Pranala
In Hindu temple architecture, a pranala 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 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.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. 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 drain all around the sanctum, with an outlet in the shape of a graha. 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.
The next most common type of pranala is the grasa-pranala, which depicts the grasa 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, 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 and a pot stationed for collecting the drainage water.
- Snapana-griha or Chandesha-griha: A special shrine for a Chandesha ; 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.
Examples
Some notable examples of the pranala are:| Type | Location | Date | Style | Source |
| makara-matsya | IN-UP: Kankali Tila | c. 1st century BCE-2nd century CE | probably Shaka | |
| makara-matsya | IN-UP: Mathura Museum | c. 1st century-2nd century | probably Kushana | |
| makara | IN-UP: Rajghat, Varanasi | c. 1st century-2nd century | Shaka-Kushana or Tribal | |
| simha-mukha | LK-7: Anuradhapura: Thuparamaya | c. 2nd-3rd century | ? | |
| grasa | IN-MH: Brick temle, 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 | 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 | |
| kapi | IN-TN: Dharma-raja ratha, Mahabalipuram | c. 640 | Tondainadu | |
| kalamakara | VN-27: Trà Kiệu, Vietnam | c. mid-7th century | Champa | |
| makara | IN-KA: Lakulisha temple, Siddanakolla | c. 700 | Early Karnata | |
| makara | IN-TG: Sangameshvara temple, Kudaveli | c. early 8th century | Karnata-Nagara: Andhra school | |
| grasa | IN-KA:Galaganatha Temple, Pattadakal | c. early 8th century | Karnata-Nagara: Alampur school | |
| grasa | IN-KA:Virupaksha 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 | |
| makara | LK-7: Anuradhapura Museum | c. 8th century or earlier | ||
| makara | LK-7: Anuradhapura | c. 8th century | ||
| makara | ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia | c. 8th century | Javanese | |
| ghata held by Nagaraja | IN-AP: Madhukeshwara Temple, Mukhalingam | c. 8th century | Early Kalinga | |
| ghata held by two vidyadharis | IN-RJ: Harshat mata temple, Abhaneri | c. late 8th century | Sapadalaksha | |
| grasa | ID-JT: Borobudur, Indonesia | c. 800 | Javanese | |
| bhuta | IN-TN: Kaveripakkam | c. 800 | Late Tondainadu | |
| 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 | |
| bhuta | IN-TN: Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam | c. 875 | Late Tondainadu | |
| simha-nala | IN-TN: Apatsahayesvarar Temple | c. 884 | Cholanadu | |
| 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 | |
| grasa | IN-KA: Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali | c. early 10th century | Late Karnata | |
| snapana-griha | IN-GJ: Trinetreshvara temple, Tarnetar | c. 10th century | Maha-Gurjara | |
| makara | IN-KA: Lakshmaneshvara temple, Avani | c. 934 | Nolambavadi | |
| simsumara | IN-AP: Bhimeshvara temple at Bhimavaram | c. 10th century | Andhra Style | |
| ghata held by a vidyadhara | IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho | c. 954 | Jejakabukti | |
| bhuta | IN-MP: Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho | c. 954 | Jejakabukti | |
| makara | KH-17: Pre Rup, Cambodia | c. 947-965 | Cambodian | |
| snapana-griha | IN-RJ: Ambika Mata Temple, Jagat, Rajasthan | c. 961 | Maha-Gurjara | |
| simha-nala | IN-TN: Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple | 986 | Cholanadu | |
| makara | IN-KA: Nandappa temple, Sirwal | c. 10th century | Later Karnata | |
| nala | IN-TN: Enadi Siva Temple | c. late 10th century | Pandinadu | |
| nala | IN-TN: Kandalishvara temple, Tenneri | c. 995 or earlier | Cholanadu | |
| kari-makara, a hyrbid of an elephant and a makara | IN-BR: Indian Museum, Kolkata, found in Bihar | c. 10th-11th century | Early Magadha | |
| ghata held by a vidyadhari | IN-MP: Gurgi ; now at Ahmedabad Municipal Museum | c. 10th-11th century | Dahala | |
| 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 | |
| simha-mukha with floral ending | IN-TN: Ganapati shrine, Muyarchinatheswarar Temple complex | c. early 11th century | Cholanadu | |
| simha-mukha | IN-TN: Kailasanathar temple, Brahmadesam | c. early 11th century | Pandinadu | |
| ghata held by a human figure | IN-GJ: Shiva temple, Kevan | c. early 11th century | Maru-Gurjara | |
| vyala | IN-KL: Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur | c. early 11th century | Middle Kerala | |
| makara | IN-KA: Jain Temple, Lakkundi | 1008 | Later Karnata | |
| bhuta | IN-TN: Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur | 1010 | Chola | |
| nala with makara | IN-KA: Galageshvara temple, Galaganatha | c. 1025 | Later Karnata | |
| makara | IN-GJ: Mahavira marble temple, Kumbharia | c. 1062 | Maru-Gurjara style | |
| ? | IN-MP: Udayeshvara temple, Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh | c. 1080 | Malava | |
| simha-nala | IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Amman shrine | c. 11th century | Cholanadu | |
| simha-nala | IN-TN: Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex - Shrine No. 1 | c. 11th century | Cholanadu | |
| 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 style | |
| makara | IN-MP: Adinatha temple, Khajuraho | c. 11th century | Jejakabukti | |
| ghata held by a vidyadhara or Chandesha | IN-MP: Indore Museum | c. late 11th century | Malava | |
| 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 | |
| makara | IN-KA: Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli | 1112 | Later Karnata | |
| makara | IN-KA: Chennakeshvara Temple, Marale | 1130 | Later Karnata | |
| simha-mukha | IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple | 1146-1172 | Cholanadu | |
| simha | IN-TN: Airavatesvara Temple complex - Daivanayaki-Amman shrine | 1146-1172 | Cholanadu | |
| nala | LK-7: Shiva Devale No. 1, Polonnaruwa | c. 12th century | Later Cholanadu | |
| makara, with a bhuta below, and a goddess above | IN-AP: Bhavannarayana temple, Sarpavaram | c. 12th century | Later Andhra | |
| simsumara | IN-AP: Mandavya-Narayana temple at Samalkota | c. 12th century | Late Vengi | |
| makara | IN-GJ: Jina Ajitanatha, Taranga | c. 1165 | Maru-Gurjara style | |
| matanga-makara | IN-AP: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam | c. 1238-1268 | Andhra-Kalinga style | |
| makara | IN-MH: Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar | c. 13th century | Seuna-desha style | |
| makara | IN-MP: Bhoramdeo Temple, Madhya Pradesh | c. 13th century | Dahala-Andhra style | |
| nakra | IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex | c. 13th century | Later Kalinga | |
| matanga-makara or saunda-makara | IN-OR: Chayadevi temple within the Konark Sun Temple complex | c. 13th century | Later Kalinga | |
| 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 | 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 |