The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c28.s2.4

c28.s2.4

illustrated one (Fig. 31) is a representation of the Hoysaḷa king slaying the lion, somewhat similar to the group on the tower of the temple of Kēdārēśvara, and which appears to have been a very favourite subject with these southern sculptors. The story, as given upon this stone, is not quite the same as that given in the Gadag inscription. From the slab we can gather that the king, when out hunting with his dogs, speared a wild boar and brought it to earth. At the same moment a lion—not a tiger, for it has a full flowing mane—sprang out of the jungle to seize it, when the king attacked the lion single-handed and on foot. In the small figure on horseback we see the king setting out for the chase. This, with the elephant on the other side, to indicate the jungle, is only thrown in to fill up the corners of the slab. Beneath the lion is the wounded boar, with the spear or sword cut shewn on its flank, the dogs having left it to worry the lion. There is no ascetic in this group, nor is there in the groups upon the towers of the temple here and at Raṭṭihaḷḷi. A second smaller figure is introduced into the larger groups, but it is of an armed attendant, merely put in as a prop to the lion.¹