Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c8.s3.3

c8.s3.3

The temple would seem to have been originally dedicated to Sūrya. Of the three images in the three principal niches around the outside of the shrine walls, that in the back or west niche—the most important one of the three, and always indicating the deity to whom the temple is dedicated—is Sūrya with his seven horses beneath him. That on the north is Mahākālī, and that on the south is Gaṇapati. Lying within the temple are two large corner blocks of what seems to be part of the *vedi* (dwarf parapet wall) of a pavilion or the hall, while, without, is another similar one, on each of which are three well-carved standing images of Sūrya, these being the only images upon them, each of which is about a foot high. On the block above the shrine door is, Gaṇapati, who is as universal in the Dakhan, in this position, as Gaja-Lakshmī is in the Kanarese districts. Immediately above it, on another block, is a seated figure which may possibly be that of Sūrya, but it is much corroded and bedaubed. It sits upon a seat, with legs hanging in western fashion, arms depending to the elbows, and the hands brought to the lap, from each of which starts upwards, to either side of the head, what might easily be taken for the stems of Sūrya’s lotuses.