Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c9.s2.14

c9.s2.14

The style of tower, and the mouldings of the outer walls, closely resemble those of Gondeśvara at Sinnar, and the more complete top with the little finials in the wall ornament, enable us to reconstruct the top of the śikhara at Sinnar. The kīrtimukha faces at the top of the tower are replaced by human faces in later temples. The face of the projection on the front of the tower is carved into an elaborate arrangement of kīrtimukhas and arched scrolls of arabesque. In a panel, in the centre, is a six-handed seated image. The lower hands rest in the lap, but the upper hands and the head have been destroyed. Below this is a row of niches, in the centre one of which, judging from the general outline of the fractured surface, was Śiva, probably dancing the tāṇḍava. On his left are the remains of a standing figure, with one of its left hands across its chest as if holding a flute to its mouth, as Kṛṣṇa is usually represented, while below is a small kneeling figure—perhaps, Garuḍa—with head and shoulders destroyed. On the right of Śiva was a figure which has disappeared all but one foot, but the goose, below, shows that it was Brahmā. Thus we have the traid of gods who are flanked, on either side, by a female chauri bearer. Beneath this line of figures, in the centre, is a small rectangular opening into the hollow of the śikhara, which does not appear ever to have been used as a shrine; it has no dedicatory image over it, nor has it any door-frame.