Pranala

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.

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

History

The earliest evidence of the pranalas can be dated to the Shaka-Kushana period 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.[1]

The pranala is also known as praṇāli, nāla, nāli,[2] gomukha, or nirgama.[3] 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.[4]

Designs

Pranalas are used to drain out the abhisheka-teertham water, milk, ghee, etc. poured over the temple idols.[5]

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).[1] The popularity of the makara-pranala probably results from the creature's association with water.[6] 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.[1] 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).[7]

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.[8] The grasa-pranala is common in the historical temples of south India;[9] a few examples have also been discovered in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.[10]

The simha-pranala, which depicts a lion, is similar to the grasa-pranala.[10] It is probably inspired by the lion-head spouts that were common in Classical Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman temples.[8] 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.[11]

Other forms include:

  • Bhuta-pranala: depicts a bhuta or jambhaka, a goblin-like creature.[8]
  • Ghata-pranala: depicts a ghata or spherical plot, often held by a human figure.[12]
  • Marala-pali: depicts the peripheral wall of a house (marala) and a pot (pali) stationed for collecting the drainage water.[13]
  • 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.[14]
  • Undecorated nala: These are inornate water spouts; common in temples of Tamil Nadu (especially those from the Chola period).[15]

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.[16]

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 Shaka [17]
makara-matsya IN-UP: Mathura Museum c. 1st century-2nd century probably Kushana [17]
makara IN-UP: Rajghat, Varanasi c. 1st century-2nd century Shaka-Kushana or Tribal [17]
simha-mukha (two pieces) LK-7: Anuradhapura: Thuparamaya c. 2nd-3rd century  ? [18]
grasa IN-MH: Brick temle, Gondia c. 5th century Vakataka [8]
grasa IN-MP: Tigawa c. 5th century Gupta [19]
grasa IN-MP: Bhumara Temple c. 5th century Gupta [19]
grasa IN-MP: Mahdia temple c. 5th century Gupta [19]
makara IN-RJ: Gupta temple, Nagari c. mid-5th century Gupta [20]
makara IN-MP: Gupta temple, Deogarh c. late 5th century Gupta [20]
makara pranalas (two pieces) IN-UP: Sarnath Museum c. 5th-6th century Late Gupta [21]
grasa / matanga-makara IN-MP: Shiva temple, Tala c. 6th century Post-Vakataka [22]
bhuta IN-TN: Dharmaraja Ratha, Mahabalipuram c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava) [23]
kapi (monkey) IN-TN: Dharma-raja ratha, Mahabalipuram c. 640 Tondainadu (Pallava) [23]
kalamakara (vyala-makara hybrid) VN-27: Trà Kiệu, Vietnam c. mid-7th century Champa [24]
makara IN-KA: Lakulisha temple, Siddanakolla c. 700 Early Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
makara IN-TG: Sangameshvara temple, Kudaveli c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Andhra school (early Chalukya) [26]
grasa IN-KA:Galaganatha Temple, Pattadakal c. early 8th century Karnata-Nagara: Alampur school (early Chalukya) [10]
grasa IN-KA:Virupaksha (Lokeshvara) Temple, Pattadakal c. 725-733 Early Chalukya [10]
grasa IN-KA:Sangameshwara Temple, Pattadakal c. 740 Early Chalukya [10]
matanga-nakra IN-MP: Teli ka Mandir c. mid-8th century Early Gopadri [19]
damaged IN-MH: Kailasha temple, Ellora c. 756-776 Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta) [27]
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura Museum c. 8th century or earlier [28]
makara LK-7: Anuradhapura (Isurumuniya) c. 8th century [29]
makara (graha) ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia c. 8th century Javanese [30]
ghata held by Nagaraja IN-AP: Madhukeshwara Temple, Mukhalingam c. 8th century (last quarter) Early Kalinga (Bhauma-Kara) [12]
ghata held by two vidyadharis IN-RJ: Harshat mata temple, Abhaneri (now at Amber Museum) c. late 8th century Sapadalaksha (probably early Chahamana) [13]
