Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c9.s2.13

c9.s2.13

Jhodgā is about seventy-five miles to the north-east of Nāsik on the borders of Khāndesh. At the foot of a small hill, to the west of the town, is a well-finished old temple of Mahādeva, which looks exceedingly well as it stands out in the open, without any surroundings, upon its high basement. It consists of a central hall with its porch and three shrines, the main *śikhara* being all but complete. The whole is richly wrought and decorated. The main shrine, hall and porch are of original construction, but the two side shrines are of later and inferior workmanship: and no attempt has been made on these to preserve the lines of mouldings which run round the older work. It is possible the side shrines were not in the original plan, but had been added in the place of porches. This alteration made the interior very dark, and so four irregular rectangular openings were made in the side walls to let in a little light. These appear to have been made by knocking out the most convenient blocks of stone from the walling. The temple faces the west, and Ganapati presides above the shrine doorway. (Plates LIII—LVI.)