and are generally dated to about the seventh and eighth centuries.
• They are notable for being raised in a northern, or nagara, style with curved towers, in a southern region.
• Alampur is revered as the seat of the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha, a sacred site of the goddess.
• Some monuments of the area were carefully relocated when the Srisailam dam was built.

The sections below explain where the temples stand, who built them and what a visitor can still see today.

Quick Facts

What Are the Navabrahma Temples of Alampur?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur, also written Nava Brahma temples, are a celebrated group of nine early Hindu temples at the town of Alampur in Telangana, in southern India, built by the Badami Chalukyas and admired as a remarkable early ensemble. Standing near the Tungabhadra river, they are generally dated to about the seventh and eighth centuries and are notable for being raised in a northern, or nagara, style of architecture, with curved rekha towers, in a region of the south. The nine temples, each bearing a name ending in Brahma, form a coherent group that records the temple building of the Chalukya age. The town is also revered as a sacred site of the goddess. Because their history rests on inscriptions and scholarship, they are described with care. The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are therefore best understood as an early group of nine Chalukya shrines, remarkable for their northern style and their place in the history of Deccan temple architecture.

Where Is Alampur Located?

Alampur is located in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, in southern India, standing near the Tungabhadra river close to the point where it joins the Krishna, one of the great rivers of the south. The setting on the river, in a region where the Tungabhadra and the Krishna meet, gives the town a sacred character, for such confluences are revered in Hindu tradition, and it has long been a place of pilgrimage and temple building. Alampur lies within reach of towns and cities of the wider Kurnool and Nandyal region, and is approached by road through the countryside of the Deccan. The riverside location has shaped both the religious importance and the history of the temples, including their relationship with the great dam built on the river system. The natural setting is central to the character of the site. The location of Alampur therefore places it on the Tungabhadra near its confluence with the Krishna, a sacred riverside setting in Telangana that has shaped the history of its celebrated temples.

When Were the Navabrahma Temples Built?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are generally dated to about the seventh and eighth centuries, placing them in the age of the Badami Chalukyas, the great early dynasty of the Deccan, under whose patronage they are believed to have been raised. Scholars assign them to this period on the basis of their architecture, their inscriptions and their place in the history of Chalukya temple building, and they are counted among the important early temple groups of the region. The building of so considerable a group of shrines reflects the resources and devotion of the Chalukya age and the flourishing of temple architecture in the Deccan at that time. As with many early temples, the exact dating of individual shrines rests on scholarship and the study of the monuments. The group belongs firmly to this early era. The building of the Navabrahma temples in about the seventh and eighth centuries therefore sets them in the great age of Chalukya temple architecture, as an important early ensemble of the Deccan.

Who Were the Badami Chalukyas?

The Badami Chalukyas were a great early dynasty of the Deccan, named from their capital at Badami, who ruled large parts of southern and central India and who were renowned as patrons of temple architecture. Under their rule, temple building flourished across the Deccan, producing celebrated groups of shrines in which the builders experimented with both northern and southern styles, making the Chalukya age a formative period in the history of Indian architecture. The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are among the works associated with this dynasty, reflecting its devotion and its support of the arts. The Chalukyas are remembered as among the foremost temple builders of early medieval India, and their monuments remain a prime subject of study. Their patronage shaped the temple architecture of a wide region. The Badami Chalukyas therefore form the historical background of the Navabrahma temples, connecting the shrines of Alampur to one of the great temple-building dynasties of the early medieval Deccan.

What Does the Name Navabrahma Mean?

The name Navabrahma means the nine Brahmas, and it refers to the group of nine temples at Alampur, each of which bears an individual name ending in the word Brahma, so that together they form the Navabrahma group. The individual temples are known by distinct names, each combining a descriptive word with Brahma, and the nine together make up the celebrated ensemble. Although the word Brahma appears in their names, the temples are shrines of the Hindu tradition in the usual sense, and the naming reflects local usage and religious tradition rather than any simple or single explanation. The grouping of nine shrines under a shared name is one of the distinctive features of Alampur. As with such matters, the precise origins of the names belong to tradition and scholarship. The name Navabrahma therefore identifies the nine temples of Alampur as a single celebrated group, each shrine bearing its own name ending in Brahma while all together form the famous ensemble of the site.

What Architectural Style Are the Temples?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are built in the northern, or nagara, style of Indian architecture, with curved rekha towers rising over their sanctuaries, a feature that makes them remarkable in their southern setting. The nagara style, with its characteristic curved spire, is generally associated with northern and eastern India, whereas the south is the home of the Dravida style with its tiered towers, and the appearance of northern-style shrines at Alampur reflects the way the Chalukya builders drew on both traditions. The temples are built of stone, with sanctuaries, halls and carved detail in the manner of the early Deccan, and their curved towers are among their most distinctive features. This blending of regional styles is one of the reasons the temples are so important to the study of Indian architecture. The style shows the experimental spirit of the Chalukya age. The architectural style of the Navabrahma temples is therefore the northern nagara mode, a striking choice in a southern region that marks them out as a special ensemble.

