The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c8.s6.6

c8.s6.6

On the face of the entablature and cross beams separating the three bays from one another, are small groups of sculptures. Those in the first bay from the door represent, generally, the avatāras of Viṣṇu, while those in the central bay show the aṣṭadikpālas or ‘Regents of the eight points of the compass’ of which two, Varuṇa and Nirṛiti, are missing, the beam being broken off. Agni and Kuvera have interchanged places. A description of these Regents will be given later on in connection with their frequent occurrence in mediæval temples. There are no such sculptures in the bay nearest the shrine; this was, probably, never finished.