9.1 Chalukyas · Part 4

to Siva and to the Jaina tirthankaras . Their temples are grouped into two: excavated cave temples and structural temples. Badami is known for both structural and excavated cave temples. Pattadakal and Aihole are popular for structural temples. Aihole (Ayyavole) Built in , Aihole, the headquarters of the famous medieval Ayyavole merchants’ guild was an important commercial centre. About seventy temples are located in Aihole. The earliest stone-built temple is Lad Khan temple. Its unique trait is a stucco pillar with a big capital distinct from northern style. A temple dedicated to the goddess Durga was built on the model of Buddha Chaitya. It stands on a raised platform in the form of semi-circle. Another temple, dedicated to the Amatya (revenue minister), and Samaharta (minister of exchequer). Chalukyas divided the state into political divisions for the sake of administration: Vishayam, Rastram, Nadu and Grama . Epigraphs speak of the officials like vishayapatis, samantas, gramapohis and mahatras . Vishayapatis exercised the power at the behest of the kings. Samantas were feudal lords functioning under the control of the state. Grampohis and gramkudas were village officials. Mahatras were the prominent village men. Provincial and District Administration Generally, the king appointed his sons as the provincial governors. The governors called themselves raja, marakka-rajan and rajaditya- raja-parameswaran . Some governors held the title maha-samanta and maintained troops. The chief of vishaya was vishayapati. In turn, vishaya was divided into pukti . Its head was pogapati . Village Administration The traditional revenue officials of the villages were called the nala-kavundas . The central figure in village administration was kamunda or pokigan who were appointed by the kings. The village accountant was karana and he was otherwise called gramani . Law and order of the village was in the hands of a group of people called mahajanam . There was a special officer called mahapurush , in charge of maintaining order and peace of the village. Nagarapatis or Purapatis were the officials of the towns. Religion The Chalukyas patronised both Saivism and Vaishnavism. They built temples for Siva and Vishnu. Brahmin groups were invited from the