The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c11.s2.9

c11.s2.9

As is usual in all these old temples, Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva sculptures are equally mixed. Amongst the groups in the ceiling panels, besides those just noted, are the *tāṇḍava* and Śeṣa, and in the hall are the loose images of Gaṇapati and Mahiṣāsura-Mardanī, which may not be original. The exterior walls are fretted with ornamental filigree, and are divided up into rows of little pillared niches containing small images. The spaces between these niches are also used for similar little groups and some of those beautiful perforated stone windows which are found in Virūpāksha. The photograph shows these better than any amount of description (Plate L). Some of these groups represent scenes from the Rāmāyaṇa, many of which are labelled in characters which may be as old as the sixth century.¹ Amongst the names are Rāman, Site, Site, Lakkaṇa, Jaṭayu, Sugrivan, Bāli, Aṅgajan, Ravaṇan, Suppanaki, Kara-Dusaṇan, Bhīmasēna, Śri-Baladēva, Naḷan, Vibhīshaṇan, and Kumbhaṛṇan. Besides these are images of Śiva in various attitudes, with and without Pārvatī, Rāvaṇa under Kailāsa, Viṣṇu, Mahiṣāsura-mardanī, the *tāṇḍava*, Gaṇapati, Narasimha, Varāha, the Vāmana *avatāra*, Varuṇa, and Kṛiṣṇa, upholding Govardhana. In the ceiling of the porch is the *tāṇḍava* group.