The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c10.s3.1

c10.s3.1

Off the north-west corner of the last is a smaller temple which has a curious and unusual image, seated upon the altar in the shrine, as the principal object of worship. It is an image of the god Lakulīśa, an incarnation of Śiva, which, as is usual with this deity, is represented nude. His image appears upon the walls of Virūpākṣa and Malikārjuna at Paṭṭadakal, in both cases in a standing position. Upon a good number of temples in Central India and Rājputānā this image is found occupying the dedicatory block above the doorways of Śaiva temples, and at Karvan, in the Baroda district, is a temple dedicated to his particular worship.²