Why Is the Northern Style Notable Here in the South?

The northern style of the Navabrahma temples is especially notable because Alampur lies in the south, where the Dravida tradition, with its tiered pyramidal towers, is the usual form, so that the presence of curved nagara towers here is unexpected and revealing. The Badami Chalukyas were noted for building in both the northern and southern styles, and their monuments across the Deccan include experiments in each tradition, making the Chalukya age a meeting ground of the great architectural modes of India. At Alampur the builders chose the northern form, giving the group a character distinct from the Dravida temples that would later dominate the south. This makes the temples a valuable record of the exchange and blending of styles in early medieval India. They illustrate the openness of the Chalukya builders. The northern style of the Navabrahma temples is therefore notable in the south as evidence of the Chalukya practice of drawing on both traditions, making Alampur an important site for understanding the history of Indian temple architecture.

What Is the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha?

Alampur is revered as the seat of the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha, one of the sacred sites of the goddess in Hindu tradition, which adds greatly to the religious importance of the town and its temples. The Shakti Pithas are places honoured as holy sites of the goddess, revered across India as centres of her worship, and the association of Alampur with the Jogulamba Pitha makes it an important place of pilgrimage for devotees of the divine feminine. The goddess Jogulamba is worshipped here, and her shrine draws pilgrims seeking her blessings, so that the town is sacred both for its early Chalukya temples and for its place among the holy sites of the goddess. This dual importance, architectural and devotional, is central to the character of Alampur. The Pitha gives the town a living religious role. The Jogulamba Shakti Pitha therefore makes Alampur a revered centre of goddess worship, adding a powerful devotional dimension to the fame of its early Navabrahma temples.

Who Is the Goddess Jogulamba?

Jogulamba is the goddess worshipped at Alampur, revered as the deity of the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha and honoured as a form of the divine mother in the tradition of goddess worship. As the presiding goddess of one of the sacred sites of the Pithas, she holds an important place in the devotion of the region, and her shrine draws pilgrims who come to seek her grace. The worship of the goddess at Alampur belongs to the broad and ancient tradition of honouring the divine feminine, which is expressed across India in the many sacred sites of the goddess. Her presence makes Alampur a living centre of pilgrimage alongside its historic temples. As with such matters, the details of her worship belong to religious tradition and local devotion. The goddess Jogulamba therefore stands at the devotional heart of Alampur, her Shakti Pitha making the town a revered place of goddess worship in addition to its fame for the early Navabrahma temples.

How Were the Temples Affected by the Srisailam Dam?

The building of the great Srisailam dam on the river system of the region affected the monuments of Alampur, and some of them were carefully relocated to higher ground to save them from the rising waters of the reservoir. Large dam projects can submerge low-lying land, and when historic monuments lie in the path of the rising water, they are sometimes dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere, a difficult and painstaking task undertaken to preserve them for the future. In the case of Alampur, this effort helped safeguard important temples that would otherwise have been lost, reflecting the value placed on the heritage of the site. Such relocations are a notable example of the care taken to protect monuments in the face of modern development. The episode is part of the modern history of the temples. The Srisailam dam therefore forms part of the recent story of Alampur, prompting the careful relocation of some of its monuments to preserve the heritage of the site for future generations.

What Sculpture and Carving Do the Temples Have?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are enriched with early Chalukya sculpture and carving, covering their walls, towers and halls with images of deities, decorative motifs and figural ornament in the manner of the early Deccan. The carving reflects the religious ideas and the artistic traditions of the Chalukya age, with images drawn from the Hindu pantheon and ornament worked into the stone with the skill of the period. Because the temples belong to an early and formative stage of Deccan architecture, their sculpture is valuable evidence of the art of the age and of the blending of northern and southern traditions. The decoration adds beauty and meaning to the shrines, complementing their distinctive curved towers. The quality of the carving reflects the accomplishment of the Chalukya craftsmen. The sculpture and carving of the Navabrahma temples therefore form an important part of their value, a rich early body of work that both adorns the shrines and illuminates the art of the early medieval Deccan.

Why Is the Tungabhadra Setting Significant?

The setting of Alampur near the Tungabhadra river, close to its confluence with the Krishna, is significant both for its sacred character and for the way it has shaped the history of the temples. Confluences of great rivers are revered in Hindu tradition as especially holy places, and the position of Alampur near the meeting of the Tungabhadra and the Krishna has long given it religious importance, drawing pilgrims and encouraging the building of temples. The river setting also connects the town to the wider sacred geography of the region, including other revered sites along these rivers. At the same time, the riverside location brought the temples within the reach of the great dam project, prompting the relocation of some monuments. The waters are thus central to both the sanctity and the modern history of the site. The Tungabhadra setting of Alampur is therefore significant as a sacred riverside location that has shaped the religious importance and the history of its celebrated Navabrahma temples.

