Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c8.s1.2

c8.s1.2

Of the temples in the field, first mentioned, two are built parallel and close to one another, both facing west, while the third stands out in front of these and faces east. The larger one of the first two, to the south of the other, has been a very fine triple-shrined building, most elaborately and profusely sculptured, but it is now very shattered and weatherworn. Parts of the *sikharas* of the east, or main, and the south shrines remain, but that of the north has fallen, leaving the walls in a very shaky condition. The temple is of the same style as that of Ambarnātha, though differing in minor details, and the two must have been erected about the same time. It will be seen that the plan is very different, it having three shrines and one porch instead of three porches and one shrine as at Ambarnātha. It faces the west, and has been, from the beginning, a Śaiva temple. The shrine here is not sunk, but is on the same level as the rest of the floor of the building, and the antechamber is of full depth. In the main shrine is a *linga* and Nandi, the usual outside pavilion for the latter being absent as at Ambarnātha. The bull here, again, is not the original one. The dedicatory figures over both the shrine and main doorway have been wilfully damaged. The images upon the exterior would point to the south shrine having been occupied by a Vaishnava deity, but it is now empty. The north shrine is also empty, the images upon its walls, outside, being two *devīs* or goddesses. The east or main shrine held the *linga* of Śiva. Over the doors of the two side shrines is Ganapati, while, within each, is an altar for an image.