Question

Q5. With reference to Aihole consider the statements

1. It is on the banks of the river Malaprabha

2. Aihole was known in ancient India as Aryapur or Ayyavole

3. The western Chalukya dynasty, established by Pulakeshin I has contributed to this site

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

• A. a) All of the above
• B. b) Only 1 and 3
• C. c) Only 1
• D. d) None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is D

d) None of the above

Mythology

• It is believed that Parashurama came to the river Malaprabha to wash his bloodied axe after avenging the death of his father Jamadagni and killing the entire Kshatriya clan.
• At the sight of blood in the river, he apparently cried, “Ai, ai holey! (Ah, the river!)”.

Temples

• The oldest temple in Aihole is the Lad Khan temple named after a Lad Khan who lived on its premises
• Durga temple: there is a magnificent statue of goddess Durga in her Mahishasura Mardini form, this was probably a Shiva or Vishnu temple and got its name from the word ‘Durg’ (fortress). At some later point, this temple was used as part of the region’s fortifications.
• striking feature about the Durga temple is that it is built to resemble a Buddhist chaitya hall in imitation of Buddhist rock-cut architecture