grasa ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia c. 800 Javanese [31]
bhuta IN-TN: Kaveripakkam c. 800 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) [32]
makara KH-13: Prasat Krahom, Cambodia c. 825-875 Cambodian [24]
makara IN-RJ: Vishnu temple, Kusuma c. mid-9th century Maha-Gurjara [9]
simha IN-AP: Nakkala gudi temple at Biccavolu c. 9th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) [33]
bhuta IN-TN: Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam c. 875 Late Tondainadu (Late Pallava) [32]
simha-nala IN-TN: Apatsahayesvarar Temple c. 884 Cholanadu (early Chola) [34]
makara VN-27: Mỹ Sơn, Vietnam c. 9th or 10th century Champa [24]
grasa IN-KA: Akka-Tangai temple, Manne c. early 10th century Early Karnata (Rashtrakuta) [10]
grasa IN-KA: Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali c. early 10th century Late Karnata (Chalukya) [10]
snapana-griha IN-GJ: Trinetreshvara temple, Tarnetar c. 10th century (2nd quarter) Maha-Gurjara (Chapa) [14]
makara IN-KA: Lakshmaneshvara temple, Avani c. 934 Nolambavadi (Nolamba) [25]
simsumara (a sea-creature) IN-AP: Bhimeshvara temple at Bhimavaram c. 10th century Andhra Style (Eastern Chalukya) [35]
ghata held by a vidyadhara IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho c. 954 Jejakabukti (Chandella) [36]
bhuta IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho c. 954 Jejakabukti (Chandella) [32]
makara KH-17: Pre Rup, Cambodia c. 947-965 Cambodian [24]
snapana-griha IN-RJ: Ambika Mata Temple, Jagat, Rajasthan c. 961 Maha-Gurjara (Guhila) [37]
simha-nala IN-TN: Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple 986 Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [34]
makara IN-KA: Nandappa temple, Sirwal c. 10th century (last quarter) Later Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
nala IN-TN: Enadi Siva Temple c. late 10th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) [34]
nala IN-TN: Kandalishvara temple, Tenneri c. 995 or earlier Cholanadu (Later Chola) [38]
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) [39]
ghata held by a vidyadhari IN-MP: Gurgi (Gurh); now at Ahmedabad Municipal Museum c. 10th-11th century Dahala (Chedi) [36]
marala-pali / ghata held by a human figure, possibly Chandesha IN-RJ: Nagada c. 1000 Maha-Gurjara [37]
nala, with a lion figure at the bottom IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Sakalabuvaneswarar Temple complex, Tirumeeyachur c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [40]
simha-mukha with floral ending IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Muyarchinatheswarar Temple complex c. early 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [41]
simha-mukha IN-TN: Kailasanathar temple, Brahmadesam c. early 11th century Pandinadu (Chola-Pandya) [42]
ghata held by a human figure IN-GJ: Shiva temple, Kevan (near Shravana, Sabarkantha) c. early 11th century Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya) [37]
vyala IN-KL: Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur (main temple and Rama shrine) c. early 11th century Middle Kerala [21]
makara IN-KA: Jain Temple, Lakkundi 1008 Later Karnata (Chalukya) [25]
bhuta IN-TN: Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur 1010 Chola [43]
nala with makara IN-KA: Galageshvara temple, Galaganatha c. 1025 Later Karnata (Chalukya) [21]
makara IN-GJ: Mahavira marble temple, Kumbharia c. 1062 Maru-Gurjara style [7]
 ? IN-MP: Udayeshvara temple, Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh c. 1080 Malava (Paramara) [44]
simha-nala IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Amman shrine c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [45]
simha-nala IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Shrine No. 1 c. 11th century Cholanadu (Middle Chola) [45]
vyala IN-KL: Rama temple, Triprayar c. 11th century CE Middle Kerala [21]
makara IN-RJ: Chandravati temple c. 11th century Maru-Gurjara style [7]
makara IN-MP: Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur 11th century [7]
makara IN-MP: Bijamandala mosque, Vidisha c. 11th century Malava (Paramara) style [7]
makara IN-MP: Adinatha temple, Khajuraho c. 11th century (3rd quarter) Jejakabukti (Chandella) [46]
