The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c15.s1.2

c15.s1.2

The middle niche-facets, up the three faces of the tower, are now more fully accentuated and, when seen from straight in front, they almost reproduce the continuous vertical band of the śikharas of the northern style. The crowning member sits closer down upon the tower, and merges more completely with it, there being, practically, no neck between, which, in the previous examples, raised this member away from the top of the tower, and made it more conspicuous. To further bring it into harmony with the general run of the lines of the tower, it has a prominent horizontal moulding around it, half way up. At the same time the kalaśa or finial is very much reduced in size, if it is really the original one. The result of these changes is a certain look of clumsiness when compared with the Jaina temple at Lakkuṇḍi, and it is decidedly weaker in design. The tower now becomes a “Chālukya” tower, as that term is used to denote the distinctive style evolved within the Kanarese districts about the tenth and eleventh centuries. The different storeys are fairly well masked by overlaid decorative detail, while, at the same time, the northern element is introduced, to some extent, by the central vertical arrangement of facets which simulate the central vertical band in that style.