Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c12.s2.1

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.)