Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c11.s1: Khatāv
Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c11.s1
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Khatāv
c11.s1.1
THE Sātārā District has a very poor lot of old temples. At Katāv, some twenty-five miles east of Sātārā, are a few old examples of the " Hemadpanti " class, the most complete among them being that of Nāganātha across the stream bed upon the north-west of the town. It occupies a conspicuous position upon high ground, having an open front with a neatly decorated façade. It is a small building, measuring no more than 60 by 30 feet, and consists of a plain square hall, antechamber and shrine. Four pillars support the central ceiling, and two more the eaves and cornice of the open front. The pillars are of the later Chālukyan type. Ganapati presides above the shrine doorway, and, within, is the linga. The śikhara, or spire, has disappeared. Without, facing the shrine, is the bull Nandi. (Plates LXXXVIII and LXXXIX.)
c11.s1.2
Beside this temple is a smaller one of Ganapati, which, having been stripped of the outer casing of its walls, shows the manner of building, and the rough backs of the blocks forming the inner shell.
c11.s1.3
The temple of Someśvara, in the fields beyond the stream, on the north of the town, is similar to that of Nāganātha, but smaller. It was never finished, much of its decoration being merely traced out on the walls. The temple of Bhāiroba, in the village, is a long clumsily-built old shrine, on either side of the entrance doorway of which stands a roughly carved viragal. The temple of Nārāyaṇadeva, near by, consists of a partly ruined old temple repaired and added to with brick and mortar masonry, and a wooden-tiled mandapa or hall. Nārāyaṇadeva is set up within the shrine, but, in a niche in the inner hall, is placed a linga. There is rather a good doorway inserted in the entrance to the courtyard.