Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c12.s2: Velāpur
Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c12.s2
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Velāpur
c12.s2.1
Ten miles south-east of Mālsiras is the village of Velāpur, where, by the roadside, just outside the village, is a plain, but well-preserved old stone temple with a well-built *dharmaśāla*, or rest-house, beside it. Around the temple, set up in the ground, were about twenty well-carved *vīragals* or hero stones. One of these was sent away in order to be placed in the Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay. There were seven in one line, and the rest were scattered about. The sculptures upon them represent battle scenes in which the heroes distinguish and extinguish themselves, the same heroes in paradise, and the worship of the *liṅga*. They are not so delicately and minutely carved as many that are found in the Kanarese districts where the Chālukyan style of architecture prevail-, but are much the same in other respects. *Vīragals* are not often found in the Dakhan, *satī* stones, commemorating the self-immolation of widows, being more common. One small one would seem to indicate that the deceased met his death in the chase. Another stone bears a representation of Gaja-Lak-hmī, or Lak-hmī with her elephants pouring water over her. (Plate XCHI, XCV--XCVII.)
c12.s2.2
Upon the far side of the adjacent tank is another double-shrined old temple of the "Hemadpanti" class. In the village is the temple of Hara- Hareśvara which is a conglomeration of buildings, the nucleus of which is a triple-shrined old temple of poor construction. At the side of the steps, leading down to a square tank in front of it, is an inscription, which records the setting up of a kalaśa or finial, or, in other words the consecration and dedication of a temple by Brahmādevarāna, a subordinate chief under the king Praudhapratapachavartin Śri Rāmchandradeva in śaka 1227 (A. D. 1305). Another, partly abraided inscription, on a rough block of stone near the entrance to the temple, records a gift of lands by the chief Johādeva in Samvat 1922, during the same king's reign.
c12.s2.3
FIG 13—Pillar in the temple of Velipur.