ghata held by a vidyadhara or Chandesha IN-MP: Indore Museum c. late 11th century Malava (Paramara-Guhila) [13]
kari-makara IN-BR: Munger, now at Patna Museum c. 11th-12th century Late Magadha style, possibly from the Sena period [47]
simha-nala, with bhuta supporting the pranala from below IN-TN: Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Melakadambur c. 1110-1113 Cholanadu (Chola, Late phase) [48]
makara IN-KA: Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli 1112 Later Karnata (Hoysala) [28]
makara IN-KA: Chennakeshvara Temple, Marale 1130 Later Karnata (Hoysala) [28]
simha-mukha IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple 1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola) [49]
simha IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple complex - Daivanayaki-Amman shrine 1146-1172 Cholanadu (Late Chola) [49]
nala LK-7: Shiva Devale No. 1, Polonnaruwa c. 12th century Later Cholanadu (Later Chola) [50]
makara, with a bhuta below, and a goddess above IN-AP: Bhavannarayana temple, Sarpavaram c. 12th century Later Andhra (Eastern Chalukya) [51]
simsumara (a sea-creature) IN-AP: Mandavya-Narayana temple at Samalkota c. 12th century Late Vengi (Eastern Chalukya) [52]
makara IN-GJ: Jina Ajitanatha, Taranga c. 1165 Maru-Gurjara style [7]
matanga-makara (elephant-makara) IN-AP: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam c. 1238-1268 Andhra-Kalinga style (Ganga) [52]
makara IN-MH: Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar c. 13th century Seuna-desha style [7]
makara IN-MP: Bhoramdeo Temple, Madhya Pradesh c. 13th century Dahala-Andhra (Chedi-Kakatiya) style [46]
nakra (crocodile) IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga) [53]
matanga-makara or saunda-makara (elephant-makara hybrid) IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex c. 13th century Later Kalinga (Ganga) [53]
nandi IN-AP: Koteshwara Temple, Srikakulam c. 15th century Vijayanagara [16]
nala IN-TN: Vaishnava temple, Srimushnam c. 15th century Nayaka [48]
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth IN-TN: Amman shrine, Ambika temple complex, Kalakadu c. late 15th century Nayaka [16]
simha-nala IN-TN: Avudaiyarkoil temple c. late 15th or early 16th century Madurai Nayaka [16]
simha-nala IN-TN: Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi c. 15th-16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
nala with vyala leaping from lion's mouth IN-TN: Bhaktavatsala temple, Cheranmahadevi c. early 16th century Nayaka [16]
nala with floral petals IN-KA:Rameshvara temple, Keladi c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka [55]
nala with floral petals IN-KA:Virabhadra temple, Keladi c. early 16th century Keladi-Nayaka [55]
nala with lion head at orifice, and lotus bud at the tip IN-KA: Vitthala temple, Hampi c. 16th century (first half) Vijayanagara [49]
simha-nala IN-KA: Aghoreshvara temple, Ikkeri c. 1515-1545 Ikkeri-Nayaka [55]
nala IN-KA: Amman shrine, Vitthala temple complex, Hampi c. 16th century Vijayanagara [21]
simha-nala IN-TN: Chandramouleeswar temple, Thiruvakkarai c. 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [55]
simha-nala IN-TN: Vedagiriswarar temple c. late 16th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
simha-nala IN-TN: Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
simha-nala IN-TN: Swaminathaswamy temple, Swamimalai c. 16th-17th century Thanjavur Nayaka [54]
nala IN-TN: Raghaveshvara temple, Darasaguppe c. 16th-17th century Nayaka [21]
nala IN-TN: Subrahmanya shrine, Brihadishvara temple complex, Thanjavur c. 17th century Nayaka [21]

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.

Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pranala.
  • M. A. Dhaky (1982). "The "Praṇāla" in Indian, South-Asian and South-East Asian Sacred Architecture". In Bettina Bäumer (ed.). Rupa Pratirupa: Alice Boner commemoration volume. New Delhi: Biblia Impex. OCLC 10541431.
  • S. K. R. Rao (2001). Vāstu-Śilpa-Kosha. Vol. 1. Kalpatharu. ISBN 978-93-81218-51-8.
  • S. P. Gupta; S. N. Vijayakumar (2010). Temples in India: Origin and Developmental Stages. Delhi: Centre for Research and Training in History, Archaeology and Paleo-Environment / DK Printworld. ISBN 978-81-246-0496-0.
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