The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c47.1

c47.1

NEAR the village of Naregal, in the Hāngal *tāluka*, a curious old stone was found beside the temple of Sarveśvara on which were carved the twelve signs of the zodiac, arranged around a central lotus. The stone is shaped like a *yoni* or *sālunkā* of a liṅga, but it was not used for this purpose as there is no hole in it. The central lotus is probably symbolical of the sun. The slab is about two feet square with a projecting spout on one side for water to run off, from which it is evident that it was an object of worship. It stood in the open, having been placed upon another stone as a pedestal. The stone has since disappeared, but a drawing had been previously made of it (Plate CLVII).