The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c7.40

c7.40

On the walls of the earlier temples are found sculptures of heroes and warriors from the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, but they dropped out of the later work, where the walls, with the exception of narrow string courses of tiny figures, are occupied entirely by images of the deities. Now and again *yogis* and dancing girls are found stowed away in some of the more retired recesses, and the latter are often used as brackets against the pillars under the beams or cornices. Animals are sparingly introduced except in small ornamental bands. The sculptor does not seem to have been very happy with them, more especially with the horse, whose limbs worried him sadly. The best portrayed is the elephant, with whose massive proportions they were very much more at home. Immense time and patience were expended over the minute details of jewelry and personal ornaments, and the trappings of the elephant.¹