The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c20.s1.4

c20.s1.4

This temple, like many others in this district, has been ascribed to the Jains. This is wrong; it has been a Brahmanical shrine from the beginning. It is not usual in this part of the country, and in Jaina temples of this period, to find large image niches on the outside of the walls. On the round column, shown in the plate, will be seen a well-cut image of Narasiṁha, which is not likely to be found in a Jaina temple. Moreover, the *Nandi* pavilion would not be necessary in such a case.