The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c16.s1.3

c16.s1.3

It is difficult to decide to which deity the temple was originally dedicated from the indications about it, for all the principal images of gods and goddesses that adorned the exterior have been very carefully chipped away. In front of the spire, above the hall roof is a well-carved figure of Śiva. It is, however, on a separate stone from the encircling arch and it looks as if the original figure had been chipped away and this one put in its place. Amongst some very small figures on the florid ornament, under the little *kīrtimukhas*, on the back or east wall, is Sūrya. It is possible that the temple was first built as a Vaiṣṇava shrine, which may have been used, for a time, by the Jains, and which would account for the removal of the images. Subsequently it came into the hands of the Liṅgāyats who still use it.