The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c8.s7: Temple in Field No. 268, Near the Temple of Galagnātha
The Chālukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c8.s7
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Temple in Field No. 268, Near the Temple of Galagnātha
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Another old temple of the same plan and style as the last, except that it has three pillars on each side of the nave instead of two, is situated in Survey No. 268 near the temple of Galagnātha (No. 10). The śikhara or tower is totally different, being far more archaic looking and decidedly clumsy. It gives one the idea of an early stage in the evolution of the northern style of tower, but this is not so, for, on examining it closely, it is found to be nothing more than a repetition, layer upon layer, diminishing to the top, of the flat roof over the maṇḍapa or hall of these temples. Compare it with the edge of the roofing of Huchchimalli-Guḍi (Plate XIX). The same thing, more elaborated, is seen on the temples, of a later period, behind the Desai's house, in the village (Plate XXV), and on the temples on the north side of the lake at Bādāmi. It became an ordinary style of tower, and a still later example of it is that of the Jaina temple in the fort at Belgaum (Plate CXXXV).
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The pillars of this temple are simple square shafts, with roll bracket-capitals, the rolls of which are bound together by broad bands or fillets (XX). The flat bands and medallions on the shafts of the pillars have been left uncarved. Above the shrine door is Garuḍa, but, in this case, he holds the hooded ends of the snakes instead of their tails. Down below, on either side, are Gaṅgā and Yamunā, each accompanied by two pairs of figures. Within the shrine is a small dilapidated looking liṅga set flat on the floor. It is certainly not original.
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The architraves, above the pillars, are decorated with the scroll and lotus patterns, but there is no frieze of little figures as in the last temple. The main bays of the ceiling had, no doubt, the same sculptures, but only one of these, that of Brahmā, in a mutilated condition, next the shrine, now remains. Brahmā is seated, cross-legged, full to the front, upon his goose which is shown in profile,¹ with neck stretched out as if flying or crouching flat under the weight of Brahmā. Beside the pilaster, near the shrine on the south side, is placed a large image of a dvārapāla with four arms.
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¹ It looks more like a peacock.
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The temple seems to have had no porch originally, but to have had one added in later times, perhaps, by the Liṅgāyats. It has the ordinary round pillars of the eleventh or twelfth century, and was not bonded into the old masonry; it has bodily tilted forward owing to the subsidence of the forward pillars. When this porch was built the little clumsy Nandi chhatri in front was probably erected. On the front wall is a short inscription, but the meaning of it is very obscure.²
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² Indian Antiquary, IX, 74.
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The temple faces the east. Lying inside was found a loose slab bearing a representation of the Saptamātṛi or ‘seven mothers,’ but it is much weatherworn. This subject will be described further on in connection with the temple at Hāveri.