The Sengol is actually the 'Nandi Dhwaja'

The Sengol is actually the ‘Nandi Dhwaja’

Perspective

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By Puttaraju P Prabhuswamy

THE SENGOL IS actually the ‘Nandi Dhwaja’.

It has nothing to do with sovereign power or justice.

This Dhwaja is exhibited in Shiva temples on Chariot Day – ie, the Rathotsava, the day following the Girija Kalyana. It is traceable to the Chalukya Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal.

The antiquity of the Sengol (its name as the Rajadanda is a misnomer) goes back 1,300 years, according archaeologists Ch Babji Rao and E Siva Nagi Reddy.

According to them the Sengol — originally called Nandi Dhwaja — is seen in the left hand of the Siva-Nataraja sculpture carved on the southern wall of the Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka. The temple was built in 745 CE by Lokamahadevi, queen of Badami Chalukyan Emperor Vikramaditya-II (733-45 CE).

This temple was built as a mark of victory of the Chalukyas over the Pallavas. The Pallava-Chalukya wars are well known.

Here is the photo of Nataraja-Shiva in the Virupaksha temple. It is the Nandi Dhwaja that is displayed in all Shiva temples in Karnataka on Ratha Day.

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