The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c29.s1: The Temples of Trikūṭēśvara and Sarasvatī
The Chālukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c29.s1
- Language
- English
The Temples of Trikūṭēśvara and Sarasvatī
c29.s1.1
THESE two temples stand close beside each other, within the same enclosed courtyard, in the southern quarter of the town of Gadag. The temple of Trikūṭēśvara as originally built, was a double temple like that of Kāśiviśvēśvara at Lakkuṇḍi. It consists of the principal shrine, facing east, with a small closed hall before it, together with a larger open hall in front of this again. In continuation of this is a second smaller shrine facing the first. Between the two halls were entrances into the temple, but that on the north side has been closed up by a small shrine that has been built against it. The larger hall belongs to the smaller shrine on the east, and it is possible that the larger western shrine was built after the other and against it. But the original western shrine, which is about the same size as the other, is not seen from outside, for it has been built around with a later wall to form a closed-in *pradakshiṇa*, or circumambulatory passage around the outside of the older shrine walls (Plates CXVI—CXXII).
c29.s1.2
Within the western or principal shrine, upon one *śaluṅkā*, are three *liṅgas* in a line, and it is from this fact that the temple takes its name of Trikūṭēśvara, the ‘Lord of the three peaks’ or *piṇḍis*. This is repeated in the additional small shrine on the north, but the eastern shrine contains a throne upon which an image once stood, the feet of which remain. The interior of the temple is very plain, the only work of any note being a very neat *kīrtimukha* doorstep before the entrance to the closed hall.
c29.s1.3
The exterior walls of the large pillared hall claim special attention. That portion, which in other temples is generally open, that is the part between the top of the parapet walls and the beams under the cornice, is here closed in with richly chased diaper-pattern stone screens. The surface is divided into scrolls with little figures within them. Each alternate square, in each alternate row, is perforated, some having little lozenge flowers left in them. The top part of the parapet or basement, immediately below this, has a slope outwards, it being the back of the seat which runs round the hall inside, and is decorated with panels containing figures which are separated from one another by pairs of little pilasters, while above them runs a scroll band. Beneath this, and separated from it by a row of little śikharas, are similar panels of sculpture, separated by single pilasters; and, under these, again, are the usual basement mouldings as found in nearly all Cālukyan temples. Among the little images in these panels, many of which stand almost detached from the wall, are Bhairava, Narasiṃha, Lakṣmī, Gaṇapati, Śiva, Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Kṛṣṇa, Mahiṣāsuramardanī, dancing figures, musicians, ascetics and elephants. These Brahmanical images clearly show that the temple could not have been originally Jaina as has been supposed.
c29.s1.4
The deep overhanging cornice of the hall, like most cornices of this period, is, in section, a cyma reversa curve, while that of the adjacent small temple of Sarasvatī is a perfectly straight cornice. The mouldings above the cornice are made up of the usual string courses of little lions and chaitya-window ornaments, which surmount the walls of most Cālukya halls.
c29.s1.5
The spire is a late addition of brick, mortar and whitewash, and the Nandi, on the front, is also made up of these materials. Successive coats of whitewash have almost entirely obliterated the fine tracery upon the jambs of the doorways.