The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c10.s3.2

c10.s3.2

There is no reason to doubt but that this is the original object of worship, though it is not a very highly finished piece of work (Plate XXXIII). There is no indication of any clothing; what appears like a cloth over the head is perhaps long hair. In his right hand he holds something which looks like the end of a staff, but which, instead of rising straight from the hand, bends over backwards and runs a little way along the arm. Perhaps the sculptor, who appears to have been a clumsy worker at best, was afraid of the staff breaking off, and so trailed it along the arm for support. The left arm is broken off, but it can be seen that it rested upon the left knee and probably held the citron or cocoanut. On the inside of the outer wall of the *pradakṣiṇā* are carved the images Mahishāsura-mardanī and Gaṇapati.