How Do They Compare With Other Chalukya Temples?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur compare with the other great works of the Badami Chalukyas as an important early group, distinguished especially by their northern, nagara style in a southern setting. The Chalukyas left celebrated groups of temples across the Deccan, famous for their experiments in both the northern and the southern styles, and Alampur takes its place among these as a site where the northern form was chosen. Compared with the Chalukya temples that follow the Dravida tradition, the Alampur shrines show the dynasty’s openness to the architecture of the north, offering a valuable contrast. Studying them alongside the other Chalukya monuments reveals the range and ambition of the dynasty’s builders and the meeting of styles in early medieval India. They form a key part of this larger story. The Navabrahma temples of Alampur therefore hold a distinguished place among Chalukya temples, valued as an important example of the northern style within the dynasty’s wider achievement in the Deccan.

How Are the Temples Protected and Preserved?

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur are protected as monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India, with authorities responsible for documenting, conserving and safeguarding the ancient shrines, their towers and their sculpture. The age of the temples, the effects of weather on the stone and the challenges posed by their riverside setting make conservation an ongoing task, and the careful relocation of some monuments to save them from the waters of the dam is a notable example of this work. Conservation aims to stabilise the buildings and protect their carved surfaces while respecting their historic and sacred character. The protected status helps preserve the group as a whole for study and worship. Because the arrangements and status of monuments can change over time, visitors are advised to consult current information before a visit. The preservation of the Navabrahma temples therefore depends on cooperation between heritage authorities and respectful visitors who value their place among the important early temples of the Deccan and of India.

How Can Visitors Experience Alampur?

Visitors can experience the Navabrahma temples of Alampur by travelling to the town in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, reached by road through the Deccan countryside from the towns and cities of the wider region. The cooler months are generally the most comfortable for travel in this warm part of southern India, and visitors should allow time to explore the group of temples and the sacred riverside setting. As the site is both a historic monument and a living place of pilgrimage, with the shrine of the goddess Jogulamba, visitors should treat it with respect, dress modestly and follow the customs of the sacred places. Exploring the nine temples on foot allows their distinctive northern towers and early carving to be appreciated. Combining the visit with other sites of the region makes for a rewarding journey. A well planned trip therefore allows the Navabrahma temples of Alampur to be enjoyed as both an architectural treasure and a sacred centre of the Deccan.

The Navabrahma Temples of Alampur Today

The Navabrahma temples of Alampur today remain an important group of early Deccan shrines, standing near the Tungabhadra in Telangana as a record of the temple building of the Badami Chalukyas and as a living centre of goddess worship. Admired for their northern, nagara style in a southern setting, their early Chalukya carving and their association with the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha, they continue to draw pilgrims, scholars and travellers exploring the heritage of the Deccan. The temples preserve, in their stone, the devotion and the artistry of the Chalukya age, and the careful relocation of some monuments in the face of the Srisailam dam shows the value placed on their survival. Continued conservation, respectful visits and scholarly study help ensure that they endure for future generations. For those exploring the sacred and historic sites of the south, the Navabrahma temples make a memorable destination. They thus stand as a lasting witness to the early flowering of temple architecture in the Deccan and to the worship of the goddess at Alampur.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Telangana (telanganatourism.gov.in).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Navabrahma temples of Alampur located?

The Navabrahma temples are located at Alampur in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, in southern India. They stand near the Tungabhadra river, close to its confluence with the Krishna, and are reached by road through the Deccan countryside.

Who built the Navabrahma temples?

The Navabrahma temples were built by the Badami Chalukyas, the great early dynasty of the Deccan renowned as patrons of temple architecture. They are generally dated to about the seventh and eighth centuries.

What is special about the architecture of the Alampur temples?

The Alampur temples are notable for being built in the northern, or nagara, style, with curved towers, in a southern region where the Dravida style is usual. This reflects the Chalukya practice of drawing on both the northern and southern traditions.

What is the Jogulamba Shakti Pitha?

The Jogulamba Shakti Pitha is one of the sacred sites of the goddess in Hindu tradition, and Alampur is revered as its seat. This makes the town an important place of pilgrimage for devotees of the goddess, alongside its fame for the Navabrahma temples.

How were the Alampur temples affected by the Srisailam dam?

When the great Srisailam dam was built, some of the monuments of the Alampur area were carefully relocated to higher ground to save them from the rising waters. This painstaking effort helped preserve important temples for the future.

What does the name Navabrahma mean?

The name Navabrahma means the nine Brahmas and refers to the group of nine temples at Alampur, each bearing an individual name ending in the word Brahma. Together they form the celebrated Navabrahma ensemble.